St Brendan’s prove extra special again
St Brendan’s preparations weren’t helped by the fact that a number of their St Pat’s players were attending a wedding abroad, and the absence of Kerry U-21 star Kieran Hurley, who is in the United States.
A family illness meant manager Aidan Daly could not take his place on the sideline, with former Kerry minor boss Pat O’Driscoll taking over the managerial duties.
This was a very poor affair, with scores at a premium in the first half of normal time, at the end of which, St Brendan’s held a two-point lead, 0-4 to 0-2. John Mitchels’ Jamie Moriarty with two frees, Michael Griffin and Kerry hurler John Egan were on target for St Brendan’s in the first half, while Paul Galvin, from a free, and Ricky Heffernan kept Finuge in touch. Galvin landed a brace from frees inside the opening six minutes of the second half to bring the sides level.
St Brendan’s regained the initiative when Damien Wallace swung over a fine point from play in the 38th minute. Moment later St Brendan’s were awarded a penalty and Jamie Moriarty crashed the spot kick to the net to give the District Board side a four-point advantage.
But with Maurice Corridan dominant at midfield, Paul Galvin driving them forward and the introduction of subs Enda Galvin and Jack Corridan adding a different dimension, Finuge fought back. A string of five points from Maurice Corridan, Enda Galvin, Jack Corridan, and James Flaherty pushed Finuge into a one-point lead, 0-9 to 1-5 as the game entered injury time. But Moriarty was the St Brendan’s hero, converting a free following a foul of David O’Callaghan, to force extra-time. O’Callaghan added the only score of the opening period of extra-time, at the end of which St Brendan’s held a one point lead, 1-7 to 0-9. The second period saw St Brendan’s outscore their opponents with points from Alan O’Donoghue and Jamie Moriarty in reply to a Paul Galvin point for Finuge as St Brendan’s hung on to claim a third-round place and Finuge face the prospect of returning to the Intermediate ranks.
Scorers for St Brendan’s: J Moriarty 1-4, (1-0 pen, 0-3 frees), D Wallace, M Griffin, A O’Donoghue, J Egan, D O’Callaghan, D Carmody 0-1 each.
Scorers for Finuge: Paul Galvin 0-6 (0-5 frees); M Corridan 0-1 (0-1 frees), J Flaherty, E Galvin, R Heffernan, J Corridan 0-1 each.
ST BRENDAN’S: P O’Sullivan (Churchill); D Collins (Ardfert), L Bastible (John Mitchels), E Doody (Na Gaeil); L Mulligan (St Pat’s Blennerville), D Dineen (Ardfert), M Brennan (Churchill); B Costello (John Mitchels) , D Wallace (Ardfert); M Griffin (Na Gaeil); A O’Donoghue (John Mitchels), J Egan (Ardfert); D O’Callaghan (St Pat’s Blennerville), M Ferris (Ardfert); J Moriarty (John Mitchels).
Subs: D Carmody (Na Gaeil) for J Egan; D Griffin (Ardfert) for M Griffin.
FINUGE: C Fitzmaurice; C Allen, D McCarthy, C Fitzmaurice; Paudie Galvin, P Corridan, M Stackpoole; M Corridan, T McKenna; P Galvin, J Flaherty, S Power; R Heffernan, J Griffin, R Galvin.
Subs: J Corridan for S Power, E Galvin for R Heffernan, D O’Sullivan for R Galvin.
Referee: Peter Lyons (Cromane).
