Wasteful Stacks survive Gaeltacht test

FIVE points from replacements Graham O’Connell and David T Clifford proved the deciding factors as Austin Stacks defeated An Ghaeltacht 0-13 to 0-8 in yesterday’s poor Kerry SFC third-round clash at Austin Stack Park.

Stacks can thank their lucky stars that Kerry’s Tomas O Sé was absent from the Gaeltacht side or they might have paid dearly for some dreadful shooting, with 14 wides in total.

Stacks can also thank veteran midfielder William Kirby who gave a man-of-the-match display while Darragh O Sé and Kieran Donaghy more or less cancelled each other out.

Daniel Bohan was solid at centre back for Stacks who started brightly but kicked far too many scoreable chances, with centre forward Mikey Collins having a nightmare afternoon.

Favourites Dr Croke’s march on after yesterday’s Killarney derby clash against Legion in Fitzgerald Stadium, yet they took their time in putting this one to bed.

For a large chunk of their 0-16 to 0-10 win, it was delicately poised as Legion provided Dr Croke’s with a stringent test of their credentials. Croke’s showed signs of a long spell of inactivity and started without hamstring victim Eoin Brosnan.

In the final quarter, however, the greater experience of Croke’s manifested itself: around the middle they exerted a stranglehold through Ambrose O’Donovan and John Buckley, while Legion’s tactic of deploying a third midfielder played into Dr Croke’s hands as James Cahalane exerted influence, encapsulated by his booming point in the 41st minute.

That score kick-started a critical phase. Legion had just trimmed the gap to the minimum, courtesy of Tomas Moriarty, but Croke’s riposted through Cahalane and Daithí Casey from play, while Colm Cooper and Casey slotted over frees, and by 46 minutes, it was 0-13 to 0-8 Croke’s.

Cooper benefited from being switched out to centre-forward for the second half, Kieran O’Leary enjoyed better fortunes in possession while Dr Croke’s best forward, Casey, continued to impress.

In the last eight, the Killarney side will meet divisional side, St Brendan’s. A 39th minute goal from their midfielder David Culloty proved decisive as they hung on to beat a disappointing Dingle side 1-9 to 0-11 in Tralee.

Dingle struggled to match Brendan’s pace but over-elaboration in attack cost St Brendan’s. They were on top at midfield where David Culloty and Liam Poff held the upper hand on Darragh O’Sullivan and tired looking Kerry star, Tommy Griffin.

The sides were still 0-6 each on the turnover and though Darragh O’Sullivan gave Dingle the lead in the 35th minute, within four minutes Brendan’s struck for the game’s only goal. David O’Callaghan found Paul O’Donoghue who crossed for David Culloty to make contact as Diarmuid Murphy advanced; though Murphy parried, Culloty steered the ball to the net.

In the other third-round tie, Feale Rangers had a 2-8 to 0-13 win over Kenmare.