Darcy gives East Kerry the edge against persistent Templenoe

UNBEATEN: Jack Sherwood East Kerry under pressure from Templenoe's Colin Crowley and Brian Crowley in the County Senior Football Chamionship Group1, Round 3 game in Killarney on Sunday. Pic: Don MacMonagle

Kerry SFC Group 1 

East Kerry 1-13 Templenoe 0-12 

East Kerry were made to work hard to remain unbeaten in the group stage of the Garveys Supervalu County Senior Football Championship as Templenoe showed persistence from the off but failed to rally late on to change the outcome.

Patrick Darcy’s goal early in the second half was a major turning point in the contest, the margins were tight between the two up to that point, the goal gave the East Kerry men an edge they would not lose for the remainder of the second half.

David and Paudie Clifford got their first minutes of the County Championship with late cameos off the bench, not a bad set of substitutes to help bring on in the final five minutes to ensure victory. It will take a lot for someone to dethrone East Kerry this season.

East Kerry built an early lead, the marksmanship of Killian Spillane however soon levelled proceedings in a tight opening 11 minutes. Largely a game in the opening half of score for score, Templenoe were really in this tie from the off, leading briefly as a Spillane free 25 minutes in put them a point in front.

Dara Roche has been a pivotal scorer for East Kerry this championship, kicking two scores in the final five minutes of play in the opening stanza, the hosts had a slender lead going into the break 0-7 to 0-6.

Aidan Crowley levelled the tie almost immediately once the second half got underway, East Kerry were sharp in the response, Jack Sherwood a former Kerry star rolled back the clock with a point, before Patrick Darcy rattled the back of the net three minutes later, a four point lead built in the opening ten minutes.

By the end of the third quarter it was a two point game following Mark Casey pointing his second of the afternoon, three quick points coming from Templenoe left the score 1-09 to 0-10.

Again for the final 15 minutes it remained cagey, Donal O’Sullivan kicked East Kerry back into a three point lead, before David & Paudie Clifford were summoned to help seal the win. Colin Crowley made it a nervous finish to proceedings, Roche and Ronan Buckley however capped the result off in stoppage time with a four point margin.

Scorers for East Kerry: P Darcy (1-1), D Roche (0-4, 3f), J Sherwood, R Buckley (0-2 each), E O’Shea, M Rennie, L Crowley, D O’Sullivan (0-1) 

Scorers for Templenoe: K Spillane (0-4, 3f), M Casey, P Clifford (0-2 each), T Morley, A Crowley, S O’Sullivan, C Crowley (0-1) 

EAST KERRY: B Kelly ( Killarney Legion) N Donoghue (Firies), C O’Leary (Kilcummin), R Leen (Killarney Legion); K O’Sullivan (Glenflesk), J Sherwood (Firies), D O’Brien (Glenflesk); K Murphy (Kilcummin), M Rennie (Fossa); D Lynne (Killarney Legion), P Darcy (Glenflesk), R Buckley (Listry), D O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan), D Roche (Glenflesk), E O’Shea (Fossa).

Subs: L Crowley (Glenflesk) for K Murphy (40), C Lynch (Glenflesk) for K O’Sullivan (44), E O’Sullivan (Killarney Legion) for M Rennie, P Clifford (Fossa) for P Darcy (56), D Clifford (Fossa) for E O’Shea (57) 

TEMPLENOE: M Looney; C Crowley, K O’Neill, M Casey; B Crowley, T Morley, J Sheehan, G Crowley, S Sheehan; S O’Sullivan, P Clifford, C Crowley; K Spillane, D Crowley, A Crowley.

Subs: K McCarthy for B Crowley (43), M F O’Connor for P Clifford (60+2), H Granville for D Crowley (60+3)

Referee: P Curtin ( Brosna)