David Clifford penalty drama as Dingle oust champions East Kerry in pulsating Kerry SFC semi-final

Inspired by goalkeeper Gavin Curran’s match-winning save from a David Clifford penalty in injury-time of normal time, the West Kerry side pulled through to the decider

Dingle's Tomas O Suilleabhain challenges East Kerry's David Clifford during the Kerry senior football semi-final at Austin Stack Park. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD

Kerry SFC semi-final: Dingle 2-16 East Kerry 1-14 (after extra-time) 

A truly dominant extra-time performance, inspired by Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Paul Geaney and man-of-the-match Dylan Geaney, laid the foundations for Dingle’s stunning victory over reigning kingpins East Kerry in an enthralling Kerry SFC semi-final at Austin Stack Park.

Inspired by goalkeeper Gavin Curran’s stupendous match-winning save from a David Clifford penalty in injury-time of normal time, the West Kerry side had the momentum going into the added 20 minutes. And they notched 0-7, to 0-2 from the wilting champions, in that period.

The first-half never really caught fire, with both sides incapable of building up any sustained momentum. East Kerry made the livelier start, and enjoyed a two-point lead (0-4 to 0-2), before the Westerners struck for the half’s only goal in the 23rd-minute.

Dylan Geaney was the creator, with a pinpoint pass into overlapping defender Tom Leo O’Sullivan, and the Dingle wing-back made no mistake with a consummate, composed finish to the East Kerry net. That put his side into the lead for the first time.

Dingle held that minimum advantage to the break (1-3 to 0-5), but the defending champions again came out of the traps quicker. The sides were at parity before David Clifford received a quickly-taken free from Luke Crowley, and rattled the challengers’ net in the 38th minute (1-7 to 1-4).

The Dingle response was emphatic, Tom O’Sullivan setting up Paul Geaney for an equalising goal four minutes later. It was nip-and-tuck all the way to the finish, with the outstanding Dylan Geaney kicking some sublime points when the pressure was greatest.

East Kerry went three points adrift, but wouldn’t lie down, and when Ronan Buckley was fouled by Paul Geaney for a spot-kick, it appeared that the holders would triumph again. Curran, and the rest of the Dingle team, had other ideas, as they advance to an all-club decider against Dr Crokes.

Scorers for Dingle: P Geaney 1-4 (0-1f, 0-1mk), D Geaney 0-6 (0-1f), T Leo O’Sullivan 1-0, C Geaney 0-3 (0-2fs), M Flaherty 0-2, T O’Sullivan 0-1.

Scorers for East Kerry: D O’Sullivan 0-6 (0-1mk, 0-3fs), D Clifford 1-2 (0-2fs), P Clifford, N Donohue, R Murphy, L Crowley, R Buckley, P O’Leary 0-1 each.

DINGLE: G Curran; C Flannery, C O’Sullivan, T O’Sullivan; Brian O’Connor, D O’Sullivan, T Leo O’Sullivan; B O’Sullivan, Billy O’Connor; C Bambury, M Flaherty, N Geaney; D Geaney, P Geaney, T de Brún.

Subs: M Flannery for C O’Sullivan, inj (ht), C Geaney for de Brún (44), M Geaney for D O’Sullivan (49), De Brún for Bambury (65), S Óg Moran for Billy O’Connor (80), B Kelliher for Brian O’Connor (80).

EAST KERRY: B Kelly (Killarney Legion); C O’Leary (Kilcummin), D O’Brien (Glenflesk), N Donohue (Firies); Kieran O’Sullivan (Fossa), C Lynch (Glenflesk), P O’Leary (Gneeveguilla); R Buckley (Listry), D Lyne (Killarney Legion); S O’Leary (Kilcummin), L Crowley (Glenflesk), R Murphy (Listry); D Clifford (Fossa), D O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan), P Clifford (Fossa).

Subs: C Gammell (Killarney Legion) for K O’Sullivan (ht), D O’Callaghan (Kilcummin) for C O’Leary (46), F Murphy (Killarney Legion) for S O’Leary (49), E O’Shea (Fossa) for R Murphy (58), R Murphy for Buckley, inj (61), K O’Sullivan for Donohue (71).

Referee: B Griffin (Clounmacon).