Sheehan and O'Donoghue help St Mary's fight back to deny Skellig in South Kerry final

NO STOPPING HIM: Bryan Sheehan won his 16th Senior Championship medal in South Kerry after another St. Mary's victory. File picture: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

South Kerry SFC Final: St Marys 2-12, Skellig Rangers 0-13 

‘The town that climbs the mountain’ will look upon the Jack Murphy Cup for a third-successive year as St Mary’s defeated Skellig Rangers to retain the South Kerry title.

The tone of the game was set early. St Mary’s opened the scoring after just two minutes through a Bryan Sheehan free, before Ronan O’Shea replied for Skellig Rangers. By the ninth minute Martin O’Sullivan had pushed Skellig Rangers ahead with a well-taken two-pointer, but St Mary’s steadied themselves with points from Jack Daly, Anthony Cournane and Ben O’Donoghue.

Keith Brennan narrowed the gap with a free before Sheehan (free) and Michael O’Sullivan traded scores. Ronan O’Shea nudged Skellig Rangers ahead once more a minute later. However, a late Skellig Rangers goal chance was blown for a foul by Ciarán Keating on goalkeeper Bryan Sheehan, and Daniel Daly struck a valuable two-pointer to send St Mary’s in 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break.

Darren Casey extended that lead immediately after the restart, but Skellig Rangers hit back through Keating and a two-point free from Darragh O’Sullivan. Then came the game’s first major turning point - in the 38th minute Aidan Walsh and Casey combined superbly to set up Tadgh O’Connor, who finished to the net. Daniel Daly added a free before Micheál O’Sullivan replied, and Bryan Sheehan landed a ’45 to keep Mary’s in control.

Skellig Rangers pushed hard, with Ronan O’Shea narrowing the margin again, but the decisive blow arrived in the 46th minute. Man of the Match Ben O’Donoghue, after excellent build-up play from Conor O’Shea, placed his shot into the top corner for a second St Mary’s goal. Rangers struck back with another O’Sullivan two-pointer, but St Marys replied with points from Anthony Cournane and Tadgh O’Connor.

Skellig Rangers laid siege to the Marys rearguard for the final seven minutes. They wouldn’t manage to eat into the deficit though, as they saw half a dozen chances go wide in the closing minutes.

St Mary’s held out to claim a 40th South Kerry title, as Sheehan collects his 16th Senior championship medal in the district.

Scorers for St Marys: Ben O’Donoghue 1-1; Tadgh O’Connor 1-1; Daniel Daly 0-3 (1tp, 1f); Bryan Sheehan 0-3 (2f, 1’45); Anthony Cournane 0-2; Darren Casey, Jack Daly 0-1 each 

Scorers for Skellig Rangers: Darragh O’Sullivan 0-4 (2tpf); Ronan O’Shea 0-3; Martin O’Sullivan 0-2 (tp); Michael O’Sullivan 0-2; Ciarán Keating 0-1; Keith Brennan 0-1 (f).

ST MARYS: B Sheehan; J O’Sullivan, C O’Donoghue, O Moran (capt); C O’Shea, D O’Sullivan, D Casey; J Daly, K O’Driscoll; A Coffey, A Cournane, A Walsh; B O’Donoghue, T O’Connor, D Daly.

SUBS: T O’Sullivan for C O’Donoghue (temp, 35-38), S Cournane for D Daly (52), T O’Sullivan for K O’Driscoll (52), M Quigley for C O’Shea (60).

SKELLIG RANGERS: P O’Sullivan; S O’Sullivan, G O’Sullivan, B Murphy; S Kennedy, F O’Sullivan (capt), B Walsh; Ma O’Sullivan, R O’Shea; A O’Sullivan, C Keating, D O’Sullivan; Mi O’Sullivan, K Brennan, D Kennedy.

SUBS: D Riordan for Mi O’Sullivan (44), D O’Sullivan for A O’Sullivan (52), St O’Sullivan for Ma O’Sullivan (55).

REFEREE: B Brosnan (Glenflesk).