Jack Kennelly goal enough as Ballydonoghue claim 10th North Kerry SFC title
Ballydonoghue captured the Eamonn O’Donoghue Memorial Cup for the first time since 2017.
While Storm Fergus ensured that this North Kerry SFC final was played in biblical conditions in Ballyduff, it was Ballydonoghue who captured the Eamonn O’Donoghue Memorial Cup for the first time since 2017 and their 10th North Kerry SFC title in total.
It was a credit to both sets of players for the contest they produced in the weather most foul but at the end of the day, St Senans will be kicking themselves as they gave up 13 scoring chances compared to the winners' two.
St Senans won the toss and played against the elements in the opening half that saw the players having more problems with the elements than their opponents at times. Ballydonoghue scored an early point from former Kerry All-Ireland medal winner in 2018 and an up-and-coming greyhound trainer Jack Kennelly.
Then in the seventh minute a fortuitous goal from Ballydonoghue saw Brian Ó Seanacháin send in a high centre from 50 meters that bounced in front of the Senans keeper and the wind took it all the way into the net. Jack Kennelly quickly added a free and he converted another in the 11th minute as Ballydonoghue were blown into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead and things looked ominous for St Senans.
But incredibly Ballydonoghue did not score for the remaining 21 minutes of the half with the elements as St Senans thanks to Barry Mahony, Cillian Trant and Aodhán Behan, continually worked the ball into the Ballydonoghue danger zone and were rewarded with two Paudie Quille frees.
Then in the 29th minute Aodhán Behan was needlessly upended in the box by keeper Cian O’Mahony and Conor Kennelly showed nerves of steel to dispatch the spot kick to the net. Though they were trailing 1-3 to 1-2 at half time, St Senans were the happier side as they had the ferocious elements to their backs in the second half.
Paudie Quille tied the game with a 36th-minute point from play but Darragh Sheehy restored Ballydonoghue’s lead with a converted free after Kerry star Jason Foley was pulled down.
Jack Kennelly added another free for a foul on himself as Ballydonoghue were playing better against the wind that with it. The Mahony brothers Barry and Rory along with Cillian Trant were trying to get St Senans going but the attack was very wasteful.
Then Brian Ó Seanacháin burst through and combined with Jason Foley to set up Jack Foley for a point and at 1-6 to 1-3 three quarters of the game played, St Senans needed inspiration and possibly a goal.
Instead it was Ballydonoghue who struck for the killer goal in the 50th minute with Jason Foley’s pace bringing him through the heart of the St Senans defence and his pass to a lurking Jack Kennelly was collected and clinically struck to net.
That appeared that at 2-6 to 1-3 but St Senans never gave up and a 20-minute hiatus between scores saw Paudie Quille add two frees and Seanie McElligott a point from play to leave just a goal between the sides entering three minutes of added time.
But Ballydonoghue were rock solid at the back and held on in a nervy ending to celebrate another North Kerry SFC final win.
: J Kennelly (1-4,3fs), B Ó Seanacháin (1-0), D Sheehy (1f) and Jack Foley (0-1each).
P Quille (0-5,4fs), C Kennelly (1-0 pen), S McElligott (0-1).
: C O’Mahony; M Gogarty, J Foley, Declan Behan; B Mason, C Kennelly, B O’Neill; B Ó Seanacháin, K O’Donnell; J Behan, D Sheehy, T O’Carroll; J Foley, J Kennelly, M Nolan.
Subs: L Guiney for B O’Neill (22), P Kennelly for K O’Donnell (25), Diarmuid Behan for J Behan (h/t), M Foley for M Nolan (39)
J Barry; A Kennelly, B Keane, S T Dillon; A Behan, D Behan, R Mahony; C Trant, B Mahony; J McKenna, Conor Kennelly, M Behan; S McGrath, S Weir, P Quille.
Subs: S McElligott for M Behan (42), Cathal Kennelly for S Weir (42), T Dillon for Conor Kennelly (52).
: Mike Hennessy (Ballyduff)
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