Shannon Rangers' Kennelly shoots down Na Gaeil in Kerry SFC

Shannon Rangers looked a more composed outfit in the second half with Kerry U20 Captain for this year Rob Stack impactful in the middle of the field

Kennelly was the star man on the day with 8 points to help his side to the win

Kerry SFC: Shannon Rangers 1-13 Na Gaeil 1-9

Former Kerry Minor Jack Kennelly kicked eight points as Shannon Rangers recorded their first win in the Kerry County Senior Football Championship since 2022, defeating Na Gaeil by four points. Rangers will be disappointed with their opening half performance kicking ten wides in total.

However they looked a more composed outfit in the second half with Kerry U20 Captain for this year Rob Stack impactful in the middle of the field. Kerry Senior Jason Foley also impressed for the men in blue and white.

Stefan Okunbor, another of the Kerry contingent, lined out for Na Gaeil as they were missing Diarmuid O’Connor in the middle of the field. Dan Goggin goaled in stoppage time to reduce the deficit, it would however be a long awaited win for Pat O'Driscoll’s charges.

A wet and windy evening in Austin Stack Park led to a slow burner of an opening half. Dara Devine pointed two frees to put Na Gaeil ahead by a point midway through the first period. Kennelly and Devine were the real catalysts for their sides from dead ball scenarios. Peter Doyle pointed just before the break to give Na Gaeil a 0-6 to 0-5 lead.

Shannon Rangers emerged the stronger and tallied four points in the space of eight minutes. Doyle grabbed his second point to get Na Gaeil on the board; by the third quarter mark Kennelly kicked his third of the half for a three point buffer, 0-10 to 0-7.

Kevin Goulding soon pounced, firing low to the net after Stack dropped a 45 into the danger zone. Na Gaeil looked to summon a reply but almost conceded a second five minutes from time as Foley darted through their defensive line, Adam Segal however blazed his shot over. Goggin did make it a nervy finish; the North Kerry side however ended their losing streak and awaits another winner next weekend.

Scorers for Shannon Rangers: J Kennelly 0-8 (4fs, 1m), K Goulding 1-0, R Stack 0–3 (1 ‘45), J O’Sullivan, A Segal 0-1 each.  

Scorers for Na Gaeil: D Devine 0-4 (4fs), D Goggin 1-1, P Doyle 0-2, D Reen, M Lynch (f) 0-1 each. 

SHANNON RANGERS: P Carmody (Tarbert); D Mulvihill (Tarbert), T O' Carroll (Ballydonoghue), J Gogarty (Ballydonoghue); B Mason (Ballydonoghue), J Foley (Ballydonoghue), Kevin Goulding (Ballyduff); R Stack (Beale), J O' Sullivan (Ballyduff); A Segal (Ballyduff), E Boyle (Ballyduff), D Keane ( Asdee) , J Coolahan (Tarbert), J Kennelly (Ballydonoghue), L Rochford (Ballyduff). 

Subs: S Wren (Tarbert) for J Coolahan (43), D Wren (Tarbert) for J Gogarty (46), D Stack (Tarbert) for D Keane (48), C Toomey (Beale) for L Rochford (51), C Egan (Tarbert) for K Goulding (57). 

NA GAEIL: J Rodgers; J Doyle, E O’ Connor, R O’Neill; E Doody, D Bourke, F Barry; T O’ hAinifein, S Okunbor; A Barry, D Goggin, P Doyle; J O’ Connor, D Devine, D Reen. 

Subs: M Madden for E Doody (39), K O’Connor for J O’Connor (43), J Bourke for D Reen (45), M Lynch for D Devine (52), O Maunsell for P Doyle (55). 

Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk).