Corn Uí Mhuirí: Ronan Carroll guides Tralee CBS to winning start against Castleisland's St Pat's
IMPACT: Tralee CBS' Ronan Carroll closes down St Pat's' Adam Griffin towards the end of their Corn Ui Mhuiri game in Farranfore. Austin Stacks man Carroll had a key influence in the final stages. Pic: Domnick Walsh
A much improved second half thanks to the two-point shooting of Austin Stacks star Ronan Carroll was enough to ensure Tralee CBS made a winning start to the Corn Uí Mhuirí.
But they were pushed right to very end by a Killian Dennehy inspired St Pats Castleisland side in Farranfore on Wednesday afternoon.
The Green played much better in the second half with first half substitute and former Kerry dual minor star Eoin Flaherty driving them forward along with Mairtin McKivergan.
Once that duo found Ronan Carroll in space St Pats’ tenacious defenders were finding it hard to cope with a player who will no doubt make an appearance in the Kerry SFC final against Dingle on Sunday next.
The Green are still without Gearoid White and Tadgh Slattery so they will only get stronger.
Killian Dennehy had a superb first half, but Tralee dealt with his surging runs through the middle in the second stanza with Flaherty, McKivergan and Eoin Moriarty superb for the Green.
CBS made a whirlwind start with two goals inside the opening five minutes but then St Pats completely outplayed the favourites for the rest of the half.
Kerry U-20 midfielder Killian Dennehy gave an exhibition at midfield, and his kicking was the difference between the sides as he hit three two-point frees and one point from play for a personal first half tally of 0-7.
But St Pats will look back and wonder how they conceded two early goals with Cian McKenna sending Mikey Corridon through to beat Michael Hickey in the third minute before Cian McKenna was gifted a second goal a minute later.
But St Pats recovered well thanks to the imperious Dennehy and some excellent defending by Ruairi Brosnan, Padraig Reidy and Rory O’Connor.
Dennehy kicked two frees from outside the arc and Rory O’Connor and Dennehy again left Tralee leading 2-3 to 0-6 after twenty minutes with Ronan Carroll kicking their three points.
Michael Horan then closed the gap to a point with two superb points before Killian Dennehy with his third two points free ensured the sides retired level at the break.
But after Ruairi Brosnan and Nick Lacey swapped early second half points, Tralee CBS took over and a two pointer from Ronan Carroll, a point from Eoin Flaherty on the burst and another Carroll monster from nearly fifty meters, saw Tralee CBS move five clear and St Pat’s never looked like rescuing the game late on.
R Carroll (0-9, 2tpp, 1f), C McKenna (1-1), M Corridon (1-0), E Flaherty, N Lacey (f), R Hurley (f) (0-1 each).
K Dennehy (0-9, 3tfs, 1f), M Horan (0-2), R O’Connor, D Hickey and G Costello (0-1 each).
O Lata (Austin Stacks); M Enright (St Pats), E Moriarty (Ballymac), S Turner (Ballymac); F Ryan (Austin Stacks), M Corridon (Ardfert), M O’Sullivan (Churchill); M McKivergan (Ballymac), T O'Connor (Ballyduff); T Quilter (Churchill), C McKenna (Churchill), R Hurley (St. Senans); C Hurley (St. Senans), R Carroll (Austin Stacks), N Lacey (Kerins O’Rahillys).
E Flaherty (Ardfert) for M Corridon (inj 10), S Hickey (Churchill) for R Hurley (42), T Lenihan (Churchill) for C Hurley (42), D Kingston (Na Gaeil) for N Lacey (42).
M Hickey (Cordal); P Reidy (Ballymac), S Kelliher (Cordal), N Fitzgerald (Desmonds); A Griffin (Cordal) , R Brosnan (Currow), R O’Connor (Currow) ; T Jones (Cordal), K Dennehy (Cordal); L O’Connor (Desmonds), M Horan (Scartaglen), T Kelliher (Cordal); J Ryan (Currow), G Costello (Cordal), C O’Connell (Ballymac).
D Hickey (Desmonds) for J Ryan (40), R O’Connor (Cordal) for C O’Connell (55), W McCarthy (Scartaglen) for T Kelliher (55).
S Mulvihill (St Senans).
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