Stephen O’Brien shines as Kenmare get act together

Kenmare District 5-15 St Brendan’s District 0-8: This time last year Kenmare’s no-show was making the headlines in the opening round of the Kerry SFC, but yesterday it was their first-half demolition job on a weak St Brendan’s District side that caught the eye.

In a sun-splashed Father Breen Park, the game was over as a contest by half time as Kenmare District moved with menace up front. Kerry’s Stephen O’Brien was the catalyst for most of the good things that his side did, with Cian Hallissey and Paul O’Connor kicking early points, but St Brendan’s replied with two frees from midfielder Jack Barry.

Then Kenmare District struck for two goals in a minute. The first came Killian Spillane finished to an empty net and from the kick-out, O’Brien found the net.

Killian Spillane added a sublime point and Paul O’Connor soon added a third goal, after a surging run by centre back Tadgh Morley.

Five unanswered points followed from Cian Hallissey, Paul O’Connor, Adrian Spillane, Stephen O’Brien, and John Spillane and then another O’Connor goal and Kenmare District led 4-8 to 0-4 at half time, and the game was over. St Brendan’s did not help their cause by going for goals after the restart, while Kenmare withdrew their heavy artillery midway through the second half, used six subs and added 1-7 without too much fuss, with Mark Crowley scoring a fifth goal.

Scorers Kenmare District: P O’Connor (2-2, 1 free); S O Brien and K Spillane (1-1 each); C Hallissey (0-4), M Crowley (1-0), B Crowley (0-2), J Spillane, F O’Sullivan, A Spillane, K O’Sullivan, and S O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

St Brendan’s District: C Fitzgerald (0-3, 1 free); J Barry (0-2 frees); B Poff (0-2); L Bastible (0-1)

KENMARE DISTRICT:

S O Sullivan (Tousist); D Crowley (Kenmare), G Crowley (Templenoe) T O’Sullivan (Kenmare); P Clifford (Templenoe), T Morley (Templenoe), J Spillane (Templenoe); F O’Sullivan (Tousist), A Spillane (Templenoe); S O Brien (Kenmare), C Hallissey (Templenoe), K O’Sullivan (Kenmare); K Spillane ( Templenoe), P O’Connor ( Kenmare), B Crowley (Templenoe).

Subs:

M Crowley (Kenmare) for J Spillane (37), S O’Sullivan (Templenoe) for P O’Sullivan (43), Mike Tim O’Sullivan (Tousist) for K Spillane (43) M Hallissey (Templenoe) for T O’Sullivan (50), D O Shea (Kenmare) for P Clifford (53), S Sheehan for K O’Sullivan (55)

ST BRENDAN’S:

E O’Brien (Churchill); P McMahon (St Pats), K Dineen (Na Gaeil), L Mulligan (St Pats); M Brennan (Churchill), L Bastible (John Mitchels), J Barry (Na Gaeil); D O’Connor (Na Gaeil), D Culloty (Na Gaeil); M Griffin (Na Gaeil), C Fitzgerald (Churchill), C Crowley (Churchill ); S Moloney (John Mitchels), L Poff (St Pats), B Poff (St Pats):

Subs:

D Herlihy (Na Gaeil) for L Poff (19), R Murphy (Na Gaeil) for C Crowley (h/t), K O’Donovan (Na Gaeil) for S Moloney (46), G Bastible (John Mitchels) for M Griffin (48).

Referee:

J O’Sullivan (Firies)