Rathmore off the mark with dominant win over Feale Rangers

Denis Moynihan's men tamed the wretched conditions and produced a clinical display with Shane Ryan at the heart of it all

LIKING WHAT HE SEES: Rathmore manager Denis Moynihan. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Kerry SFC: Rathmore 1-16 Feale Rangers 1-5 

Rathmore secured their first victory of the Kerry SFC at home against Feale Rangers with a dominant performance in dreadful conditions. It was a clinical showing by the undefeated side who drew with St Kieran’s last week.

Weather like this grabs a hold of traditional football beliefs and washes them inside out. Rathmore won the toss and opted to play against the wind. Throughout they played a composed game while their opponents continually tried to kick ball into their duo of David Keane and Cormac Dillon. Fionn Holohan went to Feale Rangers captain Barry Mahony and followed him all over. It meant their attack never really fired.

The home outfit rattled off 1-3 to no score in the opening 20 minutes as Feale Rangers repeatedly overhit passes or saw the stiff breeze drive them off course. Eventually they mustered four points in the opening half hour and saw another four balls drop short or go wide, all of which were attempted deliveries rather than shots.

“We were probably favourites coming in at home but the weather levelled it all up so I was very nervous before the game,” said Rathmore manager Denis Moynihan post-match.

“I thought we stuck to our task well, held onto the ball and stuck to our gameplan. We did decide to go against the wind. It was a debate. Against a divisional team, it might take them time to settle down and we could control the ball and be in touch at half-time. It was a decision we made as a group. Against a club side we might have gone the opposite way.” 

Once again Shane Ryan was outstanding. He fisted a score early on and curled over another three later with the wind at his back. It was his assist that set John Moynihan away for a goal and Ryan followed it up with a floater to James Darmody for a mark. The Kerry goalkeeper closed out the half by instructing William Casey to kick long and dominated successive kickouts. Rathmore led by four at the turnaround.

There was only one point in the opening ten minutes of the second half, a quick counterattack instigated by the excellent Alan Dineen finished by Fionn Murphy.

Mahony produced a consolation green flag for Feale Rangers in the 58th minute after a Keane long ball broke kindly on the greasy field. Gradually Rathmore cruised away as Dineen, Mark Ryan and substitutes Jimmy Mahony and Ciaran Collins kept the scoreboard ticking over.

They finished the game with nine different scorers, having had seven different contributors last week. Shane Ryan and Paul Murphy were both taken off for a well-earned rest before the final whistle ahead of a huge fixture next week.

“We were happy last week against St Kierans to kick 20 points with a good spread,” said Moynihan. “You need that if you want to do well. We have a big task against Kenmare down there next week. It is all to play for.” 

Scorers for Rathmore: Shane Ryan 0-4, John Moynihan 1-1, Paul Murphy 0-2, Mark Ryan 0-2, James Darmody 0-2 (1 mark), Fionn Murphy 0-2, Ciaran Collins 0-1, Jimmy Mahony 0-1, Alan Dineen 0-1.

Scorers for Feale Rangers: Barry Mahony 1-0, Cormac Dillon 0-3 (3 frees), Joe Joe Grimes 0-1, David Keane 0-1.

Rathmore: W Casey; C Dineen, A Dineen, TJ Friel; B Friel; P Murphy, F Holohan; M Ryan, C Ryan (C); B O’Keeffe, F Murphy, J Darmody; J Moynihan, S Ryan, D Murphy.

Subs: C Collins for Darmody (42), J Mahony for Murphy (47), D Fitzgerald for S Ryan (52), B O’Connor for Murphy (56), D Nagle for O’Keeffe (56).

Feale Rangers: D O’Keeffe (Duagh); J McElligott (Listowel Emmets), A O’Connor (Duagh), N Collins (Listowel Emmets); E Healy (Listowel Emmets), D Maher (Duagh), T Scanlon (Duagh); JJ Grimes (Listowel Emmets), C Trant (St Senan’s); R Mahony (St Senans), B Mahony (St Senans), S Stack (Moyvane); D Keane (Listowel Emmets), J McVeigh (Listowel Emmets), C Dillon (Duagh).

Subs: M Stack (Myovane) for Healy (30), C Pierse (Listowel Emmets) for Scanlon (30), A Behan (St Senans) for McVeigh (45), S Keane (Listowel Emmets) for Stack S O’Caoimh (45), (Duagh) for Mahony (48).

Referee: B O’Shea (Keel)