Kennedy earns replay for 13 man Beaufort against Milltown/Castlemaine

REPLAY: The Mid Kerry SFC final ended in dramatic fashion at the JP O’Sullivan Killorglin when Beaufort, reduced to 13 players, managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat when Ciaran Kennedy kicked over the equaliser in the 59th minute, to deny 14 man Milltown/Castlemaine. Picture:Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Mid Kerry SFC final: Beaufort 1-14 Milltown/Castlemaine 1-14

The Mid Kerry SFC final ended in dramatic fashion at the JP O’Sullivan Killorglin when Beaufort, reduced to 13 players, managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat when Ciaran Kennedy kicked over the equaliser in the 59th minute, to deny 14 man Milltown/Castlemaine.

There was still drama to come in the final minute when Eanna O’Connor was fouled outside the arc but his two point attempt dropped short and Kerry senior Mike Breen, who was heroic in that final ten minutes when his side were down to 13, drove forward and Jack O’Connor’s effort was deflected behind with the hooter just gone.

Fergal Hallissey then had the 45 to earn an unlikely win for Beaufort but the ball sailed wide and that was that. A replay will be required and based on what was witnessed on Sunday it is sure to draw a bigger crowd.

Beaufort got off to a whirlwind start when Kennedy fired over a two pointer inside 25 seconds and then two minutes later, Darragh O’Connor finished the net and the champions of three of the last four years had raced into 1-2 to 0-0 lead.

Milltown/Castlemaine thanks David Roche eventually got off the mark and Roche opened their account, quickly followed by a Cathal Moriarty point. Jack O’Connor and Brendan Casey swapped points but it was Milltown/Castlemaine who thanks to some great defending by Aaron Dinham, Pa Wren and David Roche was now hurting Beaufort at the other end. Points from Anthony Kelliher, Dara Hogan and Eanna O’Connor leveled the contest at 1-3 to 0-6. But Beaufort thanks to points from Darragh Dennehy, Darragh O’Connor and Mark Neary soon had a three point lead but the sides swapped scores coming up to half time with Beaufort lead 1-8 to 0-8 at the interval.

Two early second half points from Darragh O’Connor and Liam Carey pushed Beaufort five clear but they couldn't shake off Milltown/Castlemaine once the injured Gavin Horan was introduced.

Eanna O’Connor kicked a two point free, Cathal Moriarty added a point from play and the comeback was on.

Beaufort went 14 minutes without a score and Nathan Breen got a straight red for a dangerous hit on David Roche in the 45th minute and suddenly momentum changed. After a Hallissey 45, Milltown/Castlemaine struck for a goal when Gavin Horan placed Brendan Casey for a goal. 

Then in the 52nd minute Eanna O’Connor pushed Milltown/Castlemaine in front for the first time from a free in the 52nd minute before more drama as Gavin McKenna got a black card and Ger Hartnett got a straight red for retaliation.

Milltown/Castlemaine then went for broke with points from Gavin Horan, Cathal Moriarty to move three clear but despite only having 13 on the pitch Mike Breen became the hero with some incredible ball winning and lung bursting runs and points from Hallissey and Jack O’Connor (free) closed the gap to a point before Ciaran Kennedy snatched a draw for Beaufort at the death.

Scorers for Beaufort: D O’Connor (1-2), C Kennedy (0-4, 1tp) F Hallissey (1’45) and J O’Connor (1f) (0-2 each). M Breen, M Neary, L Carey and D Dennehy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Milltown/Castlemaine: E O’Connor (0-6, 4fs, 1tpf), B Casey (1-1), C Moriarty (0-3), A Kelliher, D Roche, D Hogan and G Horan (0-1 each) 

BEAUFORT: F O’Neill; G Hartnett, E Coffey, K O’Sullivan; N Breen, M Breen, S Kelliher; R Murphy, S O’Brien; L Carey, C Kennedy, F Hallissey; D O’Connor, J Coffey, J O’Connor.

Subs: S Kelliher for R Murphy (h/t), J Coffey for D Dennehy (44), J O’Sullivan for J Coffey (55)

MILLTOWN/CASTLEMAINE: C Leane; A Dinham, P Wren, S Roche; A Kelliher, D Roche, G McKenna; K Kerins, D Dennehy; C O’Connor, B Casey, D O’Neill; D Hogan, E O’Connor, C Moriarty 

Subs: G Horan for C O’Connor (37), M Lynch for D O’Neill (43), S Hogan for K Kerins (50), J O’Sullivan for D Hogan.

Referee: S Joy (Laune Rangers)