Milltown/Castlemaine go extra stretch to beat East Kerry
The opening half was littered with errors; if East Kerry had taken their goal chances, then Milltown/Castlemaine would have been in big trouble at the interval.
East Kerry looked the better side despite Milltown/Castlemaine making a decent start as they kicked two early points from Jonathon O’Sullivan (free) and a fine effort from Pa Wrenn.
The Mid Kerry side then kicked four bad wides, with Gavin Horan the culprit on two occasions.
Ronan Buckley struck the Milltown post and Lee O’Donoghue blazed wide when he should have goaled for East Kerry, but points from Jeff and Lee O’Donoghue and a beauty from Ronan Buckley had East Kerry in front. Shane Murphy and a ’45 from Marcus Mangan kept Milltown in touch before Lee O’Donoghue finished to the Mid Kerry side’s net on the stroke of half time, East Kerry going in at the break 1-5 to 0-5 leaders.
Milltown/Castlemaine resumed a transformed side and the boot of Jonathon Sullivan kept them in the game as they reduced the deficit. But two Lee O’Donoghue points saw East Kerry lead 1-9 to 0-9 with five minutes left. O’Sullivan, however, converted three more frees to level the contest deep in injury time.
East Kerry took a two-point lead early in extra time through Michael Foley and Jeff O’Donoghue, but lost their discipline. Jonathon O’Sullivan was hauled down for a penalty and he converted it himself to see Milltown/Castlemaine lead 1-15 to 1-11 at half time.
East Kerry fought back with points from Evan Cronin, Dara Moynihan, and Jeff O’Donoghue, but had two players sent off late on as Milltown/Castlemaine held out for a famous win.
J O’Sullivan (1-9, all frees, 1-0 pen), G Horan (0-2), M Mangan (’45), S Murphy, P Wrenn and D Dennehy (0-1 each).
L O Donoghue (1-5, 3 frees), J O Donoghue (0-4), D Moynihan (0-2), R Buckley, E Cronin and M Foley (0-1 each).
C. Leane; S. Roche, D. Murphy, P. Wrenn; P. Carroll, M. Mangan, D. Roche; M. Burke, B. Delaney: G. Horan, S. Murphy, E. O’Brien; D. Kelliher, J. O’Sullivan, J. Hayes.
K. Tangney for C Leane (29): C O’Connor for P Wrenn (B/C 30); C. Kelliher for J. Hayes (h/t); D. Dennehy for C O’Connor (inj 42);
C Myers (Fossa); D Brosnan (Gneeveguilla), M Moynihan (Spa), S Courtney (Glenflesk); C Horan(Glenflesk), D O’Donoghue (Spa), S Foley (Firies); M McCarthy (Spa), F Coffey (Fossa): J Sherwood (Firies), J O’Donoghue (Glenflesk), P De Bruin (Firies): R Buckley (Listry), L O’Donoghue (Glenflesk), D Roche (Glenflesk).
G. O’Sullivan (Listry) for M. McCarthy (h/t); M. Foley (Spa) for D. Roche (40); D. Moynihan (Spa) for P De Bruin (41); A. Garnett (Spa) for G. O’Sullivan (e/t): E. Cronin (Spa) for D O’Donoghue (e/t);
S Mulvihill (St Senan’s)
