O’Connor’s three-goal blast delivers victory for Dingle

Dingle 5-5 Kilcummin 0-11

The eventual winners looked out of sorts in an error-ridden first-half. Their much vaunted attack containing the Geaneys, Michael, Paul and David, had failed to fire and was guilty of wasteful shooting. Shane McSweeney and Kevin Gorman held sway at midfield for the home side, while Kilcummin’s attack was more economical than their opponents. DJ Fleming kicked three points, McSweeney and Gorman scored one each, as did Daniel O’Leary and Mike McCarthy in a clinical display. Even Kerry county goalkeeper Brendan Kealy was on target, converting a 45.

Dingle’s profligacy, due chiefly to speculative shooting, could have left them in more difficulty. The 30th minute saw them 0-8 to 1-1 in arrears and down to 14 men – Paul Devane seeing red in the 17th minute for an off-the-ball incident. Then enter goal hero O’Connor. The tall attacker had already made his presence felt by punching home an opportunist goal from a long-range delivery after 15 minutes. He repeated the dose ahead of half-time when he took advantage of defensive hesitancy and diverted Paul Geaney’s free to Kealy’s net.