Iveragh see off Ballyhar in a classic encounter

TOM HAYES UNDER-14 SHIELD FINAL

Iveragh United 5 Ballyhar 4 THE concluding game on Sunday’s opening round of Cup and Shield finals at the Mounthawk Park was the game of the day from an offensive point of view as the teams shared nine goals.

Iveragh United and Ballyhar came through mid-week semi-finals to earn the right to face each other in Saturday’s final. Iveragh United won 3-2 away at Killarney Athletic thanks to a Cathal O’Shea hat-trick.

Kieran Pierse and Jamie Alade got the Athletic goals but it wasn’t enough as the South Kerry side progressed to meat Ballyhar in the final. They had a 3-1 win in their semi-final after extra time with Peter Cosgrave getting two and Andrew Kelliher the third.

In the final at the start of both halves it looked like Ballyhar were going to have enough to take the win with Darren Daniel giving them a 1-0 start. However Iveragh United began to take control and got their reward when twins Odhran and Cathal combined to level matters in the 25th minute.

The duo did it again eight minutes later to give the South Kerry boys the lead and on the stroke of half time a third assist by Odhran O’Shea – this time setting up Seamus Curran opened the game to two.

Ballyhar needed a good start to the second half and pulled a goal back five minutes in but conceded another two minutes later when Liam O’Connor ran from deep beating a number of defender to make it 4-2 to Iveragh United.

Credit to Ballyhar they never gave up and Ethan Campbelll came off the bench to score his sides third but again Iveragh United responded when Cathal O’Shea fired in his third – and his second hat trick in two games – to make it 5-3 inside the last four minutes.

Ballyhar threw everything at Iveragh and scored again through Christopher Palmer but time ran out and the large South Kerry crowd could make the long trip home happy.

Under 14 Cup

KILLORGLIN will play either Killarney Celtic or Tralee Dynamos in the Tom Hayes Under 14 Cup final after they proved to be too strong for Fenit. Killorglin progressed thanks to goals from Adam Owens (3), Dylan Moriarty, Keith Evans, Jack O’Sullivan and Callum Russell.

Under 14 Girls Cup final

ON Sunday Inter Kenmare qualified to meet Listowel Celtic in the final.

They defeated Mastergeeha 4-0 with three goals coming early on as Inter took control. Abby Murray scored two and Serina O’Sullivan the third. Credit to Mastergeeha they battled hard with Jenny Healy, Kate Lynch, Anna Hannigan, Caoihe Crowley and Katie O’Leary all doing well. But Murray completed her hat trick late on to wrap up the win and send Inter into the final.