Rangers end Mid Kerry reign

THE last two Kerry football champions collided in this heavyweight Austin Stack Park clash yesterday, but the superiority of Feale Rangers ensured they were always going to be the ones standing at the final bell.

With the 2007 and 2008 victors, there was a feverish level of anticipation ahead of yesterday’s Kerry SFC quarter-final. However, 60 minutes of football on a sun-splashed afternoon only generated intermittent sparks rather than any dazzling fireworks. The drab fare was primarily due to the vastly diverging team performances, as Rangers hit soaring heights whereas Mid Kerry flatlined. Rangers certainly benefited from the previous Sunday’s championship test against Kenmare, as they adjusted to the pace and tempo of the game quicker. In contrast, Mid Kerry looked as lethargic as any team would after a mammoth 16-week gap between competitive matches.

The North Kerry men conjured up a display that was packed with strength and power. Astonishingly, they restricted Mid Kerry to only one point from play in the whole match and that came after 30 seconds from Darran O’Sullivan. Mid Kerry’s low total was a testament to the vigour and aggression of Feale Rangers defenders Pat Corridan, Kieran Quirke and John O’Brien.