Mixed luck for Keel teams in Mid Kerry football finals
A more determined and passionateperformance from a gutsy Keel side enabled them to capture the Mid KerryU21 title. In doing so they collected the ...
A more determined and passionateperformance from a gutsy Keel side enabled them to capture the Mid KerryU21 title. In doing so they collected the Eugie Ferris Memorial Cup forthe first time in their history and their first Mid Kerry title at seniorlevel in almost two decades.
The game itself was a tough, rugged affair, with many errors. But extratime provided heart-stopping fare and it was in the first period of extratime that Keel ensured that their name would be etched on the cup.
Holders Milltown/Castlemaine started the game as slight favourites, courtesyof their semi-final win over Laune Rangers, but from the outset Keel wereno way overawed by their first appearance in an U 21 final.
The game started slowly and the first score didn't come until the eighthminute - a William Harmon point for Milltown/Castlemaine.
Three minutes later Keel marksman Kieran Foley equalised and this set thetrend for the game as Harmon and Foley supplied the majority of the scoresthroughout. The two traded further points before a Foley point in the 19thminute gave his side the lead for the first time.
Full forward Colm Kerins equalised for the holders, but it was talismanFoley who had the final say of the half, with pointed frees in the 29thand 30th minute. This meant that Keel held a two-point advantage ( 0-5 to0-3) at the break.
With Paudie McCarthy outstanding at midfield, the losers upped the tempoand points from Harmon (2) and Kerins left Milltown/Castlemaine leading0-6 to 0-5 at the three-quarter stage.
They dominated long periods of this half, but failed to capitalise scorewise - which they were to later rue. It took the winners until the 17thminute of the half to get their opening score, Foley again obliging.
This after M/Castlemaine had a goal disallowed for what referee Frank Walshconsidered a square ball when Kerins rose to punch to the net. Owen Flynnagain edged M/Castlemaine in front, but Foley - (he scored all his side'sseven points in normal time - saved the day with another pointed free.
So the game went to extra time.
Keel couldn't have asked for a better start.Impressive substitute Thomas Knightly pointed and Mikey O'Connor capitalisedon a defensive error to shoot to the net. All this inside the first minute.
Harmon pegged back two points but again O'Connor struck for goal, this timefisting the ball to the net. Keel were now riding high and they added furtherpoints to lead 2-11 to 0-10 after the first period of extra time.
Sevenpoints down, and limbs tiring, it didn't look good for the holders. Theyhad a mountain to climb, but to their credit they didn't throw in the towel.
Points from Kerins and Harmon plus two from Donal Kelliher reduced thedeficit, but despite the failure of Keel to score in this period and thedismissal of David Clifford, the losers couldn't get the all important goal$= Foley.
Shortly afterwards, referee Frank Walsh blew the final whistle and Keelwere champions for 2000. While this competition is in its infancy, thereis no doubt it has captured the public interest, as demonstrated by thecrowds that attended the semis and final and it is sure to grow in the yearsto come.
Keel were best served by Ian Foley, Dermot O'Connor, Maurice Flaherty, JasonFoley, Mikey O'Connor and Kieran Foley, while Mike Cronin, Damien Murphy,George Mckenna, Paudie McCarthy and William Harmon were the pick of thelosers.
John Dowling, chairman of the Mid Kerry Board, presented the cup to winningcaptain, Kieran Foley, who also picked up the Man of the Match award,sponsored by O'Sheas Bar, Milltown.
Keel: Ian Foley, Martin Flaherty, Dermot O'Connor, Trevor O'Connor, MarkFoley, Jason Foley, James Nagle, Gary Murphy, Maurice Flaherty, Liam O'Shea,Mike O'Connor 2-1, David Clifford, Terry O'Sullivan 0-1, Kieran Foley, capt.,0-8, Gerard Foley. Subs: David Moriarty for G Foley, Thomas Knightly (0-1)for D Clifford, Pat Nash for D Moriarty, D Clifford for J Foley (inj).
Milltown/Castlemaine: Gary Murphy, Mike Mangan, Damien Murphy (Capt), MikeCronin, Morgan McCarthy, George Mckenna, Stephen Clifford, Paudie McCarthy,William Harmon 0-8, Andrew Flynn, Kieran Burke, Owen Flynn 0-1, Donal Kelliher0-2, Colm Kerins 0-3, Alfie Giles. Subs William Burke for A Giles (inj),Colin McKenna for W Burke.
Referee: Frank Walsh (Cromane).
O'SULLIVAN CUP FINAL:.
BEAUFORT 2-9 KEEL 0-8
Keel appeared in their second final in thespace of five days, when they took on Beaufort in the O'Sullivan Cup finalin the Paddy Burke Memorial Park, Milltown on Saturday evening. With nineof the victorious U21 side on duty, they were hoping to complete a momentousdouble.
However, Beaufort had other ideas and their better all-round ability enabledthem to claim the first senior title of the year.
The winners were into their stride early and full-forward Vincent O'Donoghueforced Keel custodian Ian Foley to produce a wonder save inside the firsttwo minutes. Keel raced up field and wing forward Tommy Evans opened thescoring.
In a half that produced very little to excite the fair-sized crowd, DonieHarnett equalised before Beaufort wing back John A O'Sullivan was forcedto retire with a head injury and he was replaced by Robert Doyle.
Ian O'Shea, who caused the Keel backline numerous problems, had two pointsand O'Donoghue added another to put Beaufort 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after 25minutes. Keel responded with points from Kieran Foley and John A Hilliardbefore another O'Shea point left Beaufort leading by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.
On the resumption, Foley reduced the deficit to the bare minimum. O'Sheanotched another before the winners hit a purple patch to put the game beyondKeel's reach.
In the 10th minute a Keel attack was broken up by the excellent John BO'Brien. His clearance found Aidan Cremin and he in turn set up full-forwardVincent O'Donoghue whose shot found the net.
Four minutes later they struck again, this time Eamon Breen converting arebound to the net, after Foley had denied Donie Harnett with anotherbrilliant stop.
Michael Foley added a point and suddenly nine points separated the sidesas Beaufort led 2-7 to 0-4, heading into the last quarter. Whatever chanceKeel had of a revival went by the wayside when, nine minutes from time,substitute Liam O'Shea received his marching orders after he became involvedin a minor melee in front of the Beaufort goal.
The rest of the game was played at pedestrian pace. Ian O'Shea and Creminhad further points for the winners while Kieran Foley had three excellentscores for the losers.
While Beaufort were slow to start they certainly shaped up well, especiallyin the second half, and they showed signs that they could be in the shake-up for championship honours later in the season.
They were best served by the O'Brien brothers, Kevin and John Brendan, EamonBreen, Aidan Cremin, Vincent O'Donoghue and Ian O'Shea while Ian Foley,Anthony Evans, Tommy Evans, Dermot O'Connor and Kieran Foley impresseedfor Keel.
Mid Kerry Board chairman John Dowling presented the O'Sullivan Cup on behalfof the O'Sullivan family, Glenbeigh, to winning captain Ian O'Shea, whileO'Shea also won the Man of the Match award, sponsored by Willie Murphy ofMurphys Bar, The Mall.
Beaufort: Brian Murphy, Kevin O'Brien, Jimmy Doyle, John B O'Brien, JohnA O'Sullivan, Eamon Breen 1-0, Eanna O'Malley, Michael Foley 0-1, AnthonyBreen, Cormac O'Shea 0-1, Aidan Cremin 0-1, Jerry Kelliher, Donie Hartnett0-1, Vincent O'Donoghue 1-0, Ian O'Shea Capt 0-5. Subs: Robert Doyle forJ A O'Sullivan (inj), Pa Doyle for A Breen, Brendan Breen for Kelliher,Denis P Moriarty for C O'Shea.
Keel: Ian Foley, Trevor O'Connor, Dermot O'Connor, Jason Foley, James Nagle,Maurice Flaherty, Gene Evans, Aidan Foley, Anthony Evans, Tommy Evans 0-1,John A Hilliard 0-1, Mikey O'Connor, Kieran Foley 0-6, Kieran Flynn, TerryO'Sullivan. Subs: Liam O'Shea for M Connor, Mark Foley for T Sullivan,Paddy Hilliard for J Foley (inj).
Referee: Michael O'Reilly (Laune Rangers).