Templenoe come back from half-time deficit to edge Feale Rangers

Feale Rangers had led by three points at the break.

Killian Spillane of Templenoe. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Kerry SFC: Templenoe 0-11 Feale Rangers 0-10 

A final quarter comeback saw home side Templenoe edge out Feale Rangers on Sunday afternoon, sending their opposition on the long journey home to north Kerry in defeat.

Templenoe had two points on the board inside the opening minute through Colin Crowley and Killian Spillane but otherwise Feale Rangers were the better side throughout the opening half. Eddie Healy, Cillian Trant and Ted Moloney were on the lookout for Cormac Dillon every time they gained possession and it paid dividends – Dillon pointing two frees before adding a pointed mark, putting his side ahead with a quarter played.

Killian Spillane levelled matters with a pointed free but Feale Rangers continued to control the game for the remainder of the first half. Dillon claimed another mark and duly slotted between the posts before he had a shot from a tight angle saved by Mark Looney in the Templenoe goal.

Feale Rangers continued to dominate and points were added by Cormac Mulvihill and Dillon to give the north Kerry men a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at the break.

A Killian Spillane free was cancelled out by one from Dillon and, after Killian Spillane had popped another over the bar, the pair traded points from play soon afterwards. 

Tadhg Morley ventured forward from centre back more frequently in the second half and he was brought down in the square after a great run to earn his side a penalty. However, Jack Enright was equal to Brian Crowley’s effort and he saved low to his right side to keep his side in front. The resulting 45’ was struck well by Aidan Crowley and it served as a rallying cry to Templenoe as they took control of the game from here on.

They went on to score four more in succession – three from Killian Spillane (two frees) and another from Gavin Crowley - to take a three point lead. Feale Rangers never looked like scoring the goal they needed but they managed points from Jack McElligott and Dillon. The final kickout was claimed by Templenoe’s Seán Sheehan which was enough to see his side to victory.

Scorers for Templenoe: K Spillane (0-8, 5f), A Crowley (0-1 45’), C Crowley,  G Crowley (0-1 each)

Scorers for Feale Rangers: C Dillon (0-8, 3f, 2mk), C Mulvihill, J McElligott (0-1 each)

TEMPLENOE: M Looney, M Hallissey, K O'Neill, J Rice, M Casey, T Morley, K McCarthy, S Sheehan, G Crowley, C Crowley, J Crowley Holland, A Spillane, K Spillane, B Crowley, A Crowley 

Subs: J Spillane for B Crowley (53), C Hallissey for C Crowley (60) 

FEALE RANGERS: J Enright (Listowel Emmets), A O'Connor (Duagh), C O'Keeffe (Finuge), J McElligott (Emmets), D Behan (St Senans), S Stack (Moyvane), D Foran (St Senans), C Trant (do), E Healy (Emmets), T Moloney (Duagh), C Mulvihill (do), A Kennelly (Emmets), C Dillon (Duagh), M Stack (Moyvane), D Keane (Emmets).

Subs: P Walsh (Listowel Emmets) for Foran (15), D Lynch (Emmets) for Keane (47), R Quinn (Moyvane) for O’Keeffe (51), T Dillon (St Senans) for S Stack (53), A Carey (Emmets) for M Stack (54).

Referee: E Walsh (Rathmore)