Jack Savage powers St Brendan's to victory over never say die South Kerry

LEADING SCORER: Jack Savage lead the way for St Brendan's scoring 1-6. Picture:  Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Kerry SFC: St Brendan's 1-16 South Kerry 0-13

There was a lot of interest about how St Brendan's would perform with Stacks and Ardfert in county finals and on the basis of their win over South Kerry, they are a team to keep an eye on. They started with eight from Kerins O’Rahillys, five from Stacks and one each from Ardfert and John Mitchels. The game saw two veterans David Moran and Tommy Walsh roll back the years but Jack Savage, home permantently from Dubai, was top scorer with 1-6.

The two sides were slow to find their stride in the opening quarter, both missing scoring opportunities. However, it was South Kerry that got into the game in the second quarter and punished St Brendan’s with some accurate footpasses from Graham O’Sullivan into the dangerous Sean Teahan.

In a slow burner St Brendan’s grabbed the opening score in the eighth minute with former Kerry footballer David Moran splitting the uprights. South Kerry replied a minute later as Conor O’Shea levelled proceedings. Savage pointed the next three scores to put the Saints three ahead after 18 minutes. South Kerry rallied back with Emmet Daly and Teahan leaving a point between the teams in the closing minutes. Savage stroked over another free to keep the advantage with Brendan’s, however South Kerry levelled matters in injury time, 0-5 a piece at the interval.

St Brendan’s started the second half in strong fashion. Daniel Kirby kicked an early point, before Savage fired to the back of the net in the third minute after Tomas Kennedy’s initial effort was parried by South Kerry keeper Austin Murphy to leave Brendan’s four clear. South Kerry got on the board, however the next four scores went to the men in white, the lead 1-10 to 0-6 by the 40 minute mark.

Barry John Keane came close to finding the net at the end of the quarter, making a strong burst for goal, the effort flew over the crossbar. South Kerry stayed right into the tie despite a sluggish start to the second half. O’Shea and Sean Teahan kicked inspired scores to reduce arrears to four points.

Substitute Cian Holden made a strong cameo off the bench, kicking three points in the final quarter. Daly came close to finding the net late on as the effort went over the crossbar of Michael Tansley’s net. Brendan’s finished at a canter, Holden and a stunning Odhran Ferris point signing off a strong opening performance and serving a notice that they are championship contenders when they get their full squad together.

Scorers for St Brendan’s: J Savage (1-6, 5fs), C Holden (0-3), B J Keane (0-2), D Moran, T Kennedy, D Kirby and O Ferris (0-1 each).

Scorers for South Kerry: S Teahan (0-6, 2fs, 1m), E Daly (0-3, 2fs), C O’Sullivan (0-2), G O’Sullivan and C O’Shea (0-1 each)

ST BRENDAN’S: M Tansley (Austin Stacks); C Griffin (do), J Nagle (do), J Foley (Kerins O’Rahillys; C Barrett (Kerins O’Rahillys), D Casey (Austin Stacks), P White (John Mitchels); D Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys), T Hoare (do); T Kennedy (do), J Savage (do), D Kirby (Austin Stacks); O Ferris (Ardfert), T Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys), B J Keane (do).

Subs: P Lane (Stacks) for D Kirby ( 34), C Holden (John Mitchel’s) for P Lane (49), M O’Donnell (Austin Stacks) for T Walsh (54), D O’Sullivan (Churchill) for BJ Keane (58), F O’Brien (St Pats) for T Hoare (60) 

SOUTH KERRY: A Murphy (Reenard); B Kelly ( do), Darragh O’Sullivan (St Mary’s), O Moran; C Goggin (St Michaels/Foilmore), C O’Donoghue (St Mary’s), F O’Sullivan (Skellig Rangers); G O’Sullivan ( Dromid Pearses), A Coffey (St Mary’s); C O’Shea (do), Donagh O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), C O’Sullivan (Sneem/Derrynane); S Teahan (Reenard), C O’Leary (do), E Daly (Valentia) 

Subs: M O’Leary (Reenard) for Darragh O’Sullivan (temp, 28-30), M O’Leary (Reenard) for C O’Leary (39), S O’Connor (St Michaels-Foilmore) for F Sullivan (41), R Burns (Sneem/Derrynane) for C O’Sullivan (43), P Mangan (Dromid Pearses) for C Goggin (54), S O’Connor (Sneem/Derrynane) for B Kelly (57) 

Referee: E Moriarty (Dingle)