Na Gaeil draw the short straw in Kerry Club quarter-finals

In the Kerry IFC, Listowel Emmetts dumped last year's finalists Laune Rangers out of the championship. 

Na Gaeil, despite winning their group, will have to play in the Kerry Club SFC quarter-finaols. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

KERRY'S Club Championship draws have left Na Gaeil with the shortest straw - the Tralee men topped their Club SFC group but they're the odd ones out among the three table-toppers in the knockout draw and have to play a quarter-final.

Dr Crokes (4pts) and Kenmare Shamrocks (3) were the two first names out of the hat and they go straight through to the semis. Na Gaeil, despite beating both Stacks and Templenoe, are now back in at quarter-final stage with the three runners-up, Austin Stacks, Dingle and Rathmore.

Dingle will play Na Gaeil and Austin Stacks will play Rathmore at neutral venues next weekend.

The county's intermediate football championship has eight teams left and this is much more straightforward with the table toppers at home in the quarter-finals. Though they are in separate divisions, only a few miles separates Beaufort and Fossa, and they will square off in a tasty IFC quarter-final. East Kerry rivals Killarney Legion and Glenflesk will meet, while An Ghaeltacht will duel with Gneeveguilla and Kilcummin will face in-form Listowel Emmets.

The big shock in this year’s final round of the IFC saw Listowel Emmets beat last year’s finalists Laune Rangers and dump them out of the championship. This was because Killarney Legion had the measure of Ballydonoghue just over the road in Coolard.

An inspirational performance from Eddie Healy propelled Emmets to an eight-point win over the Killorglin side on a 1-23 to 1-15 scoreline. Healy was everywhere despite wearing three on his back. He contributed three points and with Joe Joe Grimes dominant at midfield. 

Up front, Sean Keane kicked 1-2 with Sam Tarrant landing a two-pointer and Laune Rangers were powerless to stop that first half onslaught despite the bravery of Eoin Clifford. 

Emmets then landed another two from Aaron Kennelly, Pa Walsh added another point before Grimes and Healy set up Keane for a superb goal. Suddenly by half-time Listowel Emmets led 1-14 to 0-7. Rangers needed a quick start to the second half but it was Emmets with two from Keane and one from Walsh that had them out of sight despite an Eoghan Hassett inspired final quarter comeback that was never going to be enough.

Killarney Legion faced Ballydonoghue where it was do or die for both sides but Legion came out on top emerging victorious 0-14 to 0-9 to take top spot in Group 2 after the Laune Rangers slip up.

The home side got the opening score in the first minute through Jack Foley but they only added another point in a low scoring first half from the boot of Jack Kennelly. Legion with Peter McCarthy and Eoghan O'Sullivan scored to push their side ahead after 11 minutes of play.

A pointed free in the 16th minute had the sides level. Legion took control in the second quarter kicking four unanswered points to leave the half-time score 0-6 to 0-2 in favour of Legion. Killarney Legion topped the group and Listowel Emmets finished in second place.

Group 3 was expected to be won by Glenflesk who were fortunate to beat St Mary’s by a last-second two-pointer from Marc Kelliher, ran out of luck when a powerful An Ghaeltacht side travelled to Glenflesk to top the group with a 2-15 to 1-15 win. It was goals from PJ Mac Láimh and Tomás Ó Sé that proved decisive. An Ghaeltacht top the group while Glenflesk finished runners-up.

Group 4 was far more straightforward with IFC favourites Beaufort hammering Kerins O’Rahillys 3-18 to 0-15 while Gneeveguilla grabbed second spot with a big 2-18 to 0-15 win over Glenbeigh Glencar in a dead rubber.

In the Premier JFC, favourites Ballymac will be fancied to take down Ballyduff at home, while Keel meet Castlegregory, Listry go up against Ardfert, and North Kerry pair Duagh and St Senan's complete the last eight draw.