'I’m just unbelievably proud of the boys' - Na Gaeil book place in Kerry club decider

Rathmore were edged out in Killarney on Saturday.

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025 - 07:24

BY JOHN O’DOWD

NA GAEIL 0-16 RATHMORE 2-9

Trailing by a single point at half-time, having played with the strong wind at their backs in the opening half, you wouldn’t have fancied Na Gaeil’s chances of advancing past Rathmore in Saturday evening’s Kerry senior club FC semi-final at the Dr Crokes GAA grounds.

However, monopolising possession around the middle on the resumption and, with a collective self-belief surging through the side, they deservedly turned the game around, with Jack Sheehan slotting over the winning point three minutes from time.

With the experience of the Barry brothers, Diarmuid O’Connor and Stefan Okunbor inspiring all around them, the Tralee club find themselves in next weekend’s county final. Manager Donal Rooney was a very satisfied man after the final whistle.

“Massive relief would be my first thought, but unbelievable pride as well. I suppose after 10 or 15 minutes in that first half, we were four or five points down, playing with the gale, playing with the elements, and for us to then turn that around,” he said.

“Coming in one point down, after making lots of errors in that first half but then, in the second half, I thought we were absolutely immense. They got a two-pointer, and we were kicking into the teeth, and we sort of fought our way back and back. I’m just unbelievably proud of the boys.” Goals from Ciaran Collins and John Moynihan, in the space of five minutes, had given Rathmore a slender advantage at the break (2-2 to 0-7) but, despite moving four points in front early on the changeover, they went 17 minutes without a score.

“This group has been through a lot. The vast majority of them have been together for the last eight years. They’ve lost finals, junior premier, they’ve won junior premier, they’ve won All-Irelands, they’ve lost an All-Ireland semi-final in intermediate,” added the Na Gaeil boss.

“They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They’re a united bunch, and there are plenty of leaders in that group. In the second half, our skills improved, and the grit and the fight was there. We’ve one more step now, and we’ll look forward to next week.” Rathmore had two late chances to snatch an equalizer, but both Cathal Ryan and Brendan O’Keeffe were off target. There was no disputing Na Gaeil’s overall superiority in that second half, however, as they deservedly edged past the winning post.

Having been 100/1 outsiders with the bookmakers at the outset of the competition, Na Gaeil have made an awful lot of people eat humble pie. On whether there was anger at being written off, Rooney simply replied: “In all honesty, we’re used to being disrespected.”

Scorers for Na Gaeil: D O’Connor 0-4 (0-1f), D Devine 0-3 (fs), J Barry 0-3 (1tpf), J Sheehan 0-2, C Bohane 0-2 (tpf), T Ó hAiniféin, D Reen 0-1 each.

Scorers for Rathmore: C Collins 1-3 (0-1f), J Moynihan 1-0, A Dineen 0-2 (tp), S Ryan 0-2 (tpf), F Murphy, P Murphy 0-1 each.

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

Subs: D Reen for Devine (ht), K O’Connor for P Doyle (40), S O’Connor for J O’Connor (40), E Doody for O’Mahoney (52), R Ó hAiniféin for Sheehan (59).

RATHMORE: S Ryan; T O’Doherty, D Murphy, C Dineen; A Dineen, B O’Keeffe, F Holohan; A Moynihan, C Ryan; B Friel, P Murphy, D Rahilly; F Murphy, C Collins, J Moynihan.

Subs: M Reen for J Moynihan, inj (30), M Ryan for Rahilly (42), C O’Connor for O’Doherty (44), P Moynihan for Friel (48).

Referee: S Joy (Laune Rangers).