Kerry's Ó Beaglaoich makes welcome return as Ballymac edge clash of All-Ireland champions

The meeting of All-Ireland Club SFC champions Dingle and previous winners Dr Crokes topped the billing on the opening weekend of Kerry's SFL

BACK IN ACTION: Gaeltacht's Brian Ó Beaglaoich made his seasonal bow for the club on Sunday, scoring three points in their Kerry SFL loss to Balymacelligott. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

FORMER All-Ireland club SFC champions Dr Crokes gave current kingpins Dingle a guard of honour as the west Kerry men began a new SFL Division One campaign - and promptly ended the goodwill there and then at Páirc an Ághasaigh with a 1-14 to 1-7 win.

Crokes dominated from the get-go and underlined the strength of their squad, with both sides missing a number of first team regulars. 

Kerry senior defender Charlie Keating played the first half at the end of which Crokes led 1-5 to 0-5, the goal coming from Liam Randles from a McMahon assist. Dingle replied with two-pointers from Mikey Boland and Cathal Bambury plus a Bambury effort from play.

David Shaw was introduced by Crokes for the second half and he kicked an early point before having to retire injured. However Kerry's Micheál Burns came on and proceeded to kick two points from play, Cian McMahon kicked a monster two pointer as Dingle toiled but their top scorer on the day, Mikey Boland did score a 54th goal to keep things respectable.

Meanwhile in Division 2, the battle of Kerry's other two All-Ireland club champions drew a huge crowd to Ballymacelligott where a late Darragh O'Regan goal edged the points for the home side, 2-12 to 1-12, on an immaculate surface. 

Steven Ó Conchúir and Peter Paul Sauerland helped to put an understrength Gaeltacht into an early 0-5 to 0-2 advantage, before 

Ballymac's Donal Daly pointed a free and curled over a two point free to level the contest. Man of the match Niall Collins landed a two pointer to put them ahead but Gaeltacht's response was swift, and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich netted the game's first goal to ease them into a 1-5 to 0-7 interval lead.

Kerry star Brían Ó Beaglaoich came off the bench late in the first half and would on to claim 0-3 but Collins and Darragh Broderick (free) leveled the tie for the fourth time. Collins soon raised the green flag as he finished to the net after a goalmouth scramble, making it 1-9 to 1-6. But Brian Ó Beaglaoich landed a two pointer to cut the gap before Regan fired high into the Gaeltacht net on 57 minutes to claim the points.

Meanwhile in the other Division 1 games, Killarney Legion defeated Spa 1-16 to 0-15. Spa's Luke O'Neill, Cian Murphy, and Evan Cronin helped them into a 0-9 to 0-5 lead but 1-1 from Legion's Ryan O'Grady turned the game on its head. Rian O'Neill brought Spa back within a point in an exciting finish but the outstanding O'Grady struck again for the insurance score and a valuable two league points.

Kilcummin proved far too strong for Kerins O’Rahillys 2-15 to 0-12 with a Chris O’Leary penalty and some superb long range points from Paul O’Shea putting them into a commanding 1-11 to 0-4 first half lead. Strand Road did rally to cut the deficit to six but a Chris O’Leary second penalty put paid to any further notions they may have entertained.

Rathmore proved too strong for Beaufort 2-18 to 1-12 with Sean McAuliffe bookending the game with goals and Fionn Murphy and Cathal Ryan playing well. Jack O’Connor scored Beaufort’s goal but they were always playing catch-up.

Kenmare Shamrocks won on the road at Gneeveguilla on a 1-14 to 0-9 scoreline with Jack Tagney scoring their goal from a penalty and Stephen O’Brien kicking some nice scores including a two pointer.