Late Ryan point salvages draw for Rathmore

Mark Ryan was the hero at the finish, but brother Shane caused major damage throughout.

MIDFIELD INFLUENCE: Mark Ryan, Rathmore provided the crucial score for his side. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

RATHMORE 0-20 ST KIERAN’S 2-14 

An inspirational point from midfielder Mark Ryan produced a dramatic late equaliser for Rathmore in this enthralling draw with St Kieran’s in this Kerry SFC (Group 2 Round 1) clash at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.

Two minutes previously, the divisional side’s outstanding substitute Daire Keane appeared to have tilted the balance in St Kierans’ favour with his third point from play, but Rathmore refused to throw in the towel, Ryan following the example of his brothers on the scoring front.

In a rip-roaring encounter, the protagonists were also level at the break, 0-10 to 2-4, with goals in the 17th and 21st minutes respectively – courtesy of Cathal Brosnan and Adam Barry – giving St Kierans a real foothold against a Shane Ryan-inspired opposition.

The Kerry goalkeeper was pretty unmarkable at full-forward, finishing with a tally of 0-7 to his name, and with James Darmody and Cathal Ryan also shining, Rathmore were two points clear entering the last ten minutes, 0-16 to 2-8.

However, St Kieran’s, showing admirable structure and organisation considering the difficult build-up for divisional sides, kept battling all the way to the finish, with Paul Walsh and Ballymacelligott super-subs Keane and Vinny Horan proving their worth to gain their side a deserved share of the spoils.

Scorers for Rathmore: S Ryan 0-7 (0-1mk, 0-1 ’45, 0-1f), J Darmody, C Spiers (fs) 0-3 each, C Collins, C Ryan, M Ryan 0-2 each, B Friel 0-1.

Scorers for St Kieran’s: A Barry 1-2 (0-1f), P Walsh 0-4 (0-2fs), C Brosnan 1-0, D Keane 0-3, S Og O Ciardubháin 0-2(fs), M Reidy, A Donoghue, V Horan 0-1 each.

RATHMORE: W Casey; C Dineen, A Dineen, TJ Friel; B Friel, P Murphy, F Holohan; M Ryan, C Ryan; B O’Keeffe, C Spiers, J Darmody; J Moynihan, S Ryan, C Collins.

Subs: D Murphy for TJ Friel, inj (15), F Murphy for Moynihan (ht), D Fitzgerald for Collins, inj (60+2), D Nagle for Spiers (60+5).

ST KIERAN’S: S Og O Ciardubháin (Cordal); J McElligott (Knocknagoshel), L Brosnan (Desmonds), B Leonard (Desmonds); M Hickey (Desmonds), M Reidy (Ballymacelligott), S Horan (Scartaglin); C Brosnan (Currow), T Brick (Ballymacelligott); P O’Connor (Cordal), A Breen (Ballymacelligott), A Donoghue (Desmonds); P Walsh (Brosna), A Barry (Brosna), T Lynch (Desmonds).

Subs: D Keane (Ballymacelligott) for C Brosnan (33), V Horan (Ballymacelligott) for Barry, inj (39), S O’Connell (Cordal) for L Brosnan (48), T Fitzgerald (Brosna) for Reidy (55), C McElligott (Knocknagoshel) for O’Connor (60+2).

REFEREE: E Moriarty (Dingle).