Paul Geaney fires 1-7 to send Dingle into Kerry's final four
Dingle sharpshooter Paul Geaney. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Paul Geaney’s county championship exploits continued at Fitzgerald Stadium as his 1-7 total helped Dingle past a 14-man Templenoe in their Kerry SFC quarter-final clash.
Having kicked 0-8 last week, the 33-year-old captain gave an exhibition of kicking in difficult conditions. He kicked two from play with left and right while adding five frees including a beauty from outside of the 45 against the breeze.
Geaney's only missed free was a shot dropped short that resulted in a Cathal Bambury goal, but it was deemed to be square ball.
Dingle rattled off the final four points of the first half to lead 0-8 to 0-7 at the break. It was a superb finish after a slow start that saw Killian Spillane flourish, kicking four points and two more frees, one of which he won himself.
The Kerry senior was marked by All-Star Tom O’Sullivan, returning from his lengthy lay-off. Paul Geaney had Tadhg Morley for company at the other end. Spillane drove at his Kerry team-mate with relish while O’Sullivan pulled him up the other end at every available opportunity, laying on scores for Paul Geaney and Matthew Flaherty as well as clipping a terrific solo point midway through the half.
Two gorgeous long-range efforts by John Rice and three consecutive Spillane points had Templenoe three up before Dylan Geaney instigated a late Dingle rally. Four points in as many minutes gave them the advantage at the turnaround.
“I don’t think we were panicking but it wasn’t looking too good,” said Dingle manager Pádraig Corcoran post-match.
“The next score was key really for us. We managed to get it back and it was good to get in one point up at half-time. It came together. We moved the ball, we’d a good shot of errors in the first 20 minutes and tidied it up.”
Templenoe enjoyed a flawless opening 30 minutes of shooting until Aidan Crowley’s effort tailed off at the start of the second half. A Barry Dan O’Sullivan score and two Paul Geaney frees ensured Dingle pushed four clear.
“Paul is an excellent kicker, one of the best around. One of the best in the country, he is playing exceptionally well for us.” With 41 minutes played, a Barry Dan O’Sullivan turnover on Adrian Spillane resulted in the game’s only goal. Cathal Bambury squared the breakaway across to Paul Geaney who punched in. Furious Templenoe protests followed but referee Eamonn Moran disregarded them.
A second yellow for Josh Crowley-Holland after a clash with Tom O’Sullivan saw the Templenoe challenge yield completely. Corcoran and Dingle advance to next weekend’s semi-finals.
“It is fantastic to have Tom back, he has been out for almost two months,” he said.
“He has been working hard though, they are so committed to the club. It is difficult. It is even more difficult for the county fellas going straight at it but listen when you are in county quarter-finals and semi-finals you are delighted, just have to keep going and drive on.”
K. Spillane 0-6 (4 frees); J. Rice 0-2; M. Casey 0-1.
P. Geaney 1-7 (5 frees); D. Geaney 0-2; N. Geaney 0-2; T. O’Sullivan, C. Bambury, BD. O’Sullivan, T. Browne, M. Flannery 0-1 each.
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, D. Crowley, A. Crowley.
P. Clifford for D. Crowley (41); J. Spillane for McCarthy (57).
G. Curran; T. O’Sullivan, C. O’Sullivan, M. Flannery; B. O’Connor, D. O’Sullivan, T. O’Sullivan; BD. O’Sullivan, L. O’Connor; B. Devane, M. Flaherty, N. Geaney; D. Geaney, P. Geaney, T. Browne.
C. Bambury for Devane (30); C. Flannery for C. O’Sullivan (38); S Óg Moran for D. O’Sullivan (56); E de Hora for Flannery (59); B Kelliher for T. O’Sullivan (60).
E. Moran (Ballydonoghue).
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