GARVEY’S SUPERVALU COUNTY SFC GROUP 3 ROUND 3
West Kerry 3-9
Na Gaeil 4-15
So-called useless rubbers between eradicated groups typically go one in every of two methods: they’re both drained solely of color or loaded with scoring alternatives.
Fortunately this conflict between Na Gaeil and West Kerry went the latter approach, and although it is perhaps a stretch to name this seven-goal contest a thriller – Na Gaeil gained by 9, in spite of everything – it was all the time open and sometimes gratifying.
Had the Tralee aspect gained by a number of factors extra, it might need higher mirrored happenings on Saturday night; as soon as they discovered their footing, they by no means appeared second greatest. Nevertheless it took longer than it ought to must put the sport past doubt as West Kerry delivered bursts of scores when least anticipated.
The primary such burst arrived virtually instantly, inside 25 seconds, as West Kerry drove ahead from the throw in and Marc Ó Mainnín bulleted the ball to the roof of the web, and the identical man curled over a pleasant level off his left boot two minutes later to place the peninsula 4 in entrance.
That, nevertheless, was as far forward as they’d get. A Tomás Ó hAiniféin level adopted by a pair of frees scored by Diarmuid O’Connor gave Na Gaeil their platform, and the sport settled right into a sample: Tralee ascendancy, interrupted very colourfully however solely often by the house staff.
Na Gaeil landed 4 of the following 5 factors – a Diarmuid O’Connor rating, stemming from his solo run from 65 metres out, being the decide of the litter – after which, over three action-packed minutes, frenzy erupted.
At 1-2 to 0-6 down on the quarter-hour mark, West Kerry had an incredible aim likelihood, however Roibeard Ó Sé missed the follow-up to an Éanna Ó Conchúir shot coming off the upright. Andrew Barry pointed for Na Gaeil off the following play earlier than West Kerry labored one other aim alternative, however raised hopes once more fell flat as Killian Falvey struck timidly left and broad.
As pissed off as West Kerry will need to have felt by then, Na Gaeil’s response instantly made issues a lot worse: goalkeeper Tommy Pierce could have gotten a contact, however Jack Sheehan put such power into his strike that the ball nonetheless rocketed into the highest proper nook to make it 1-7 to 1-2. On 23 minutes, Sheehan did it once more, ending coolly to the web after accepting a handpass from James O’Connor for 2-7 to 1-3.
A rout appeared seemingly. After which, a twist in West Kerry’s favour: two targets in two minutes.
After Killian Falvey’s try to chip Devon Burns rebounded again into play, Burns stopped the primary follow-up earlier than Thomas O’Donnell hit the web. Not lengthy after, O’Donnell was knocked to floor and there have been requires a free, however he as a substitute received again up, superior goalwards, and took his second main to make it 3-3 to 2-7.
As thrilling as issues felt then, it wouldn’t proceed. Na Gaeil kicked the final two factors of the primary half and the primary two of the second, and when Éanna Ó Conchúir had a penalty and follow-up saved after he was himself dragged down within the field on 34 minutes, the match had straightened out on a path to a now-inevitable Na Gaeil win.
The edges traded two factors every as the sport settled into 12 of its extra sedate minutes, and at 2-13 to 3-5, Na Gaeil all however determined the competition after pouncing on a West Kerry kickout. Sheehan was once more concerned, however this time as supplier as he teed up Darragh Reen for the Tralee aspect’s third aim on 48 minutes.
West Kerry did have yet one more of their scoring bursts in them – Roibeard Ó Sé landed two factors in fast succession shortly after Reen’s aim – however na Gaeil outscored them by two factors to 1 between then and added time as a once-fizzing encounter petered out lamely.
Or it threatened to peter out, anyway. When Na Gaeil’s Dan Goggin collected the ball from Jimi O’Sullivan within the fourth added minute, he made positive this topsy-turvy night in Gallaras completed because it began: with a aim.
WEST KERRY: Tommy Pierce (Annascaul), Cathal Ó Gairbhía (An Ghaeltacht), Cathal Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht, 0-2), David Smith (Annascaul), Pádraig Óg Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), PJ Mac Láimh (An Ghaeltacht), Steven Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht), Roibeard Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht, 0-2), Jason Hickson (Annascaul, 0-1, 1f), Cian Grady (Castlegregory), Thomas O’Donnell (Castlegregory, 2-0), James Crean (Annascaul), Killian Falvey (Annascaul), Marc Ó Mainnín (Lios Póil, 1-1), Éanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht, 0-3, 2f). Subs: Séamus Lyne (Castlegregory) for Smith, 39; Cormac Ó Cinnéide (Lios Póil) for Crean, 44; Andrew Finn (Annascaul) for Ó Gairbhía, 44; Fiach Ó Loingsigh (An Ghaeltacht) for Hickson, 52; Ciarán Ó Coileáin (An Ghaeltacht) for P Ó Sé, 52.
NA GAEIL: Devon Burns (0-1, 1 ‘45’), Jack Doyle, Niall O’Mahony, Darragh Reen (1-1), Enda O’Connor, Eoin Doody, Luke Barrett, Jack Barry, Diarmuid O’Connor (0-8, 6f), Andrew Barry (0-1), Dan Goggin (1-0), James O’Connor, Kieran O’Donovan, Tomás Ó hAiniféin (0-1), Jack Sheehan (2-2). Subs: Ruairí O’Sullivan for Doody, 22; Dara Devine for Barrett, HT; Cian Devine (0-1) for O’Donovan, 45; Séamus Looney for Reen, 51; Jimi O’Sullivan for J O’Connor, 55.
REFEREE: Denis Kennelly (Moyvane)
