GAA: An Ghaeltacht conquer Munster without realising true potential

IT MIGHT NOT have been pretty, but the historians won’t give a second thought to the quality of An Ghaeltacht’s first ever provincial football success.

Certainly not in the deepest part of west Kerry, where the passionate GAA followers now have an AIB Munster Club title to go with their two Kerry SFC titles.

What will concern those students of the game is the continuing tendency of their star-studded side to fall short of their true potential; against a more experienced side, they could well have left this title behind them in Limerick's Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

Despite their obvious superiority in class, the Kerry champions could never stamp their outright authority, and they will have to play at a level (or two) above this to still be around next St Patrick's Day.

One will never know how the game would have panned out had St. Senans not lost the services of Ger Keane late in the first half after he had given his side a two point lead with a marvellous goal in the 22nd minute.

In the process of scoring Keane damaged a hamstring and had to be taken off, and while he was re-introduced towards the end as the Clare champions looked for a second goal, he was clearly hampered by the injury which has plagued him all season.

In a game that had few moments to enthuse about, except for a couple of superb high catches by Darragh O'Sé, four delightful points from play by Denis Russell and a couple of excellent saves by the goalkeepers, there were two main talking points.

It may be unique in a major championship game that every score came from play, a tribute to both sets of defenders and the referee who opted to give the forwards the advantage when in possession.

While the game had its football highs, the most startling incidents involved the sporadic skirmishes throughout, not least when David Russell was fortunate to stay on the field after clearly punching Darragh Ó Sé.

Ó Sé too was lucky after a reckless challenge on a Senan's player early in the first half, but despite five yellow cards, four to An Ghaeltacht players, it wasn't a dirty game.

The new champions were grateful for an excellent save by goalkeeper Padraig Ó hÉalaithe who denied Michael O'Shea a goal in the 10th minute after Marc Ó Sé let the ball slip through his hands.

Tomás Ó Sé was outstanding at centre back, producing a performance that won him the "man of the match" award, and as he has done in most of the games this season, he also managed to get on the scoreboard.

Darragh Ó Sé had sufficient good moments at midfield where he and Pól Ó Cuinn never allowed the Russell brothers David and Denis to dominate like they did in their semi-final against Cahir.

Up front Tomás Ó Conchúir, Conall Ó Cruadhlaoich and Aodán MacGearailt were the pick of the Gaeltacht forwards.

This was St. Senans' third unsuccessful appearance in a final, but they can have no complaints on this occasion.

They never functioned like they did in the semi-final, and while John Enright was easily the best of the six backs, in attack, they flattered to deceive, with only Ger Keane posing any real threat until his enforced retirement.

Keane's goal put the Clare champions 1-3 to 0-4 in front after 22 minutes, and thoughts of a first Munster title must surely have crossed their minds.

However, An Ghaeltacht recovered well for the remaining minutes to the break and with Tomás Ó Sé orchestrating matters from the back, the sides went in on level terms, 0-6 to 1-3, after Tomás Ó Cruadhlaoich and Dara Ó Cinnéide kicked a point apiece.

There was a bit more urgency in Gaeltacht's play on the changeover, manifesting itself in a marvellous goal by Ó Cruadhlaoich in the 33rd minute, when he finished a great move involving Ó Cinnéide and Aodán MacGearailt, to the net.

That goal completely knocked the wind out of St. Senans sails, and the decision to use only two players in the full forward line, coupled with driving the ball in too high, meant the Kerry champions remained well in control for most of the second half.

However, they were always vulnerable to a late goal and were grateful for the full time whistle, particularly after Denis Russell's 58th minute point two more were added for injuries left just two between the sides.

Scorers for An Gaeltacht: C. Ó Cruadhlaoich 1-1; D. Ó Cinnéide 0-2; A. MacGearailt, R. MacGearailt, T. Ó Conchúir, T. Ó Sé, C. Ó Dubhda 0-1 each.

St. Senans: Denis Russell 0-4; D. Keane 1-0; M. O'Shea, N. O'Shea 0-1 each.

AN GHAELTACHT: P. Ó hÉalaithe; F. Ó Sé, M. Ó Sé, S. MacSithigh; D. MacGEarailt, T. Ó Sé, B. Breathnach; D. Ó Sé, P. Ó Cuinn; C. Ó Cruadhaloich, R. MacGearailt, T. Ó Conchúir; C. Ó Dubhda, D. Ó Cinnéide, A. MacGearailt.

Fir Ionaid: J. J. Cordubh for Ó Cruadhlaoich; T. Ó Muircheartaigh for A. MacGearailt.

ST. SENANS: K. Harte; D. Kelly, G. Crotty, C. Kirwin; B. McNamara, B. Smyth, J. Enright; Denis Russell, David Russell; J. Larkin, G. Keane, M. Keane; N. O'Shea, M. O'Shea, B. Harte.

Subs. K. Larkin for G. Keane; D. de Loughrey for J. Larkin; G. Keane for K. Larkin; D. Garvey for B. McNamara.

Referee: J. Geaney (Cork).