St Brendan's pip St Kieran's with last-gasp Jack Savage winner

A controversial finish to the first half sparked this Kerry SFC second round clash into life

Sean O'Connell St Kieran's (Green) challenges Joe O'Connor of St Brendan's. Photo: Domnick Walsh 

Kerry SFC: St Brendans 2-14 St Kierans 2-13 

A high-octane finish to the opening half of this Kerry SFC clash set the tone for a cracking second period between St Brendans and St Kierans at the Austin Stack Park on Saturday night. 

The game looked destined for extra time after Tadhg Brick from Ballymacelligott found the St Brendan’s net in the 60th minute, collecting a loose ball after a Philip O’Connor centre to leave the sides tied 2-13 apiece.

Then in six minutes of added time both sides had chances of taking the win, but when St Kieran’s turned over a ball deep in their own half Armin Heinrich started a move that saw Tomas Kennedy drive through to be fouled by a stray arm. And from the resulting free Jack Savage drove the winner over the crossbar via the inside of the post.

It was a dramatic conclusion to a feisty contest at times, with a penalty award to St Brendan’s on the stroke of half-time causing consternation among the St Kieran’s management. Odhran Ferris was deemed to have been fouled inside the box by referee Eamonn Moran, and Jack Savage leveled the contest with a well-taken spot kick, before Kennedy kicked St Brendan’s in front 1-8 to 1-7 at half time.

A yellow card was issued to Stephen Wallace for voicing his displeasure at the debatable penalty call. There was also a red card issued to another member of the Kieran's management team before the throw-in. But on the field of play, the players produced a cracking second half.

By the 41st minute, St Kieran’s had added four points, three from the boot of Adam Barry, to move within one point St Brendan’s, with Barry John Keane scoring a goal within a minute of the restart following great work by Tomas Kennedy.

Kennedy and Barry John Keane added points for St Brendan’s, but a superb Paul Walsh point, even though earlier it was a goal chance, saw St Kieran’s close the gap to just a point, 2-10 to 1-12 at the end of the third quarter.

Jack Savage with two frees saw his side lead by three, 2-13 to 1-13, until the late intervention by Tadhg Brick. But it was Jack Savage who settled the contest. 

His side will now have a week off, while St Kieran’s will have to play a Round 3 game next weekend against a winner of one of the loser's games.

The opening half was a full-blooded affair with St Brendan’s leading 0-6 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to two Jack Savage points, and one each from Joe O’Connor, Tomas Kennedy, Armin Heinrich and Con Barrett.

Con Brosnan and Sean O’Connell had kicked super points for St Kieran’s and the game came to life in the 19th minute, when a high centre from Adam Barry saw Cathal Brosnan finish to the net.

Adam Barry and Paul Walsh pushed St Kieran’s three points ahead and then that debatable penalty which Savage converted changed the dynamic of the contest.

Scorers for St Brendan’s: J Savage 1-6 (0-5fs, 1-0pen, 0-1mk), BJ Keane 1-1, T Kennedy 0-3, J O’Connor, A Heinrich, C Barrett, T Hoare 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Kieran’s: C Brosnan 1-2 (0-1mk), A Barry 0-5 (0-4fs), P Walsh 0-5 (0-3fs), T Brick 1-0, S O’Connell 0-1.

ST BRENDAN’S: M Tansley (Austin Stacks); C Griffin (Austin Stacks), D Casey (Austin Stacks), J Nagle (Austin Stacks); C Barrett (Kerins O’Rahillys), A Heinrich (Austin Stacks), P White (John Mitchels); J O’Connor (Austin Stacks), T Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys); C Holden (John Mitchels), J Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys), D Kirby (Austin Stacks); O Ferris (Ardfert), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), BJ Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys).

Subs: B Hanafin (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Barrett (38), D Griffin (Ardfert) for Hoare (46), M O’Donnell (Austin Stacks) for Holden (46), L O’Donnell (Churchill) for Kirby (55), F O’Brien (St Pat’s Blennerville) for Keane (60+1).

ST KIERAN’S: B Lonergan (Ballymacelligott); I Brosnan (Castleisland Desmonds), B Leonard (Castleisland Desmonds), J McElligott (Knocknagoshel); R Bourke (Castleisland Desmonds), L Brosnan (Castleisland Desmonds), C McElligott (Knocknagoshel); E Horan (Scartaglin), S O’Connell (Cordal); T Brick (Ballymacelligott), P O’Connor (Cordal), N Collins (Ballymacelligott); P Walsh (Brosna), A Barry (Brosna), C Brosnan (Currow).

Subs: M Reidy (Ballymacelligott) for Bourke (41), J Walsh (Knocknagoshel) for Collins (49), D Keane (Ballymacelligott) for Barry (54), D O’Shea (Ballymacelligott) for Horan (54).

Referee: E Moran (Ballydonoghue).