Rathmore advance to SFC semi-final despite loss of key men

Hammer blow number one arrived in the closing stages of the first half when Paul Murphy was forced from the action with a torn calf muscle.

Denis Moynihan, Rathmore Manager.

Kerry County SFC quarter-final: Rathmore 0-14 Spa 1-8.

Rathmore deservedly advanced to the semi-finals of the Kerry County SFC following this three-point victory over East Kerry neighbours, Spa, but the victory could have come at a huge cost to the All-Ireland intermediate champions.

Hammer blow number one for Denis Moynihan’s side arrived in the closing stages of the first half when inspirational defender Paul Murphy was forced from the action with what appears to be a torn calf muscle, giving the inter-county stalwart little time to recover for the last four next weekend.

If that wasn't bad enough, worse was to follow for the winners five minutes into injury-time of the second half when key midfielder Mark Ryan received a straight red card for a high tackle on Spa’s Eoin Fitzgerald, as the losers sought to burst through for a game-equalising late goal.

The colour of the card issued by referee Sean Joy certainly seemed to be of the harshest variety but, if a probable Rathmore appeal doesn’t lead to the red being rescinded, then the club will have additions to an absentee list that already includes Chrissy Spiers and Andrew Moynihan.

Mark Ryan will miss the semis after being sent off.

It should never have ended that way for Rathmore. Thanks to a very solid first half performance, against the breeze, they retired at the break with a four-point cushion (0-9 to 0-5), and with Spa struggling badly for inspiration, the destination of the spoils was already virtually decided.

Man-of-the-match John Moynihan, James Darmody and Shane Ryan all had their attacking moments for Rathmore in that opening 30 minutes, and with Cathal Ryan leading the way at midfield, and Brian Friel and Alan Dineen impressive at the back, they were in cruise control.

Maybe that turned out to be the problem on the resumption. Moving six points clear (0-12 to 0-6) entering the last ten minutes (Spa’s only response up to then was an Evan Cronin 45th minute point), Rathmore took their collective feet off the accelerator.

In an instant, a stunning Spa goal by substitute Ciaran Spillane, quickly followed by a Cian Murphy white flag, had the margin reduced to just two points by the 55th minute and, for the first time in the game, a proper contest was threatening to break out.

Steadying the ship expertly, however, Mark Ryan and Moynihan (with his fourth from play) pushed the pendulum back in Rathmore’s direction again. There were no late scares before the finish, but the dramatic sending-off of the former has left a real sting in the tail.

Scorers for Rathmore: S Ryan 0-5 (0-1mk, 0-2fs), J Moynihan 0-4, B Friel, C Ryan, P Murphy, J Darmody, M Ryan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Spa: C Murphy 0-3 (0-2fs), C Spillane 1-0, E Cronin, M McCarthy 0-2 each, D Moynihan 0-1.

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

Subs: T O’Doherty for P Murphy, inj (30+2), C Collins for F Murphy (50), M Reen for Moynihan (60+1), A Darmody for J Darmody (60+4).

SPA: J Devane; E O’Donoghue, E Fitzgerald, B Lynch; L Spillane, S Cronin, M McCarthy; G Vaughan, D O’Donoghue; T Moynihan, E Cronin, D Moynihan; C Murphy, C Tobin, M O’Donoghue.

Subs: C Spillane for Tobin (ht), S Lynch for E O’Donoghue (ht), L O’Neill for M O’Donoghue (39), R O’Carroll for Vaughan (59).

REFEREE: S Joy (Laune Rangers).