Hogan breaks Na Gaeil hearts with late winner

With the outside of his boot, Diarmuid O’Connor appeared to have scored a brilliant equaliser with the final kick of the game, but the ball cannoned off the left-hand post and that was that. Not to be. 

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: Kerry and Na Gaeil midfielder Diarmuid O'Connor. Pic: Ryan Byrne, Inpho

Kerry Club SFC, Rd 1: Milltown/Castlemaine 0-16 Na Gaeil 0-15

Dara Hogan was the hero as Milltown/Castlemaine edged Na Gaeil in a gripping contest that both sides could claim they should have won.

In fact, if a depleted Na Gaeil side had taken an ample amount of goal chances, they would have been the ones celebrating.

With the game up for grabs down the stretch, Cathal Moriarty leveled the contest in the 55th minute at 0-13 apiece. 

Dara Devine then restored Na Gaeil’s lead with a pointed free but David Roche leveled for Milltown/Castlemaine a minute later.

Na Gaeil, with Damien Bourke and Jack Doyle driving them forward, looked to have grabbed the winner in the 59th minute when Devine converted a free for a foul on Kerry senior Diarmuid O’Connor to push his side 0-15 to 0-14 in front as the game entered three minutes of added time. 

But Milltown/Castlemaine leveled proceedings with Cathal Moriarty kicking his second clutch point. 

Then young Dara Hogan fired over the lead point, as Diarmuid O’Connor kicked a long-range effort wide for the Tralee side.

But there was still drama to come when Na Gaeil were awarded a free 45 metres from the goal and just 10 yards in from the touchline. 

Referee Evan Horan informed O’Connor that it was the last kick of the game.

With the outside of his boot, O’Connor appeared to have scored a brilliant equaliser but the ball cannoned off the left-hand post and that was that.

It was tough on O’Connor who had a superb hour along with his brother Enda at midfield, but Milltown/Castlemaine without injured Kingdom starlet Cillian Burke, showed dogged determination right to the end.

Milltown/Castlemaine - last year's Intermediate champions - were playing senior for the first time in eight years and grabbed the early initiative with the wind to their backs as they led 0-10 to 0-8 at half time. 

Eanna O’Connor scored 0-4 in the opening half while Gavin Horan and Cathal Moriarty had a brace each, but they found the Na Gaeil defence marshaled superbly by Bourke and Andrew Barry.

Na Gaeil dominated the third quarter with four rapid points from Dara Devine, Jack Bourke (0-2) and a beauty from Jack Doyle as the Tralee men moved 0-12 to 0-11 in front.

But Na Gaeil will regret not taking two goal opportunities in the 46th and 49th minutes, firstly when Kieran O’Connor was denied by a super stop from Cormac Leane. 

The keeper repeated the dose when he parried a Dan Goggin goal-bound effort and Pa Wrenn cleared.

Scorers for Milltown/Castlemaine: E O’Connor ( 0-6, 5fs), C Moriarty ( 0-4), G Horan and J O’Sullivan ( 0-2 each), D Roche and S Hogan ( 0-1 each).

Scorers for Na Gaeil: J Bourke 0-5 (0-2mks), D Devine 0-5 (0-3fs), O O’Brien, D O’Connor, J Doyle, K O’Connor and D Goggin ( 0-1 each).

MILLTOWN/CASTLEMAINE: C Leane; G McKenna, P Wrenn, A Kelliher; S Roche, D Roche, K Kerins; D Dennehy, G Horan; B Casey, E O’Connor, D Hogan; J O’Sullivan, C Moriarty, S Hogan.

Subs: J O’Connor for S Roche (ht), O Spring for S Hogan (ht), C Spillane for O’Sullivan (48), J Dennehy for Kelliher (52), J Flynn for Spring (58).

NA GAEIL: J Rodgers; R O’Neill, D Bourke, S Barrett; O O’Brien, A Barry, J Doyle; D O’Connor, E O’Connor; P Doyle, K O’Connor, K O’Donovan; J Bourke, D Devine, D Goggin. 

Subs: O O’Sullivan for O’Brien (55), M Lynch for J Bourke, inj (55).

Referee: E Horan ( Glenflesk)