Late flourish by Ryan and Murphy delivers East Kerry title for Rathmore

Rathmore denied gutsy Kilcummin in a highly competitive East Kerry final at a wet Fitzgerald Stadium

Paul Murphy of Rathmore. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

East Kerry Final: Rathmore 1-12 Kilcummin 2-7 

Rathmore won their ninth O’Donoghue Cup and first since 2017 when they put in a storming finish to deny Kilcummin in a highly competitive East Kerry final at a wet Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Sunday afternoon.

When the game was in the melting pot down the stretch, it was Kerry senior players Shane Ryan and Paul Murphy with three of their last four points that saw Rathmore over the line, against a gusty Kilcummin side who were seeking a first title in 51 years.

Kilcummin were on top in the half as Rathmore struggled up front against a tough tackling defence. Paul O’Shea set the tone for the afternoon when he converted a free in the opening minute and then wing back Keelan O’Shea fired over a fine left-footed point in the fifth minute.

Rathmore, thanks to strong play at the back from Dan Murphy and his cousin Paul, began to slowly get back into the contest and were on level terms thanks to points from Ciaran Collins and a free from Shane Ryan.

Kilcummin were catching Rathmore on the break, and added three points from Matt Keane and a Paul O’Shea (free) and another from play, that saw them move 0-5 to 0-2 in front. 

But with Dan Murphy a colossus, Rathmore closed the gap to just a point thanks to points from Fionn Murphy and Ciaran Collins. 

The game turned in the 28th minute when Kilcummin scored a goal that was freakish in nature. Brendan Kealy’s attempt at a 45 dropped short and when Matt Keane collected he was probably going for a point but it ended up in the top corner. Kilcummin retired 1-6 to 0-4 in front and in a promising position.

Rathmore resumed a different side and playing with far more intensity, they were back to within a point inside the opening four minutes, thanks to Shane Ryan point from play and superb goal scored by a diving Alan Dineen who got on the end of Fionn Murphy's low delivery.

Kilcummin replied within two minutes when a misdirected kick-out was intercepted by Cian Foley and Matt Keane scored his second goal of the contest.

But Kilcummin then retreated and invited Rathmore onto them and that saw points from John Moynihan (m), Mark Reen and Shane Ryan close the gap to the minimum.

Kilcummin had lost Kevin Gorman to a black card and just before he returned Shane Ryan leveled the contest with the score of the game from an angle.

Paul Murphy then thundered into the game and when he was fouled, Mark Reen gave Rathmore the lead for the first time in the 56th minute.

Paul Murphy punched a point to double their lead, before Paul O’Shea got Kilcummin’s sole second-half point. Fittingly it was Paul Murphy who closed out the game for Rathmore.

Scorers for Rathmore: S Ryan (0-4, 2fs), A Dineen (1-0), P Murphy, C Collins and M Reen (1f) 0-2 each, F Murphy and M Reen (M) 0-1 each).

Kilcummin: M Keane (2-1), P O’Shea (0-5, 3fs), K O’Shea (0-1) Teams: 

RATHMORE: W Casey; C Dineen, D Murphy, F Holohan; A Dineen, P Murphy, B O’Keeffe; F Murphy, C Ryan; P Moynihan, C Collins, D Rahilly; J Darmody, S Ryan, J Moynihan.

Subs: A Moynihan for P Moynihan (h/t), M Reen for J Darmody (37), B Friel for D Rahilly (47), C O’Connor for F Holohan (59) 

KILCUMMIN: B Kealy; D Stack, C O’Leary, J Williams; S O’Leary, D O’Callaghan, K O’Shea; P O’Shea, D Moynihan; P O’Leary, C Foley, D Cronin; M Keane, K Gorman, M O’Shea.

Subs: G O’Leary for D Cronin (40), D Maher for K O’Shea (47), S McSweeney for M O’Shea (58) 

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Firies)