Sean O'Shea inspires Kenmare Shamrocks to hard earned win against Feale Rangers

Kerry star O’Shea was well marshalled for long periods before he finished strongly with the game’s final three points.

STAR MAN: Kenmare Shamrocks Sean O'Shea in action. Photo: Don MacMonagle

KENMARE SHAMROCKS 0-13 FEALE RANGERS 0-9

It was far from a walk in the park, but a Sean O’Shea-inspired Kenmare Shamrocks eventually ground down the dogged challenge of Feale Rangers to record a four-point victory in this Kerry SFC (Group 2 Round 1) encounter at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney.

Aiming to pick up the pieces from last weekend’s heart-breaking senior club final defeat to Dingle, Shamrocks were, initially, very subdued, and they could have no complaints when going in at the break trailing by the minimum to last year’s beaten semi-finalists, 0-5 to 0-4.

Indeed, divisional outfit Feale Rangers could have been further ahead at the break if corner-forward Cormac Dillon hadn’t been foiled by a fine stop by Kenmare Shamrocks’ goalkeeper Kieran Fitzgibbon, and the luckless Dillon would see a second half rocket crash off the butt of the upright as well.

With Stephen O’Brien introduced at half-time, Kenmare Shamrocks improved vastly on the resumption, Jimmy Lehane excelling at wing-forward, Kevin O’Sullivan continuing his tour-de-force display, and they were two points clear (0-9 to 0-7) when Feale Rangers struck the woodwork.

Taking the initiative from that lucky escape, the winners put their foot on the accelerator, with lively substitute Darren Allman making a real impact. Kerry star O’Shea, well marshalled for long periods, then finished strongly with the game’s final three points, including two from play.

Scorers for Kenmare Shamrocks: S O’Shea 0-7 (0-4fs, 0-1mk), K O’Sullivan, J Lehane 0-2 each, D Ciuciu, D Allman 0-1 each.

Scorers for Feale Rangers: C Dillon 0-4 (0-3fs), S Stack, JJ Grimes, D Keane, E Healy, R Mahony 0-1 each.

KENMARE SHAMROCKS: K Fitzgibbon; J O’Regan, T O’Sullivan, C O’Sullivan; D O’Shea, T Cronin, S O’Sullivan; D Hallissey, J McCarthy; D Ciuciu, S O’Shea, J Lehane; T Murnane, K O’Sullivan, T O’Sullivan (Atlantic).

Subs: S O’Brien for Ciuciu (ht), D O’Connor for Hallissey (ht), Ciuciu for T O’Sullivan (Atlantic) (41), D Allman for Murnane (47), M McCarthy for S O’Sullivan (54).

FEALE RANGERS: T Harte (Listowel Emmets); J McElligott (Listowel Emmets), A O’Connor (Duagh), C Pierse (Listowel Emmets); E Healy (Listowel Emmets), D Maher (Duagh), R Mahony (St Senan’s); JJ Grimes (Listowel Emmets), C Trant (St Senan’s); T Scanlon (Duagh), B Mahony (St Senan’s), S Stack (Moyvane); D Keane (Listowel Emmets), J McVeigh (Listowel Emmets), C Dillon (Duagh).

Subs: S O Caoimh (Duagh) for Scanlon (44), S Keane (Listowel Emmets) for D Keane (46), E O’Flaherty (Moyvane) for Stack (52), T Moloney (Duagh) for R Mahony (58).

Referee: S Joy (Laune Rangers).