Kerry SFL: Glenflesk, Kenmare and Austin Stacks secure vital wins

Jordan Kissane scored 0-4 for Austin Stacks in their victory over Dr Crokes. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Austin Stacks and Dr Crokes met in Connolly Park, both playing without their Kerry senior and U20 players which meant it was a game between two teams shorn of between 10 and 12 players each. Stacks ran out comfortable winners, 2-22 to 1-10. They led 1-9 to 0-4 at half-time and despite Cian Mulcahy's goal, and points from Cian McMahon, Chris Doncel, Billy Courtney and Mark Fitzgerald, Crokes had very little to offer against this Stacks who had ten different scorers.

Ryan O’Driscoll led the way with 1-6, while Conor Horan contributed 1-4, and Jordan Kissane kicked 0-4 while defender Jack Murphy, brother of Ben, also managed to get on the scoresheet.

Rathmore who were flying high on top of the table had to settle for a draw in Strand Rd with Kerins O’Rahillys, 0-17 to 3-08 . This means there are three teams joint top on seven points, Rathmore, Glenflesk and Kenmare Shamrocks.

A monster two-point score from Tom Hoare deep into injury time rescued a dramatic and hard-fought draw for Kerins O'Rahillys. Rathmore led 2-4 to 0-6 at half time thanks to goals from Eoin Lawlor and young Seanie McAuliffe.

The outcome looked bleak early in the third quarter when Andrew Moynihan was on hand to score a third goal from close range. But credit to the home side who dug deep and scores from Darragh O’Connor, who top scored with 0-12, and then as it looked like Rathmore were going to hang on, Hoare landed that two-pointer. 

Spa are up and running after a narrow win over Beaufort on a 0-19 to 1-14 scoreline. They welcomed back Shane Cronin, Eoin Fitzgerald, Cian Murphy, Joey McCarthy, and Kerry senior panellist Dara Moynihan played the last five minutes.

Spa led 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time thanks to three points each from Shane Cronin and Cian Murphy with Luke O’Neill, Michael Foley and Joey McCarthy also got on the scoresheet. Darragh O’Connor, Fergal Hallissey (0-3) and Kevin Coffey replied for Beaufort.

A Jack Sweeney goal and points from O’Connor and Hallissey saw Beaufort take a 1-10 to 0-12 lead. Two two-pointers from Cian Murphy had Spa three ahead, only for Darragh O’Connor with a two and a Kevin Coffey point to give Beaufort a one point lead. Joey McCarthy leveled the contest from a free and two Evan Cronin points ensured Spa were recording a first league win.

Kenmare Shamrocks are also joint top but they nearly left a big lead slip against in form Kilcummin, but held on to win 2-14 to 2-10. Kenmare led 2-5 to 1-5 at half-time, their goals from Jack Tagney after three minutes and David Grembowiec in the 30th minute. Donal O’Sullivan scored three points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and scores from James McCarthy and Zack O’Shea put the home side seven clear, 2-10 to 1-6, after 41 minutes.

With five minutes to play, Kenmare were eight clear, 2-13 to 1-8, but Kilcummin rallied, with a Mark O'Shea’s point followed by Philip O’Leary’s goal to half the deficit to four, Kenmare held on to win.

Glenflesk were 0-16 to 1-9 winners over Gneeveguilla to remain joint top with the Roche brothers scoring big again for Wayne Quillinan’s side who led 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time. It was also a three-point game in the second half thanks to a Pa Brosnan goal for Gneeveguilla but Glenflesk held on for an important win in this East Kerry derby.

In a game played on Thursday night, Dingle got their first point of the campaign when they drew with Killarney Legion 0-17 to 1-14 with Legion grabbing the draw with a late two-pointer which appears to be the theme of the weekend.