THIS opening round of the Garveys Kerry senior football championship at Caherciveen yesterday proved to be much closer than generally anticipated, despite the underdogs being limited by the loss of eight players.

DEFENDING champions Coláiste na Sceilge served notice that they have no intention of surrendering their Irish Examiner Corn Uí Mhuirí title with a crushing victory over St Flannan's in the first of the semi-finals at Glin yesterday.