West Kerry strike late for first Kerry SFC win in six years

They were made to fight tooth and nail for it by a gallant South Kerry, but West Kerry finished strongly to record their first victory in six years in the Kerry SFC following a narrow preliminary round triumph at JP O’Sullivan Park in Killorglin.

Trailing by three points (1-12 to 1-9) and, despite playing with the benefit of the breeze, the winners were struggling to peg back their spirited opponents. However, with Cathal Ó Beaglaoich thundering into proceedings, they turned the screw when it mattered most.

Maybe it also all hinged on South Kerry making a mess of a clear goal-scoring opportunity when Ciarán O’Sullivan over-hit a hand-pass in the direction of substitute Conor O’Shea in the 50th minute. Gaining such a reprieve, West Kerry then upped the tempo in the last ten minutes.

After excellent replacement Ian O’Sullivan restored the southerners’ three-point cushion with his third point from play, towering West Kerry midfielder Ó Beaglaoich grabbed the encounter by the scruff of the neck with a booming two-pointer from open play.

In the blink of an eye, his engine room partner Thomas O’Donnell fired over the equaliser and, with the pendulum now turning, a Cian O’Grady free, an Ó Beaglaoich beauty from play, and an orange flag placed ball from O’Grady, moved West Kerry four points clear (1-17 to 1-13).

South Kerry, who had fought tremendously all afternoon, didn’t know what had hit them with that West Kerry scoring blitz and, while Emmet Daly drove over two late frees, including one at the death, and West Kerry full-back Colm Moriarty picked up a second yellow, the winners held on to the victory.

South Kerry had the benefit of the breeze in the opening half, but it was West Kerry who got off to the brighter start, despite undoubted fatigue among the An Ghaeltacht contingent after their intermediate success last Sunday.

Midfielder Alex Coffey raised a superb orange flag for South Kerry, but it was their opponents with the narrow lead at the end of the first quarter (0-5 to 0-4). West Kerry, however, were then rocked by a brilliant goal by the afore-mentioned Coffey, after he played a one-two with Daly.

Cian O’Donoghue and Ciarán O’Sullivan were prominent for South Kerry as they moved five points clear (1-8 to 0-6) by the 24th minute. Even without injured inter-county star Graham O’Sullivan, they were gelling very solidly together.

West Kerry, realising that the contest was now going against them, responded in style. Indeed, in the 29th minute, it was the all-Castlegregory combination of O’Donnell, O’Grady and Maurice O’Connell who combined for the latter to flick home at the back post.

Leading by the minimum at half-time (1-8 to 1-7) and, with impressive sub O’Sullivan showing his shooting accuracy, South Kerry remained in front until five minutes from time. They will take sustenance, even from defeat, while West Kerry will be glad of a two-week break.

Scorers for West Kerry: C O’Grady 0-7 (0-4fs, 1tpf), C Ó Beaglaoich 0-4 (1tp), M O’Connell 1-1, R Ó Beaglaoich 0-2, PJ MacLáimh, S Ó Cuinn, T O’Donnell 0-1 each.

Scorers for South Kerry: E Daly 0-6 (1tpf, 0-4fs), A Coffey 1-2 (1tp), S Teahan 0-3 (0-2fs), I O’Sullivan 0-3, Z Fayen 0-1.

WEST KERRY: D Ó Séaghda (An Ghaeltacht); S Ó Cuinn (An Ghaeltacht), C Moriarty (Annascaul), A MacAmhlaoibh (An Ghaeltacht); B Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), F Sauerland (An Ghaeltacht), G Lyne (Annascaul); C Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), T O’Donnell (Castlegregory); PJ Mac Láimh (An Ghaeltacht), E Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht), K Falvey (Annascaul); R Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), C O’Grady (Castlegregory), M O’Connell (Castlegregory).

Subs: C Ó Corduibh (An Ghaeltacht) for O’Connell (42), P Fitzgerald (Castlegregory) for Ó Conchúir (43), C Ó Murchú (An Ghaeltacht) for Falvey (54).

SOUTH KERRY: A Galvin (Valentia Young Islanders); N O’Sullivan (St Michael’s/Foilmore), D O’Sullivan (St Mary’s), O Moran (St Mary’s); M O’Leary (Reenard), C O’Donoghue (St Mary’s), J Foley (Kilgarvan); A Coffey (St Mary’s), S O’Connor (St Michael’s/Foilmore); F O’Sullivan (Skellig Rangers), D O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), C O’Sullivan (Sneem/Derrynane); S Teahan (Reenard), E Daly (Valentia Young Islanders), Z Fayen (Sneem/Derrynane).

Subs: I O’Sullivan (St Michael’s/Foilmore) for O’Connor (ht), R O’Shea (Skellig Rangers) for Foley (ht), B O’Sullivn (Reenard) for N O’Sullivan (ht), C O’Shea (St Mary’s) for F O’Sullivan (42).

Referee: D Clifford (Laune Rangers).