An Ghaeltacht have too much power and class for Rathmore

“TOO powerful” — that was the apt summation of Rathmore coach John Fintan Daly after watching his charges play second fiddle to a quick-moving An Ghaeltacht outfit in the first round of the AIB Kerry SFC on Saturday.

There were times when Gaeltacht threatened to steamroll through this opening-round clash and, had they been more focused with the final pass in the opening half, they might well have done so.

But some astute changes in the second half put more pep into Rathmore’s play and suddenly An Ghaeltacht found themselves in a match, although, it has to be stressed, one they were never going to lose.

Gaeltacht led 0-4 to 0-1 after the opening quarter and while Michael O’Riordan was Rathmore’s main threat up front, county stars Aidan O’Mahony and Tom O’Sullivan were failing to exert any dominance in an overworked half-backline.

Thus, the forward division was starved of quality possession and with Darragh Ó Sé and Ronan Ó Flatharta — now at midfield following an injured to Rob MacGearailt — hugely influential, it was one-way traffic.

Gaeltacht led 0-9 to 0-3 at the break but Rathmore’s move of O’Mahony and big John Buckley to midfield was a good one and certainly the Kerry defender’s determined play broke the stranglehold of Ó Sé and Ó Flatharta.

O’Mahony soon joined Darragh Ó Sé in referee Tom Lynch’s notebook as things began to hot up, and certainly the Gaeltacht outfit didn’t like a lot of the Kerins O’Rahilly official’s decisions.

Entering the final quarter Gaeltacht still led 0-11 to 0-6, and the closest Rathmore, who must now come through the back-door system, came to Gaeltacht’s lead was when they moved within three points in the 56th minute as Damien Casey kicked two fine efforts.

In other first round games on Saturday, Kerins O’Rahillys were put to the pin of their collar to claim a 0-15 to 0-13 victory over Milltown/Castlemaine. Kerry’s Michéal Quirke inspired the Strand Road outfit, who trailed going into added time, only for Declan Quill’s fourth point to force extra time.

In that extra period O’Rahillys outscored their hosts by 0-2 to 0-1 in each 10 minute half — Quill with two points, while John O’Connor and Rory Molly also found their target.

All-Ireland IFC club champions Ardfert had a winning Kerry SFC debut at Lerrig with a 3-5 to 1-10 win over Legion.

The result also secures their senior championship status for next season, while Legion have to take the backdoor route to avoid the trap door.

Ardfert coach Pat O’Driscoll may have made GAA history at Lerrig. After managing his club side to victory, he then coached St Brendan’s (now without the Ardfert players) to a surprise, if deserved, 1-14 to 3-6 win over St Kieran’s.

Scorers for An Ghaeltacht: D Ó Cinnéide 0-5 (frees), T Ó Choncúir, A MacGearailt, SM Ó Chonchúir 0-2 each, R MacGearailt, M Ó Sé, C MacGearailt, E MacGearailt 0-1 each.

Rathmore: MA Kelleher, J Murphy, M O’Riordan (frees) D Casey (0-1 free) 0-2 each, J Buckley, I Kelleher.