Dingle win their seventh consecutive West Kerry SFC seeing off Castlegregory

CHAMPS: Dingle eventually cruised to victory over Castlegregory in the West Kerry SFC Final at Annascaul, bringing up an unprecedented seven in-a-row of district championship titles in the process. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie

West Kerry SFC final: Dingle 1-16 Castlegregory 0-12

Buoyed by a ruthless opening to the contest, Dingle eventually cruised to victory over Castlegregory in the West Kerry SFC Final at Annascaul, bringing up an unprecedented seven in-a-row of district championship titles in the process.

Although lining out without Kingdom stars Tom O’Sullivan and Dylan Geaney, the defending champions found the net, through Conor Geaney, as early as the second minute, and with the goalscorer and captain Paul Geaney adding quick-fire points, the challengers were rocked to the core.

In fairness to Castlegregory, inspired by the free-taking accuracy of their top performer Cian O’Grady, they dug in resolutely thereafter, finding themselves four points adrift on 25 minutes, before Dingle finished the half with a flourish, four unanswered points leaving them in total control (1-10 to 0-5).

When man-of-the-match Conor Geaney and the equally impressive Niall Geaney added points on the changeover, Dingle were home and dry. They could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty, from their skipper, in the 43rd minute, with Paul Geaney rocketing his effort off the post.

Castlegregory had just notched their opening point from play, courtesy of 2023 county minor Paudie Fitzgerald but, despite the excellence of the ever-accurate O’Grady, there was never any hope of their 47-year West Kerry championship famine coming to an end.

While they took their collective foot off the accelerator in the second half, Dingle were always able to keep control of proceedings. Barry O’Sullivan and Tom Leo O’Sullivan brought up their own brace of points in the closing stages, with substitute Christopher Keane sealing their 21st local crown.

Scorers for Dingle: C Geaney 1-6 (0-3fs), P Geaney 0-2 (0-1f), B O’Sullivan, N Geaney, T Leo O’Sullivan 0-2 each, T de Brún, C Keane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Castlegregory: C O’Grady 0-10 (0-8fs), E Lyne(f), P Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

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

Subs: E Hoare for N Geaney, inj (42), B Devane for M Flannery, inj (46), B Kelliher for Bambury (58), C Keane for de Brún (60+1), P Devane for Flaherty (60+3).

CASTLEGREGORY: E Kennedy; M Scanlon, JJ Hussey, D O’Sullivan; T Moriarty, J O’Neill, D Crean; C Greaney, E Lyne; P O’Donoghue, T O’Donnell, A Fitzgerald; P Fitzgerald, M O’Connell, C O’Grady.

Subs: C O’Leary for O’Donoghue (47), J Shannon for O’Sullivan (47), F Kerin for Moriarty (48), T O’Connor for O’Neill (58), T Flynn for Hussey (60).

Referee: S Mulvihill (St Senan’s).