Paul O’Connor goal seals deal as Kenmare in control

Kenmare District 1-16 St Brendan’s Board 1-10: Kenmare District eventually came good in this lacklustre Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SFC clash with St Brendan’s at a sun-splashed Austin Stack Park.

The opening half was a mediocre affair with Stephen O’Brien getting through some good early work but St Brendan’s were on top at midfield where Stephen Okunbar and Kevin Shanahan were dominant.

Paul O’Connor opened the scoring for Kenmare with Stephen O’Sullivan adding another point in the sixth minute before Ivan Parker had a point for St Brendan’s in the 10th minute followed moments later by a James Duggan equaliser.

The sides retired 0-5 apiece at the break with Paul O’Connor scoring a good point in the 26th minute having being set up by O’Brien when a goal was surely on his radar.

St Brendan’s took the lead on the restart with an Alan O’Donoghue free but that was as good as it got as Kenmare appeared to be playing with much more urgency with the Templenoe/Kenmare combination really kicking into gear.

O’Brien continued to create havoc and five unanswered points from Killian Spillane, Adrian Spillane, Stephen O’Brien and Sean O’Shea as Kenmare moved 0-10 to 0-6 in front.

Four more points followed for Kenmare while David Griffin and an Ivan Parker free left six points between the sides before Brian Crowley extended Kenmare’s advantage again.

In a dramatic finish Brendan Poff goaled for the losers while Daithi Griffin and Stephen Wallace added points but it was too little too late as Paul O’Connor scored a sublime goal for Kenmare District to seal their easy win.

Scorers for Kenmare District: P. O’Connor (1-4, 1 free), S. O’Shea (0-4), S. O’Brien and S. O’Sullivan (0-2 each), A. Spillane, B. Crowley, K. Spillane and P Clifford 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Brendan’s Board: B. Poff (1-0), I. Parker (0-2, 1 free), D. Griffin (0-2), E. O’Brien (0-1, 0-1 ’45), P. McMahon, B. Barrett, A. O’Donoghue, J. Duggan and D. Wallace 0-1 each.

KENMARE DISTRICT: K. Fitzgibbon (Kenmare); D. Crowley (Kenmare), T. Morley (Templenoe), K. O’Neill Templenoe); G. Crowley (Templenoe), D. O’Shea (Kenmare), P. Clifford (Templenoe) ; A. Spillane (Templenoe), S. O’Sullivan (Templenoe) ; B. Crowley (Templenoe), K. O’Sullivan (Kenmare), S. O’Shea (Kenmare); K. Spillane (Templenoe), S. O’Brien (Kenmare), P. O’Connor (Kenmare).

Subs: P. O’Shea (Tousist) for K. O’Sullivan (37); T. Doyle (Templenoe) for B. Crowley (58); M. T. O’Sullivan (Tousist) for S. O’Sullivan (58).

ST BRENDAN’S BOARD: E. O’Brien (Churchill); E. Courtney (Ardfert), L. Bastible (John Mitchels), K. Dwyer (St Pats); M. Griffin (Na Gaeil), M. Brennan (Churchill), P. McMahon (St Pats) (c); S. Okunbar (Na Gaeil), K. Shanahan (Ardfert); D. Griffin (Ardfert), B. Poff (St Pats), B. Barrett (Ardfert); A. O’Donoghue (John Mitchels), I. Parker (St Pats), J. Duggan (John Mitchels).

Subs: R. Horgan (Ardfert) for P. McMahon ( 41); Wallace ( Ardfert) for K. Shanahan (44); D. Carmody (Na Gaeil) for P. McMahon ( 52); D.Wallace (Ardfert) for B. Barrett (55); A. Greaney (St Pats) for I. Parker ( 56).

Referee: C. Crowley (Gneeveguilla)