Strong second half sees Dingle power away from South Kerry

There were just two points between the teams at the break.

Dingle's Paul Geaney. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Kerry SFC: Dingle 0-13 South Kerry 0-7 

A strong second half from Dingle saw them overcome South Kerry in the round 2B of the Kerry SFC on Sunday. They will face Milltown-Castlemaine in the third round on Sunday.

It was an impressive performance from Dingle, especially without key players Tom O'Sullivan, Conor Geaney, Mikey Geaney and Cathal Bambury. The west Kerry side's defence was the foundation of their victory. 

Kerry senior Paul Geaney brilliantly opened the scoring after two minutes, shooting on sight from wide on the left. Dylan Geaney soon following with a second. 

Elusive South Kerry forwards Seán Teahan and Emmet Daly combined for the district team's first score, Teahan winning the free and Daly converting. Paul Geaney, who quarterbacked Dingle from deep throughout the game, extended his side's lead to three with two frees in six minutes.

19 minutes in Fionán O'Sullivan kicked a superb score after a patient South Kerry eventually found some space in a tight Dingle backline. Ciarán O'Sullivan swiftly added another for South Kerry to leave just the minimum between the teams. Dingle immediately hit back through Matthew Flaherty.

Fionán O'Sullivan got his second of the day after Graham O'Sullivan's long ball in was touched down by Teahan. With just over four minutes of the half to play, it was South Kerry's final score of the opening period. 

It was 0-6 to 0-4 at the break. Barry Dan O'Sullivan, usually seen at midfield, was operating in the forward line and his movement earned some space for possession and a point. 

Paul Geaney opened the second half scoring, kicking a free after a rampaging Barry Dan O'Sullivan was fouled while running at the South Kerry defence. Teahan hit back with one of his own for the divisional side. 

O'Sullivan was beginning to impose himself on the game, clipping over his second score from an acute angle on the left. South Kerry found an answer through Valentia's Daly, who scored his second free of the game but it was to be his side's penultimate point. 

Dingle powered away, hitting five points in a row through Dylan Geaney (2), Tadhg Browne and Paul Geaney (2). South Kerry did get the final score of the game through Teahan.

Scorers for Dingle: P Geaney (0-6, 5f), D Geaney (0-3, 1f), B O'Sullivan (0-2), M O'Flaherty (0-1), T Browne (0-1)

Scorers for South Kerry: F O'Sullivan (0-2), S Teahan (0-2f), E Daly (0-2f) C O'Sullivan (0-1)

DINGLE: G H Curran; S Óg Ó Moran, C O’Sullivan, C Flannery; B O'Connor, D O’Sullivan, TL O'Sullivan; B O'Sullivan, L O'Connor; M O'Falherty, B Devane, N Geaney; D Geaney, P Geaney, T Browne

Subs: B Ó Ceilleachair for C Flannery (53), E de Hóra for B Devane (58), B O Connell for L O'Connor (58), T Ó Catháil for M O'Flaherty (58) 

SOUTH KERRY: A Murphy (Reenard), B Kelly (Reenard), M O'Leary (Reenard), O Moran (St. Marys), C Goggin (St. Michaels/Foilmore), C O'Donoghue (St. Marys), F O'Sullivan (Skellig Rangers), G O'Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), A Coffey (St. Marys), P Mangan (Dromid Pearses), D O'Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), C O'Sullivan (Sneem/Derrynane), S Teahan (Reenard), C O'Leary (Reenard), E Daly (Valentia

Subs: T O'Sullivan (Sneem-Derrynane) for Cian Goggin (HT), B O'Sullivan (Reenard) for Pádraig Mangan (45)

Referee: JMFitzgerald (Abbeydorney)