Buckley fires Listry back into contention

THIS was about digging it out, digging deep, getting the job done by hook or by crook.

Failure was not an option for either team if they wanted their keep their hopes alive in this championship. Added to that the draw between Churchill and Skellig Rangers the previous evening meant that they were presented a glorious opportunity to make amends for first round defeats.

In the end the team which wanted it more, the team which showed the greater level of craft and energy was Listry. They won by two and the home side could have few complains.

Fair enough Ballydonoghue did well to fashion a late goal and briefly put the cat amongst the pigeons, but it wouldn’t have been far removed from larceny had they managed to steal a win at the death.

For too much of the game the North Kerry champions of two years standing were, by their own standards, below par. After an impressive opening quarter, a listlessness took hold as Listry battled their way back into the game.

After twelve minutes the home side had opened out a six point lead – 1-4 to 0-1 – and looked value for that lead and more. Their transition was slick and smooth. The movement and interchange between forwards and midfielders and backs was impressive.

None more so than in the move for Brian Ó Seanacháin’s goal. A quick and clever sideline ball from Darragh Sheehy picked out Paul Kennelly who won it and passed off quickly to Ó Seanacháin running off the shoulder.

Had you told us then that this would be the last time Ballydonoghue would raise a flag in the half we would have scarcely believed you. Especially seeing as Ó Seanacháin was almost in for a second two minutes later, on fourteen minutes, but for good work by Listry keeper Colm Counihan.

The worm was slowly turning, however. Gary O’Sullivan came increasingly into the game, causing panic any time he got on the ball in the Ballydonoghue rearguard, which was shorn of the services of Kerry full-back Jason Foley (he picked up a knock in Kerry training during the week).

In that final quarter Listry began to get on top around the middle of the park with Jimmy O’Leary increasingly prominent and they used that platform to score a hugely impressive 1-6 without reply.

Ronan Buckley was the scorer of that goal – taking a pass from O’Sullivan – on twenty three minutes. Just before it he scored a ‘45 and just after it a point from play

to ram home their superiority at that stage of the game. 1-4 to 1-7 at half-time.

Ballydonoghue, to give them their dues, started the second half better. A determined Paul Kennelly tried his best to get his side back into the game and two early scores (one by Kennelly, one by second half sub Jack Behan) brought them back within a single point of their guests.

Listry, however, seemed able to respond at will. To Bally’s two unanswered their delivered three of their own. By the fiftieth minute it was still a four point game, 1-7 to 1-11 and it was looking increasingly unlikely Bally could get out of the hole they were in.

Kennelly though had other ideas. He took it on himself to do something about the situation and after a determined run passed across the face of the goal for Jack Foley to fist to the net.

Game on again. Especially so when Kennelly levelled it at 2-8 to 0-11 with another sweet point from play. Yet again, Listry found it within themselves to respond. A point from the excellent Gary O’Sullivan saw them regain their lead and after a red card for Thomas Kennelly, Ronan Buckley assisted Seán O’Sullivan for the insurance score.

No less than they deserved. Ballydonghue bow out.

BALLYDONOGHUE: Darragh O’Shea, Stephen Lonergan, Diarmuid Behan, Billy Foley, Colin O’Mahoney, Micheál Foley, Pádraig Enright, Eamon Walsh, Thomas Kennelly (0-1), Jim Cremin (0-1), Brian Ó Seanacháin (1-0), Danny Power, Darragh Sheehy, Paul Kennelly (0-4, 1f), Damien O’Carroll Subs: Jack Behan (0-1) for D O’Carroll, 36, Jack Foley (1-1) for D Power, 41, Conor Kennelly for E Walsh, 44, Kevin O’Donnell for B Foley, 44

LISTRY: Colm Counihan, Damian Clifford, Darragh Lehane, Kevin Courtney (0-1), Conor O’Sullivan, Anthony Kennedy, Peadar Keane, Billy O’Brien, Gary O’Sullivan (0-2), Joseph Clifford (0-1), Ronan Buckley (1-4, 1f, 1 ‘45), Aaron McCarthy (0-2), Derry Ahern (0-1), Anthony Sweeney (0-1f), Jimmy O’Leary Subs: Séan O’Sullivan (0-1) for A Sweeney, half-time

REFEREE: Paul Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys)