Crotta O’Neills remain unbeaten as Saints push them all the way

The champions had to work hard for the win. 

The champions will be concerned at losing Shane Nolan to an injury early in the second half. Pic: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

Kerry SHC Group 1 Rd 1: Crotta O’Neills 0-19 St Brendan’s 1-12 

Defending champions Crotta O’Neills booked their spot in the Kerry SHC quarter-finals with a four-point win over a dogged St Brendan’s side in Austin Stack Park on Saturday. 

Crotta will be concerned at losing Shane Nolan to an injury early in the second half.

St Brendan’s took the game to the wire, with Fionan Egan who struck 0-8 in the tie, having a penalty saved which would have left a point between them late on. Crotta who were ahead 0-13 to 1-6 at the break controlled the tempo in the final quarter as St Brendan’s failed to convert their chances.

Jordan Conway and Fionan Egan exchanged early points, Crotta would however build an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the seventh minute. Egan and Mikey Davis added points to level matters soon after.

By quarter's end Crotta pointed the next three scores for a three point cushion, the form continued as Cillian Trant, James Sheehan, Cormac White and Aodhan Behan all waved the white flag for a six point lead approaching the 20th minute mark.

The Ardfert side kept within range with Egan their main scoring threat up front. Late in the half Ardfert hit the jugular as Liam Óg O’Connor rattled the net after a brilliant pass from Earnán Ferris found the forward in space to hit low to the left hand bottom corner from range.

The goal cut the deficit down to a single point, Crotta showed their composure however to score three late points in that opening period to lead 0-13 to 1-6 at the interval. Whatever was said at the break fueled St Brendan’s to score twice early in the second half to cut the gap to two points.

Nolan replied with his third free for Crotta, however a big moment followed as the prolific forward looked to have taken a knock and was substituted in the 35th minute. St Brendans hit another purple patch finished with Egan pointing a long range free to cut the gap. By the three-quarters mark Seanie McElligott and Trant added scores for a 0-16 to 1-10 lead for Crotta.

Scorers for Crotta O’Neills: S Nolan (3fs), C Trant, J Conway (2f) 0-3 each, A Behan 0-2, Darragh O’Donoghue, T O’Connor, C White, J Sheehan, Declan O’Donoghue, R Mahony, S McElligott, G Parker 0-1 each 

Scorers for St Brendan’s: F Egan 0-8 (5fs), L Óg O’Connor 1-0, G O’Riordan 0-2, M Davis, S Brosnan, 0-1 each 

CROTTA O’NEILLS: A O’Sullivan; E Shanahan, S Weir, A Behan; C Trant, Darragh O’Donoghue, T O’Connor; J McKenna, T McKenna; C White, J Sheehan, Declan O’Donoghue; R Mahony, S Nolan, J Conway.

Subs: D Nolan for Shanahan (h/t), S McElligott for S Nolan (35 inj), S O’Donoghue for White (42), G Parker for Sheehan (49) 

ST BRENDAN’S: D Delaney; T O’Flaherty, E Leen, G O’Riordan; D Griffin, J Egan, A McDonagh; S O’Halloran, N O’Driscoll; M Davis, G Horan, P O’Mahony; L Óg O’Connor, E Ferris, F Egan.

Subs: S Brosnan for O’Mahony and D Dineen for O’Flaherty (Both 23), K Orpen for Horan (35) 

Referee: S Scanlon (Cork)