Gaeltacht back at Kerry’s top table after convincing IFC final win over weary Fossa

TAKE your pick between TPs, Paidi’s or Begleys on Sunday night. You won’t be alone long.

The two Báile na nGall pubs will be a match for the most famous watering hole west of Blennerville bridge after An Ghaeltacht booked a return to Kerry’s senior grade with an emphatic IFC final victory over Fossa in Austin Stack Park.

It’s a second IFC final loss in three years for Fossa, but they’ll have no complaints on this one. Gaeltacht were set up beautifully and executed a smart game plan on both sides of a difficult breeze in Tralee.

It wasn’t that everything we knew was wrong. More that everything we had forgotten about was right. We assumed Brian O’Beagloaich would pick up Paudie Clifford from the get-go. He didn’t. The All-Star in waiting was too busy building a bridgehead for an Ghaeltacht with four two-pointers and a 0-9 first half haul from wing back.

It’s easy to nitpick from the media table but at some point of the first half, with Gaeltacht getting good value from first use of a howling breeze towards the Dunnes end, Fossa might have considered it prudent to drop someone to shut down O’Beaglaoich’s galloping forays into their half. Such was the helping gusts, that anything inside the Fossa 65 was shooting territory for the west Kerry men. And the All-Ireland winner exacted maximum advantage. Gaeltacht changed their defensive set up to counter the Cliffords and the breeze after the break.

It took David Clifford the guts of seven minutes to get a touch, but we’re getting used to that. Less so that his brother Paudie took over 11 minutes to get involved. Against such a breeze and a sharp opposition who were at it from the first whistle, their input was moderate – and playmaker Paudie was nowhere near right.

What Fossa did get was the unexpected fillip of a 26th-minute goal from Emmett O’Shea, unexpected because his 13m free caught us all by surprise, including the Gaeltacht defenders on the line who clearly expected a tap over point. It reduced a yawning 0-11 to 0-3 gap to five points, and Fossa should have been closer by the break – Matt Rennie blazing over the bar with a goal on offer.

Eanna O’Conchuir was lively on the 40 for Gaeltacht, and Aidan Walsh flashed into the game significantly at times – a touch here, a steal there – but the body of work done behind midfield was not insignificant – Franz Sauerland keeping a tight rein on David Clifford, Aodhna O Beaglaoich doing likewise on Paudie.

Gaeltacht tactics changed against the wind, with Brian Ó Beaglaoich doubling up on David Clifford. That, of course, theoretically left a free man for Fossa to exploit if they could. Fossa still worked the ball for Clifford to loop, but now he had two blockers for company.

He did manage his trademark loop for a fine two-pointer in the 41st minute, and clipped over a right footed point a minute later, profiting from a stray Gaeltacht restart. But as the clock ticked on towards 48 minutes, the impressive scores were coming at the other end, against what was a subsiding wind. Cathal O’Beaglaoich claimed a fine individual point, only better by a wonderful end to end point that began with Brian O’Beaglaoich and was finished with aplomb by his defensive colleague, the impressive Kerry U20 Aodhna O’Beaglaoich. 0-17 to 1-8. Like the wind, Fossa’s force was weakening.

Gaeltacht introduced the dancer Tomás O Sé and he was at the end of another sweeping move up the open terrace side to point.

The chances of a Fossa kick further subsided when the board went up calling Paudie Clifford ashore. A conductor gone, obviously not fully fit. Nevertheless David continued the good fight, a raking two pointer in the 53rd minute making it 0-18 to 1-11. Four points but the margin felt wider.

Fossa smelt a moment, but their excitement got the better of them, and they violated the three back rule to present breathing space against to Gaeltacht – Ruairi O’Beaglaoich converting the resultant free to go five up on 57 minutes.

It’s their first time back at the top table since 2018 and that was only for one campaign. It’s been a tough period back in Gallaros, but they’ve shown extraordinary mettle and resilience to get through this intermediate group and knockout campaign and be last men standing.

It will stand them in good stead in 2026 – and for the Sunday night celebrations.

Scorers for An Ghaeltacht: B O’Beaglaoich (0-9, 4 2ps), E O’Conchuir (0-3), C O’Coorrduibh (0-2), R O’Beaglaoich (0-2, 2f), A O Beaglaoich (0-2), C O’Beaglaoich, (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Fossa: D Clifford (0-7, 2 2ps, 1 free), E O’Shea (1-3, 3 frees), M Rennie (0-1). 

AN GHAELTACHT: D O’Seaghda; JJ MacLiam. P Sauerland, A O’Beaglaoich; B O’Beaglaoich, P O’Sé, Sauerland; A Breathnach, C O’Beaglaoich; S Cuinn, E O’Conchuir, PJ McLaimh; C O Coirrdubh, R O’Beaglaoich, C O’Riagáin.

Subs for Gaeltacht: A MacLaoibh for MacLiam (44), T O Sé for O Riagáin (45),G O’Cinnéide for O Cuinn (55) 

FOSSA: S O’Sullivan; D O’Connell, B Myers, S Buckley; K O’Sullivan, E Talbot, P Sheehan; C O’Shea, M Rennie; F Coffey, P Clifford, T O’Gorman; D Clifford, E O’Shea, K Buckley.

Subs for Fossa: H Buckley for Coffey (37), R Colleran for K Buckley (42), D Ryan for Rennie; M O’Dwyer for P Clifford (50).

Referee: P Hayes (Kerins O’Rahilly’s).