Rathmore sit alone on top in Kerry while Stacks shocked by Beaufort

Alan Dineen of Rathmore. Photo Don MacMonagle

Kerry County League 

A pattern is merging in the Kerry County league — teams with few players involved with Kerry senior and U-20s squads are making the early running. Rathmore, Kilcummin and Glenflesk are cases in point.

Rathmore made it three wins from three when they beat pointless Dingle 1-11 to 1-8 at windswept Rathbeg. The West Kerry club had led 1-2 to 0-1 after 13 minutes before Rathmore hit back with a goal to lead 1-4 to 1-3 at half time. Points from Fionn Murphy and Alan Dineen, who raised a white and an orange flag respectively, had the East Kerry club 1-8 to 1-6 ahead as the game entered the final ten minutes and it was Dineen who secured the win with a couple of late points. Kerry senior Barry Dan O’Sullivan got another half for Dingle in his comeback from his cruciate.

Glenflesk, under new boss Wayne Quillinan, had to settle for a share of the points - 1-13 to Kenmare Shamrocks 0-16's. Shamrocks recovered from nine down at half time to score an equaliser in the final minute through Donal O’Sullivan Down.

Pa Brosnan proved the hero for Gneeveguilla as he fired over a late winner in the defeat of Killarney Legion - 2-14 to 1-16.

Legion led by four points as the clock approached 60 minutes, Cornelius Buckley having kept Gneeveguilla in the game with a number of two pointers in a 0-12 haul.  

It was 0-13 to 0-8 midway through the second half when Pa Brosnan scored the first of his two goals from the spot. He added another penalty late on and in a dramatic ending popped the ball over the bar for the winner.

Kilcummin won the East Kerry derby with Spa, 0-14 to 0-10. Philip O’Leary was prominent on the scoreboard for the visitors early on, with a couple of white flags helping his side to a 0-4 to 0-2 lead while Paul O’Shea landed two two-pointers to extend Kilcummin’s lead, putting them eight in front.

Spa responded with points from David Spillane and Michael Horgan but Mikey Casey and Paul O’Shea converted late in the half to restore Kilcummin’s eight-point lead, 0-12 to 0-4, at half time.

Spa fought back with the elements in the second half, but came up short and has zero points along with Dingle.

Beaufort caused the shock of the round with a 0-19 to 1-15 win over Austin Stacks.

Points from Fergal Hallissey (‘45’ and two-pointer), Fionn Kennedy and Darragh Dennehy got Beaufort into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead, but Stacks settled and were back on terms, 0-5 apiece, before the Rockies moved ahead to lead 0-8 to 0-6 at half time.

Cian Purcell, Eoghan Carroll and Greg Horan were on target for Stacks.

In the 54th minute Stacks had Jack Murphy sent off for a second yellow card, but Michael O’Donnell then scored the game’s only goal to put Stacks ahead, 1-14 to 0-15.

Darragh O’Connor replied with a Beaufort two-pointer, Hallissey raised an orange flag and Beaufort held on for the win despite one last Stacks attack.

Meanwhile a much depleted Dr Crokes were looking good as they led 1-8 to 0-5 at half time but 1-4 from Cian McMahon appeared to give Crokes the edge.

Darragh O’Connor responded with three points (two from play) before Keane’s goal on 40 minutes closed the gap to two, 1-10 to 1-8. Three minutes later O’Connor hit the net to put O’Rahillys in front, and they moved four clear, and despite a late Crokes goal. Kerins O’Rahilly’s won 2-14 to 2-13.