Kerry SFC: Na Gaeil beat Dingle for first time despite Paul Geaney heroics

Paul Geaney did not start the encounter but was introduced where he created havoc for the Na Gaeil defence.

KERRY SFC:  Paul Geaney Dingle ( RED ) and Stefan Okunbor Na Gaeil pictured in action during the game. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .

Kerry SFC quarter-finals: Dingle 0-17 (0-7-3) Na Gaeil 1-15 (1-2-11)

Na Gaeil were outsiders when the Kerry Petroleum Senior Club Football draw was made, just hung on in the final minutes to get past a Paul Geaney inspired Dingle in this quarter-final played at the Austin Stack Park. It was a game of two halves due to a gale force wind blowing down the pitch towards the Horans end.

It is the first time that Na Gaeil have beaten Dingle in any competition and while they deserved the win because of some tremendous defending by Enda O’Connor, Fergal and Andrew Barry and in the opening half Jack Barry was dominant in midfield while Diarmuid O’Connor and Oisin Maunsell ran at the Dingle defence.

Na Gaeil played with the gale in the opening half and built up a substantial half time lead as Dingle struggled to score and it was Cathal Bambury who opened their account in the 25th minute.

Dingle, who lined out without Paul Geaney but he was introduced midway through the opening half, and was taken up straight away by Stefan Okunbor and though Okunbor did well in the second quarter, Geaney was unstoppable in the first 20 minutes of the second half when he kicked five two pointers, three from play and two from long range frees.

But once Fergal Barry switched to mark Paul Geaney he only managed one two pointer from a free in the 53rd minute and Barry did enough to force Geaney to kick two late wides that could have forced extra time.

Na Gaeil did enough in the opening half to just shade it as they built up a 1-10 to 0-2 lead by half time. Andrew Barry opened the Tralee sides account but a two pointer from Dara Devine followed and further points from a Devine free, Niall O’Mahony, Jack Barry, Diarmuid O’Connor, a two from Jack Sheehan and an Oisin Maunsell point saw Na Gaeil race 0-10 to 0-0 clear by the 22nd minute.

Diarmuid O’Connor carved open the Dingle defence to billow the net and they looked in trouble. Paul Geaney was now on the pitch and he set up Cathal Bambury and Conor Flannery to post first half points but had Na Gaeil had a big enough lead.

Paul Geaney opened the second half with a massive two pointer but Na Gaeil responded points from Dara Devine and Jack Sheehan. However Dingle kicked three more two pointers, two from Geaney and one from Tadgh de Brún to close the gap to five.

Diarmuid O’Connor extended Na Gaeil’s lead to six but two more two pointers from Paul Geaney and a point from Tom Leo O’Sullivan closed the gap. However, Jack Barry and Kieran O’Connor ensured that Na Gaeil were going to complete a historic win.

Scorers: Na Gaeil: D O’Connor (1-2), D Devine (0-4, 2pt, 2fs), J Sheehan (0-3, 1 2pt), J Barry (0-2), N O’Mahony, A Berry, O Maunsell and K O’Connor (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Dingle: P Geaney (0-12, 3tpt, 3tpf), B Devane (0-2pt), C Flannery, T L O’Sullivan and C Bambury (0-1 each) 

NA GAEIL: C Bohane; N O’Mahony, S Okunbor, E O’Connor; J Doyle, A Barry, F Barry; J Barry, D O’Connor; J O’Connor, O Maunsell, T Ó hÁiniféin; P Doyle, D Devine, J Sheahan.

Subs: K O’Connor for P Doyle, 48, D Reen for D Devine, 52, S O’Connor for J O’Connor, 52, E Doody for N O’Mahony, 60(+2) 

DINGLE: G H Curran; B O’Connor, S Óg Moran, P Ryan; A O’Connor, C Flannery, T L O’Sullivan; D O’Sullivan, N Geaney ; T de Brún, M Geaney, N Ryan; C Bambury, L de Brún, B Devane.

Subs: Paul Geaney for B Devane, 18, R McCarthy for L de Brún, 39, M Flaherty for N Geaney, 48, P O’Connor for M Geaney, 52, B Devane for D O’Connor, 60(+1) 

Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk)