Seán O’Shea heroic for 14-man Kenmare, but St Brendan's book semi-final passage

St Brendan's were made to work hard as 14-man Kenmare battled to the bitter end.

Joe O’Connor

Kerry SFC quarter-final: St Brendan's 0-16 Kenmare 0-14 

St Brendan's progressed to the penultimate stage of the County Championship with victory over Kenmare Shamrocks on Sunday afternoon, but they were made to work hard as 14-man Kenmare battled to the bitter end.

The decision to postpone the game for 24 hours proved correct as spectators in Beaufort basked in sunshine for the majority of the game.

St Brendan's were wasteful in the early stages with a number of wides while Seánie O’Shea kicked two points at the other end to open the scoring. 

Once St Brendan's got going though, they were hard to stop and tagged on six points without reply. County star Joe O’Connor got his side on the board with a fisted effort, while Barry John Keane scored three super points, Daithí Griffin and Armin Heinrich added others.

Kenmare were trying to stay in touch and a Seán O’Shea free helped them, but St Brendan's were in insatiable form and Jack Savage pointed a pair of frees before knocking one over from play to lead by six.

David Hallissey pointed off the top of the crossbar when a goal was at his mercy, and Brendan's cancelled it out with a point from Dylan Casey. Seán O’Shea (free) and James McCarthy reduced the gap with well-taken scores but Barry John Keane closed out the half to give St Brendans a 0-11 to 0-6 lead at the break.

David Moran increased the St Brendan's lead early in the second half, but Kenmare began a resurgence led by their main man Seánie O’Shea. A pointed free was soon followed by a 45’ by the Kerry forward before James McCarthy added another super score. Seán O’Shea pointed again to bring the deficit to just two but Paddy Lane, not long on the field as a substitute, was immediately involved and he pointed for St Brendan's.

Kenmare lost James McCarthy to injury when he was having a fantastic game. Stephen O’Brien and Jack Savage traded points before Kenmare were dealt another blow – a red card for midfielder Kevin O’Sullivan.

This should have seen Kenmare's challenge fade away but they kept coming. Seán O’Shea took responsibility and kicked two fantastic scores but they were cancelled out by Jack Savage and Paddy Lane. 

They were made to sweat to the last but St Brendan's held out to meet Dr Crokes in the semi-final.

Scorers for St Brendan's: Jack Savage 0-5 (3f); Barry John Keane 0-4; Paddy Lane 0-2; Joe O’Connor, Daithí Griffin, Armin Heinrich, Dylan Casey & David Moran 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kenmare: Seán O’Shea 0-10 (5f, 1 ‘45); James McCarthy 0-2, David Hallissey & Stephen O’Brien 0-1 each.

ST BRENDANS: M Tansley (Austin Stacks), C Griffin (Austin Stacks), D Casey (Austin Stacks), J Nagle (Austin Stacks), T Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys), A Heinrich (Austin Stacks), P White (John Mitchels), J O'Connor (Austin Stacks), D Moran (Kerins O'Rahillys), T Kennedy (Kerins O'Rahillys), J Savage (Kerins O'Rahillys), D Griffin (Ardfert), O Ferris (Ardfert), T Walsh (Kerins O'Rahillys), B J Keane (Kerins O'Rahillys).

Subs: D Kirby (Austin Stacks) for Griffin (12), P Lane (Austin Stacks) for Keane (39), C Holden (John Mitchels) for Ferris (47), L O’Donnell (Churchill) for Walsh (48), B Hanafin (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Kennedy (57).

KENMARE SHAMROCKS: K Fitzgibbon, D Crowley, T O’Sullivan, D O’Connor, D O’Shea, J McCarthy, T Cronin, D Ciuciu, K O’Sullivan, J Lehane, S O’Shea (capt), D Hallissey, S O’Brien, P O’Connor, T Murnane.

Subs: S O’Sullivan for Lehane (29), J O’Sullivan for McCarthy (48), C O’Sullivan for T O’Sullivan (57), T O’Sullivan for Ciuciu (57), J Tangney for O’Brien (58).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Clounmacon).