Super Sheehan delivers for South Kerry
The St Mary’s man offered a salient reminder of his prodigious point-kicking abilities as his 10-point haul, divided neatly between play and frees, was instrumental in securing a quarter-final berth for South Kerry as they defeated St Kieran’s, 0-16 to 0-11.
It was the quality of Sheehan’s scores that was most memorable, a fabulous long-range effort from the sideline before half-time edging his team ahead 0-7 to 0-6 and a pair of beautifully measured shots in the final moments sealing their victory.
They began the match with a starting 15 that had altered in complexion from the team that chased four-in-a-row in the county final two years ago, with St Michael’s-Foilmore’s promotion to the senior ranks depriving them of that bunch. But South Kerry still possess a plethora of quality performers, with Killian Young producing an expert defensive showing in the second half to nullify the threat of St Kieran’s John Buckley, and Ronan Hussey offering more persuasive evidence of his offensive capabilities with some sublime points.
The win now sets up a fascinating Iveragh Peninsula quarter-final showdown next weekend when they face a St Michael’s-Foilmore team thriving in their freshman season at this level.
The guile of former Kerry and Cork senior James O’Shea propelled last season’s All-Ireland Intermediate club champions, St Michael’s/Foilmore, into the quarter-finals after a cracking third-round clash with a gutsy West Kerry side on Saturday. They won 3-11 to 1-14.
It was the tie of the Championship to date, as newcomers to the senior ranks, St Michael’s/Foilmore recovered from a shaky start and the loss of their top scorer, Ronan O’Connor, to outstay a West Kerry side who fought to the bitter end.
The crucial difference between the sides proved to be veteran corner forward O’Shea, who coolly slotted home two goals in the second half, a result of the excellent play of target man Cian O’Connor (son of Kerry boss Jack), who had a massive game.
The sides were level at the interval (1-7 apiece), and though St Michael’s-Foilmore lost Ronan O’Connor, O’Shea stepped up to the plate and after kicking his side in front in the 34th minute, he struck for a well-taken goal a minute later.
Brendan O’Driscoll and Bernard Kelly swapped points as St Michael’s/ Foilmore led 2-9 to 1-8 after 40 minutes but the outstanding Eamon Hickson and Tommy Farrell closed the gap to two points with just 10 minutes remaining.
St Michael’s/Foilmore – with four Kerry minors on the pitch at this stage – found themselves pegged back by points from Mike Fitzgerald and Tommy Farrell to level the contest with four minutes left.
Then as the clock struck 60 minutes, Cian O’Connor who had moved out the field, sent in a high ball, that Damien Kelly caught and he spotted James O’Shea, who showed his experience by slipping past a defender and shooting low to the net for the match-winning score.
Meanwhile it was the proverbial mixture of youth and experience that inspired Laune Rangers into the last eight of the AIB Kerry SFC at the expense of Kilcummin on Saturday (0-12 to 0-9).
Having seen their four-point half time lead, 0-8 to 0-4, whittled away in the opening exchanges of the second period, Rangers suddenly found themselves level at 0-8 apiece and being completely overwhelmed.
But second-half sub Johnny Lynch, John Sheehan, Liam Hassett and Mike Frank Russell, who finished with 0-4, steadied a rocking Killorglin ship. Rangers face Austin Stacks this weekend for a place in the semi-final.
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