Seanie O’Shea and Stephan O’Brien star in crucial Kenmare win over Spa
Sean O'Shea of Kenmare Shamrocks. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Second half goals from Shane O’Sullivan and Stephen O’Brien served as the catalyst behind Kenmare Shamrocks coming from behind at the break to take their first win of the Kerry Senior Club Championship, when they beat Spa in Killarney.
Having lost to Rathmore last weekend, this was a must win and sets up their local derby clash with Templenoe at home in the final group game.
Trailing by the minimum at the break (0-5 to 0-4), Kenmare took over in the second half and while Spa were in the game until the 50th minute, they faded late on. Sean O’Shea leveled the tie 20 seconds into the second half, and not done there O’Brien set up O’Sullivan to tap home the opening goal minutes later at the back post.
A second goal, this time in the 38th minute helped solidify the visitors grip on the game. David Hallissey turned over possession inside the Spa half, a long searching ball found the unmarked O’Brien inside and he fisted the ball over the onrushing O’Meara for the second major.
Despite Spa cutting the deficit to three, 2-6 to 0-9 by quarter's end, Kenmare cruised to victory in the end, outscoring Spa 0-7 to 0-2 in the closing 15 minutes of play.
Spa started the brighter in an energetic start to proceedings. Shane Cronin fisted over the opening point inside four minutes, after Michael Horgan showcased his soccer skills to pick up the ball in the full forward line.
Kenmare were denied the leveler three minutes later as the right hand upright and then the crossbar thwarted Paul O’Connor. A goal chance followed as Kerry star O’Brien spotted a gap to run through, he passed across the face of goal and Jimmy Lehane’s fisted effort at goal was countered by Shane Cronin on the goal line.
By quarter's end Kenmare did grab their opening score as Jimmy Lehane waved the white flag to cancel out an earlier Evan Cronin free to make it 0-2 to 0-1. Sean O’Shea leveled the tie for the first of three occasions the teams would be deadlocked in the opening half in the 22nd minute.
Mikey Moynihan was an early change for Spa and he showed his prowess to restore a one point cushion for the Killarney side a minute later. Kenmare soon found their feet and would lead for the first time in the 28th minute, O’Shea tapping over a free to add to a lovely curling effort from Paul O’Connor minutes earlier.
Spa finished the half the stronger. Michael Foley curled a free off his left boot over the black spot to tie the game 0-4 a piece on the half hour mark. A minute later, Tommy Cronin was adjudged to have overcarried and a quickly taken free by Evan Cronin ended with Michael Kearney pointing for a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the break.
Despite losing Kerry star Stephen O’Brien to injury, Kenmare Shamrocks cruised to a deserved win.
S O’Shea 0-5 (4fs), S O’Sullivan 1-1, S O’Brien 1-0, J Tangney 0-2, J Lehane, P O’Connor, D O’Connor, TA O’Sullivan, D Allman, J O’Sullivan 0-1 each
E Cronin 0-4 (4fs), M Foley (2fs) 0-3, S Cronin, M Moynihan, M Kearney, C Stack 0-1 each
K Fitzgibbon; C O’Sullivan, T O’Sullivan, D Crowley; D O’Shea, D O’Connor, S O’Sullivan; D Hallissey, J McCarthy; T Cronin, S O’Shea, J Lehane; S O’Brien, TA O’Sullivan, P O’Connor.
Subs: J Tangney for P O’Connor (28 inj), J O’Sullivan for S O’Brien (49 inj), D Allman for J Lehane (52), J Regan for S O’Sullivan (60+1)
S O'Meara; E O'Donoghue, B Lynch, E Fitzgerald; C Stack, D O'Donoghue, Ml Foley; C Spillane, S Cronin; R O'Neill, E Cronin, M Kearney; D Spillane, M Horgan, D Moynihan.
Subs: M Moynihan for M Horgan (16 inj), T Cronin for M Foley (49), E O’Riordan for R O’Neill (59) Referee: B Brosnan (Glenflesk)
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