Kerry Club SFC: Diarmuid O’Connor stars for Na Gaeil in Tralee derby victory over Stacks
Diarmuid O'Connor scored five points, including two two-pointers, as Na Gaeil beat local rivals Austin Stacks. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Inspired by Oisín Maunsell and Diarmuid O’Connor, Na Gaeil delivered a strong performance to earn an opening win in the Kerry Senior Club Football Championship, defeating their Tralee neighbours Austin Stacks in Killeen.
Maunsell, who was part of the Abbeydorney team that lifted the Kerry senior hurling title at the beginning of the month, bagged 1-2 coming off the bench in the opening half. Diarmuid O’Connor, joined by his former Kerry midfield partner in Jack Barry, oozed class for his side, delivering two majestic two-pointers to keep the scoreboard ticking.
It was a physical contest between the neighbours, the men from Killeen and Connolly Park both showed intensity right from the first whistle, and while Stacks did start the brighter, Na Gaeil produced a spirited comeback in an absorbing contest that swung dramatically after the opening quarter.
Stacks were the sharper side early on, with Paddy Lane and Sean Quilter both landing two-pointers inside the first six minutes to establish a 0-4 to 0-0 lead. Na Gaeil did have a goal chance in the third minute but Ronan Shanahan was on hand to make a vital block. Aside from that, the hosts struggled to settle, but points from the returning Barry and James O’Connor kept them in touch.
Joe O’Connor’s fine two-point effort cutting in from the right wing pushed Stacks four clear again in the 23rd minute, but the game’s complexion changed almost instantly. Oisín Maunsell rifled a shot to the roof of the Stacks goal before Enda O’Connor and Kieran O’Connor added points to put Na Gaeil ahead for the first time in the 27th minute. Maunsell struck again just before half-time, however a two-pointer free from Quilter levelled the tie deep into stoppage time, 1-6 to 0-9 at the break.
Na Gaeil restarted strongly, with Diarmuid O’Connor, Devine (free), and Enda O’Connor firing over in quick succession to move the Killeen men 1-9 to 0-9 ahead. Stacks rallied through Armin Heinrich and goalkeeper Michael Tansley’s 45, but a superb two-pointer from Diarmuid O’Connor kept Na Gaeil in control. Jack Sheehan extended the gap for Na Gaeil before things got worse for Stacks with ten minutes left. Dylan Casey was shown a second yellow card for a coming together with Diarmuid O’Connor.
Stacks, down to 14, looked to regroup. Quilter’s close range fisted effort reduced the margin, yet Maunsell continued his impact from the bench with another score. A dramatic finish followed when Daniel Kirby’s attempt at a point under pressure found Quilter close to goal, and he hit the net to leave just a single point between the sides with 58 minutes elapsed.
However, Na Gaeil had the final say, with Diarmuid O’Connor landing his second two-pointer in the closing stages to seal a big win, blowing the group wide open.
O Maunsell (1-2), D O’Connor (0-5, 2x 2tp), D Devine (2f), E O’Connor (0-2 each), J Barry, J O’Connor, K O’Connor, J Sheehan (0-1 each)
S Quilter (1-6, 1tpf, 1tp, 1f), P Lane, J O’Connor (0-2, 1tp each), A Heinrich, M Tansley (45) (0-1 each)
C Bohane; D Bourke, S Okunbor, E Doody; E O’Connor, A Barry, F Barry; J Barry, D O’Connor; J Doyle, J O’Connor, T Ó hÁiniféin; P Doyle, D Devine, K O’Connor.
O Maunsell for D Bourke (19 inj), N O’Mahony for E Doody (42 inj), J Sheehan for K O’Connor (47), S O’Connor for P Doyle (51), K O’Donovan for J O’Connor ( 55).
M Tansley; C Griffin, J O’Shea, D Casey; A Heinrich, N Fitzmaurice, R Shanahan; L Casey, J O’Connor; E Carroll, D Fitzmaurice, F Mangan; S Quilter, D O’Brien, P Lane.
D Kirby for E Carroll (h/t), P O’Sullivan for L Casey ( h/t), G Horan for F Mangan (35), M O’Donnell for D O’Brien ( 42).
P O’Sullivan (Firies)
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