The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Ballymac take a badly needed win
Ballybunion FC 0 Ballymac Celtic 1
AFTER losing to Annascaul / Inch United the previous week this was a game Ballymac badly needed to win to stay to the forefront in the title race.
The game was played in testing conditions at Sandhill Road and the final scoreline does not do justice to Ballymac as they were the better side on the day and should have won by a much more comfortable margin had they availed of all the scoring chances they created.
They got off to a dream start with Tommy Sheridan firing home from 20 yards after just two minutes and it looked as if they were heading for an easy win. Ballybunion improved as the game progressed but rarely looked like getting a goal back.
Ballymac had numerous chances to extend their lead, but they had to settle for a 1-0 win at the end.
With Annascaul / Inch United being held to a draw by Mainebank, Ballymac are now a point ahead at the top of the table with just four games left to play.
Third placed CSCB also won on Sunday and they are breathing down the necks of the leaders and it looks as if it will be a three-horse race for those two coveted places in the league final and it could go to the final series of games to decide who will contest the decider.
However, Mainebank are not out of the equation either as they have a couple of games in hand so there is a lot at stake in the concluding games in this division.
Mainebank FC 1 Annascaul Inch Utd 1
LEAGUE leaders Annascaul / Inch United surrendered their place at the top of the table to Ballymac Celtic after being held to a draw by Mainebank at Mounthawk Park on Sunday.
James Sayers scored for Annascaul / Inch United while James Long got the Mainebank goal. Annascaul/Inch United are now a point behind table-toppers Ballymac Celtic while CSCB are breathing down their necks just two points behind in third position.
All four teams in contention have four games left to play so every game will be crucial for the teams involved.
Killorglin C 2 CS Clochain Breanainn 6
CSCB stay well in touch with the other two title contenders Ballymac Celtic and Annascaul / Inch United after a good win over Killorglin.
Killorglin gave a fantastic account of themselves against the title chasers and even though they were 2-0 down at the break were still giving Brandon plenty to do and were right back in the game when Aiden O’Sullivan was brought down in the box
Kieran O’Shea coolly tucked away the penalty and should have been stepping up to the spot a couple minutes later when O’Sullivan looked to be taken down for a second time, but the ref saw it differently.
CSCB went 3-1 up but Ryan O’Riordan had Killorglin right back in it with a great finish after being set up by Kieran O’Shea.
The game was delicately poised 3-2 with 10 minutes to go and with Killorglin all out to get an equaliser they left themselves bare at the back and CSCB finished strongly tagging on three goals to win comfortably at the end.
Jimmy O’Grady (2), Gearoid Fitzgerald (2), Michael O’Dowd and Jimmy O’Grady scored for the West Kerry side.
DENNY DIVISION 2B Lenamore Rovers 2 Manor West FC 3
MANOR West travelled to Ballylongford and came away with the three points after a hard earned win over Lenamore Rovers.
This win puts Manor West second in the division table, level on nineteen points with CG Killarney and Sneem Santos with nineteen points.
With Kilmoyley as good as in the final it will be a tight race between these three sides for that second spot in the decider. Jack Mulvihill and Shane O’Sullivan scored for Lenamore.
Sneem Santos 4 Ballyheigue Athletic B 0
SNEEM Santos move up to joint second in the table after a big win over Ballyheigue Athletic.
It was a day to remember for young Conor O’Brien who scored all four goals for the winners. Sneem are now level on points with Manor West and CG Killarney in second place behind runaway leaders Kilmoyley Athletic in the division and with two games in hand they are in a very strong position to make it to the decider.