Kerry SFC: Goal-hungry Mid Kerry see off stubborn Shannon Rangers

GOAL-HUNGRY: The Mid Kerry team line up. File pic: Don MacMonagle

Kerry SFC Group 3

Mid Kerry 4-7 Shannon Rangers 1-10

A brace of goals, in the space of two minutes, at the halfway point of the second half, was the catalyst for Mid Kerry to finally put a brave Shannon Rangers to the sword in this Kerry SFC (Group 3) encounter at a rain-swept Asdee.

Having trailed by three points at half-time (1-4 to 0-4), the hugely promising Keith Evans finding the net for last year’s beaten finalists in the sixth minute, the North Kerry divisional outfit had reduced the deficit to the minimum by the three-quarter mark.

Disaster then struck for the underdogs with Mid Kerry, lining out without sharp-shooters Cillian Burke and Eanna O’Connor, finally putting their collective feet on the accelerator, a Gavan O’Grady converted penalty and a close-range finish by substitute Gavin Horan really turning the screw.

Shannon Rangers, to give them their dues, certainly didn’t throw in the towel, and despite a black card issued to defender Tadgh O’Carroll in the 56th minute, a goal for the hosts two minutes later, replacement Jack O’Sullivan the scorer, had the game back in the melting pot again, 3-6 to 1-9.

However, showing a facility throughout the second half to make inroads through the home defence, Mid Kerry pounced for their seventh goal in two championship outings heading into injury-time, another substitute Liam Carey sealing victory after one of many electric counter-attacks.

Scorers for Mid Kerry: G O’Grady 1-1 (1-0pen), L Carey 1-1, K Evans, G Horan 1-0 each, D Cleary 0-2, J O’Connor (f), D Houlihan, G Hassett 0-1 each.

Scorers for Shannon Rangers: J O’Sullivan 1-1, C Langan 0-3 (0-1f), K Goulding 0-2, P Boyle, M Foley, J Foley, J Kennelly 0-1 each.

Mid Kerry: S Coffey (Beaufort); E Coffey (Beaufort), N Breen (Beaufort), D Mangan (Laune Rangers); P Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar), M Breen (Beaufort), J Brosnan (Glenbeigh/Glencar); S O’Brien (Beaufort), D Houlihan (Cromane); F Clifford (Laune Rangers), J O’Connor (Beaufort), K Evans (Keel); G O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar), D Cleary (Laune Rangers), G Hassett (Laune Rangers).

Subs: G Horan (Milltown/Castlemaine) for Clifford (ht), D Roche (Milltown/Castlemaine) for Brosnan (36), L Carey (Beaufort) for Cleary, inj (36), C Teahan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for O’Connor, inj (49), P Wrenn (Milltown/Castlemaine) for Evans (54).

Shannon Rangers: K O’Connor (Ballyduff); T O’Carroll (Ballydonoghue), J Foley (Ballydonoghue), D O’Connor (Tarbert); C Twomey (Beale), D Wren (Tarbert), A Segal (Ballyduff); R Stack (Beale), M Foley (Ballydonoghue); C Langan (Tarbert), P Boyle (Ballyduff), M Collins (Asdee); K Goulding (Ballyduff), M Boyle (Ballyduff), J Kennelly (Ballydonoghue).

Subs: J O’Sullivan (Ballyduff) for Collins (ht), C O’Connor (Ballylongford) for M Foley (42), M Slattery (Ballyduff) for P Boyle (47), M Holly (Ballylongford) for Twomey (58).

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Firies).