South Kerry hit back for glory against Dingle

South Kerry 3-12 Dingle 0-12

Dingle dominated the opening 20 minutes thanks to their attacking half backline of Matthew Flaherty, Aiden O’Connor and, in particular, centre-back and Kerry senior panellist Tom O’Sullivan.

Dingle, forced to line out with star midfielder Marc O’Connor raced 0-8 to 0-3 in front by the 22nd minute.

But South Kerry shed their defensive shackles and with Kerry Junior All-Ireland winner Rob Wharton attacking from wing back, suddenly the game changed as South Kerry took over.

Points from Conor O’Shea (0-2) and Anthony Cournane (0-1) and then a well worked goal which started with Wharton surging forward and when Anthony Cournane’s shot was parried by the keeper Diarmuid Keating finished to the net to leave South Kerry 1-6 to 0-8 in front at the break.

South Kerry took control in the second-half with half time sub Darragh O Sullivan kicking three points, Rob Wharton adding one and when South Kerry struck for a second goal in the 42nd minute through Anthony Cournane, Dingle were punch drunk.

In fact South Kerry outscored Dingle 2-8 to 0-0 from the 22nd to the 46th minute when Conor Geaney converted a free, and the losers meagre return of four points in the second period was never going to be good enough against a side for whom Fionan Clifford, Mark Sugrue and Conor O’Shea and Mathew O’Sullivan excelled along with man of the match Rob Wharton.

Scorers for South Kerry: A Cournane and D O’Donoghue (1-2 each), D Keating (1-0), C O’Shea (0-3, 2 frees), D O’Sullivan (0-3), R Wharton and C O’Leary (0-1 each).

Dingle: C Bambury (0-5, 4 frees), T O’Sullivan (0-3), M Flaherty (0-2) C Geaney (0-1 free), A O’Connor (0-1).

SOUTH KERRY: P O’Sullivan (Skelli Rangers); S O’Connor (Dromid Pearses), D Scanlon ( St Michael’s Foilmore), F Clifford ( Waterville), A O’Dwyer ( Waterville), R O’Shea ( Skellig Rangers), R Wharton ( Renard); M O’Sullivan ( St Michael’s Foilmore), M Sugrue ( Renard); A Cournane ( St Mary’s), C O’Shea ( St Mary’s), S O’Dwyer ( Waterville ); D Keating ( Skellig Rangers), S O’Sullivan ( St Michael’s Foilmore), D O’Donoghue ( Dromid Pearses).

Subs: A Curran ( Renard) for A O’Dwyer ( b/c 15) , D O’Sullivan ( Skellig Rangers) for S O Sullivan ( h/t), A Quigley ( Valentia) for S O Dwyer ( 47), C O Leary ( Renard) for D O’Donoghue ( 55), J Daly ( St Marys) for D Keating ( 55),

DINGLE: D O’Connor; T L O’Sullivan, P O’Connor, C O’Sullivan; A O’Connor, T O’Sullivan, M Flaherty; P Sheehy , B O’Sullivan; G H Brosnan, C Geaney, P Devane ; C Bambury, L Brosnan, T Sheehy.

Subs: R McCarthy for L Brosnan (49), M Ashe for G H Brosnan (49)

Referee: B O’Shea (Keel)