Cleary helps Mid Kerry power past 13-man Dingle and into decider

Red cards for Mikey Geaney and Marc O’Connor a major factor as Dingle suffer from a second-half fade at Austin Stack Park

GREEN MACHINES: Gavan O'Grady and Mid Kerry marched on to a Kerry final at Austin Stack Park .

Kerry SFC semi-final: Mid Kerry 3-10 Dingle 0-9 

Mid Kerry powered past 13-man Dingle to reach their third Kerry SFC final in four years after a game that was competitive for 30 minutes but no more. 

Dingle faded after leveling the contest early in the second half and in fact failed to score from the 33rd minute to the end. Once Mikey Geaney received a second yellow in the 44th minute, Mid Kerry drew clear and added 2-03 in the final quarter.

Following a Cillian Burke goal on the stroke of half-time Mid Kerry were making heavy weather of putting Dingle away until the introduction of Daire Cleary off the bench was to prove a master stroke. With the scores tied at 0-09 to 1-06, Cleary gave Mid Kerry the lead with his first touch and it was a lead that Mid Kerry were never to lose. 

Eanna O’Connor with a point from play and another from a free, moved 1-09 to 1-06 clear as Dingle visibly tired. Despite launching a series of attacks, the Mid Kerry defence were winning all their man-to-man battles and used their extra man to telling effect. 

A superb move in the 54th minute started by David Roche and continued by Sean O’Brien saw Daire Cleary finish to the net and Dingle’s goose was cooked. The game became ragged as Dingle tried in vain to get the goal they craved but early in added time they lost their AFL star Marc O’Connor to a straight red for an off-the-ball incident with David Roche. To add salt into the Dingle wounds Roche’s replacement Jack O’Connor found the net again to push his side 10 points clear and ensured their passage to the county championship final. 

Dingle, providing East Kerry beat Rathmore on Sunday, will represent Kerry in the Munster Club Championship as they are the senior club champions.

Right from the off the contest was intense as both sides exchanged early scores to remain deadlocked at two points each after seven minutes. Paul Geaney and Conor Geaney were pivotal figures as Dingle were ahead 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Gavin O’Grady made it a one-point game soon after but having missed the chance to level the tie, Niall Geaney and Conor Geaney were sharp to restore the two-point margin with five minutes left in the opening half.

Momentum changed the way of the district side as Cillian Burke and Sean O’Brien both notched points to leave one between them in the final minute of play. Conor Geaney looked to have struck a goal in stoppage time but the effort rippled the side netting.

Straight from Sean Coffey’s kickout, Mid Kerry went on the offensive charge and a lovely ball inside from Keith Evans fed Burke racing towards the Dingle goal. Having turned his marker twice, his scuffed effort skidded into the bottom left-hand corner of the Dingle net past Gavin Curran. It had the potential to prove a massive swing in momentum right at the break — and did so.

But Dingle were on level terms as the Geaneys continued claiming marks and converting them as the sides were tied on 0-9 to 1-6. Mid Kerry spoiled good approach work by kicking four wides in quick succession. The Mid Kerry defence was tenacious with Nathan Breen, Mike Breen and Pa Kilkenny outstanding. 

Scorers for Mid Kerry: C Burke and D Cleary (1-1 each), J O’Connor (1-0), G O’Grady (0-2, 1f), E O’Connor (0-3, 2f), D Houlihan, L Carey and S O’Brien (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Dingle: C Geaney (0-4, 2f 1m), P Geaney (0-3, 1f 2m), D Geaney (0-1, 1m), N Geaney (0-1, 1f) 

MID KERRY: S Coffey (Beaufort); P Wrenn (Milltown/Castlemaine), N Breen (Beaufort), D Mangan (Laune Rangers); D Roche (Milltown/Castlemaine), M Breen (Beaufort), P Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar); S O’Brien (Beaufort), G Horan (Milltown/Castlemaine); F Clifford (Laune Rangers), C Burke (Milltown/Castlemaine), K Evans (Keel); G O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar), D Houlihan (Cromane), E O’Connor (Milltown/Castlemaine).

Subs: D Cleary (Laune Rangers) for F Clifford (41), G Hassett (Laune Rangers) for G O’Grady (48), J Brosnan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for G Horan (53), G McKenna (Milltown/Castlemaine) for P Kilkenny (53), L Carey (Beaufort) for D Houlihan (57), J O’Connor (Beaufort) for D Roche (temp 62) 

DINGLE: G Curran; C Flannery, C O’Sullivan, T L O’Sullivan; M Flannery, T O’Sullivan, B O’Connor; M O’Connor, B O’Connor; M Geaney, D Geaney, M Flannery; C Geaney, P Geaney, M Flaherty.

Subs: T Sheehy for C O’Sullivan (h/t), B Dan O’Sullivan for M Flannery (53), E Hoare for M Flaherty (57), D O’Sullivan for B O’Connor (60), B Devane for C Flannery (61) 

Referee: B Griffin (Clounmacon)