Douglas off to flying start in premier grade
The treacherous underfoot conditions might not have been conducive to the flair usually associated with the competition, but the Cork-Kerry rivalry produced a fair measure of close exchanges and heroics on both sides.
Even the fact the teams had to endure a 50 minute delay while a referee was located did not dampen spirits and Douglas CS were quickly into their stride.
They literally camped in the St Brendan's half of the pitch for the opening eight minutes but, try as they could, were unable to convert their dominance on to the scoreboard. With Paddy White lording it at midfield and centre-back Eoin Cadogan driving upfield out of defence, they created an abundance of chances.
St Brendan's, with Kieran Lynch and Jason Arthur dropping back to help a pressurised defence, gradually worked their way upfield, and it was Kieran Lynch, in a one-two with the corner forward, who opened the scoring after 10 minutes. Stephen Bermingham equalised with a free and it was similarly nip an tuck for the remainder of the half.
Jason Arthur and Bermingham swapped points before the latter had a glorious goal opportunity following a poor kick out but blasted over and not under the crossbar.
St Brendan's centre-forward Kieran Lynch, plus a long-range sideline kick from Michael O'Grady, edged the Sem back in front before Douglas reasserted their authority and they must have been disappointed to go in 0-5 apiece at the break.
Douglas attacked on the resumption and were denied again when Stephen Bermingham got his fist to a Mark Harrington centre only to see it come back off the upright with the keeper beaten.
St Brendan's went two points up and it appeared as if the old craft and guile might see them through. One of the points was scored by Pa Moloney, out through injury but introduced at half time, and he posed a real threat.
A point from a Stephen Bermingham free and another from Mark Harrington, had them back on level terms 17 minutes into the second half.
Then Fintan O'Leary put Douglas in front and their confidence was growing as Paddy White drove over his third point of the game. Two points from Jason Arthur had Brendan's level again but when Harrington fisted a Pat White free over the bar and Bermingham and Harrington, who were involved in all of the action, added two more, St Brendan's could find no more against a resolute Douglas defence.
Scorers for Douglas CS : S Bermingham 0-5 (0-3 frees), M Harrington 0-3 (0-1 free), P White 0-3 (0-1 '45), F O'Leary 0-1.
Scorers for St Brendan's: K Lynch 0-4, J Arthur 0-3 (0-2 frees), M O'Grady (free) and P Moloney 0-1 each.
DOUGLAS CS: D Dorney; J McCarthy, D O'Connor, G Hanrahan; P Kelly, E Cadogan,
M O'Callaghan; P White, J Moylan; G Drennan,
M Harrington, F O'Leary; D O'Connell, K Barry,
S Bermingham.
Subs: C O'Sullivan for M O'Callaghan; B
O'Connor for C O'Sullivan.
ST BRENDAN'S: C Myers; G Browne, L Quinn,
E Cronin; D O'Sullivan, D O'Connor, L O'Connell; J O'Sullivan, D Foy; J O'Sullivan, K Lynch,
N O'Mahony; J Arthur, M O'Grady, B O'Leary.
Sub: P Moloney for B O'Leary.
Referee: D McCarthy (Macroom).
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