The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
On-fire An Ghaeltacht make a statement
COUNTY INTERMEDIATE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 1 ROUND 2 An Ghaeltacht 4-17 St Marys 0-07
AN GHAELTACHT did more than throttle St Marys in Gallarus on Sunday. They sent a signal to the seven clubs who’ll join them in the knock-out stages of the Intermediate Club Championship that they are serious about retaining the title they won in 2017.
It was always going to be hard for St Marys. They’d travelled the length of two peninsulas to play and would line out without Bryan Sheehan, Daniel Daly, and Brian Curran – but even then, what unfolded would’ve been hard predicted.
The 22-point margin of victory was still more remarkable when you consider that the first third of the match was quite even, with neither side looking entirely composed. St Mary’s, depending on half-forward Seán Cournane for all their scores early on, had reduced the margin to 0-4 to 0-5 on 22 minutes, and while An Ghaeltacht had been the better team, the scoreline reflected that they had been by no means dominant.
They had missed two early goal chances – not least a fifth-minute penalty, excellently saved by Michael Daly – but St Mary’s had themselves threatened the goal twice, with Tomás Mac an tSaoir doing well to keep his clean sheet, particularly in making a fine stop from Jack Daly on 14 minutes.
But once Tomás Ó Sé lit the touch-paper with a 23rd-minute goal – finishing a straightforward chance after Éanna Ó Conchúir had again raced the ball through St Mary’s defence – An Ghaeltacht let rip. While Daly hit the next score for St Mary’s to make it 0-5 to 1-5, that was the last semblance of a genuine contest.
St Marys had seen An Ghaeltacht’s attackers ease their way through their defence too frequently during the first half, and while Franz Sauerland’s 26th minute strike was a belter to the top-left corner, An Ghaeltacht had again found their opening too easily.
But now they were dialled in and ready to turn things on. Three consecutive points from Cathal Ó Beaglaioch, Pádraig ‘Ogie’ Ó Sé, and the impressive Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaioch were fair warning of what would unfold after the interval: to say An Ghaeltacht pressed home their 2-8 to 0-5 halftime advantage thereafter would be the understatement to beat all understatements.
With the score at 2-10 to 0-6 in the 36th minute, St Marys conceded a penalty after ‘Óigí’ Ó Sé was pulled down, and while Colm Ó Muircheartaigh was again denied by Michael Daly – without whom St Marys would have suffered an even heavier defeat – he netted this time on the rebound to put the home side 13 points up.
From there, it was as one-sided as football can be. All six of An Ghaeltacht’s starting forwards scored during the 60 minutes – each contributing at least one point from play – while four of the six scored in the 25 minutes after Ó Muircheartaigh’s rebounded goal alone. No matter which direction the ball went once in the final third, An Ghaeltacht had scoring threats.
All that was left to decide was by how much they’d win, and it finished at 22 points. An Óigí Ó Sé goal on 50 minutes, following up on a strike by Éanna Ó Conchúir, made it 4-13 to 0-6, while Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaioch polished the scoreline by brining his personal tally from 0-4 to 0-8 with four points in 10 minutes: two from frees, and then two from play.
An Ghaeltacht, technically, are not guaranteed a quarter-final spot – but for the unthinkable to happen, John Mitchels would have to beat them by 15 in Tralee next week, with Beaufort needing the same margin over St Marys in Cahersiveen. Highly unlikely most of the time; out of the question if An Ghaeltacht maintain this form. AN GHAELTACHT: Tomás Mac an tSaoir, Adam Mac Amhlaoibh, Cian Ó Murchú, Séamus Ó Loinsigh, Colm Ó Muircheartaigh (1-0), Pádraig Ó Sé, PJ Mac Láimh, Brian Ó Beaglaioch, Franz Sauerland (1-0), Gearóid Mac an tSaoir (0-1), Éanna Ó Conchúir (0-3, 0-1f), Cathal Ó Beaglaioch (0-2), Pádraig ‘Ogie’ Ó Sé (1-2, 0-1f), Tomás Ó Sé (1-1), Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaioch (0-8, 0-5f). Subs: Caoimhghín Ó Beaglaioch for Mac Amhlaiobh (H/T), Colm Ó Gráinne for Cathal Ó Beaglaioch (37), Ciarán Ó Coileáin for T Ó Sé (37), Pádraig Ó Cathaláin for C Ó Muircheartaigh (44), Seán Ó Lúing for Brian Ó Beaglaioch.
ST MARYS: Michael Daly, Patrick Cournane, Conor O’Shea, Oisín Moran, Niall Brennan, Darragh O’Sullivan, Muiris Fitzgerald, Denis Daly, Kieran O’Driscoll, Darren Casey, Seán Cournane (0-5, 0-3f), Conor Quirke, Anthony Cournane, Jack Daly (0-1), Aidan Walsh (0-1). Subs: Killian Nolan for O’Sullivan (27), Tadhg O’Connor for A Cournane (36), Niall O’Shea for Casey (44), Jack O’Mahony for Fitzgerald (44), Mark Quigley for Quirke (51), Mark O’Shea for D Daly (53)
REFEREE: Paul Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys)