Kerry SFL: Kenmare table toppers on their own as Stacks hammer Rathmore

Kenmare top the table on nine points and are closely followed for Glenflesk, Kilcummin, and Rathmore who are all on seven. Beaufort are in the relegation zone along with Dingle and Dr Crokes

Donal O'Sullivan Down scored six points for Kerry SFL table-toppers Kenmare Shamrocks in their 18-point victory over Beaufort. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The Kerry County League is almost at halfway and just like the results that are being thrown up nationally under the rules, there are some strange results in the top flight.

Kenmare Shamrocks by virtue of their 18-point win over bottom side Beaufort are now top of the table on nine points, closely followed by three teams on seven points: Glenflesk, Kilcummin and Rathmore. 

But while Beaufort are bottom on two points, they are joined in the relegation zone by the strangest of bedfellows in Dingle and Dr Crokes. Both sides are missing about 12 players, either tied up with the Kerry seniors or U-20s.

Spa had a rare win over Dr Crokes thanks to a late Michael Foley goal as they won on a 3-13 to 1-6. Chris Doncel with a brilliant run and goal made it 1-4 to 0-1 to Crokes. Evan Cronin (3) and Cian Murphy closed the gap. Dara O'Shea and Cian McMahon made it 1-6 to 0-5 in favour of Crokes. Michael Foley and Billy Courtney swapped points before Evan Cronin neatly tipped it over Crokes keeper Bryan O’Shea’s head, but Crokes led 1-9 to 1-7 at half-time. 

Crokes got the first two points of the second half but a David Spillane goal levelled matters, 1-11 to 2-8. It was tit for tat with Cian Murphy scoring a two-pointer for Spa. Billy Courtney excelled for Crokes, who dominated the midfield catches. A Michael Foley point had it level, 2-12 to 1-15, but Foley was on hand to finish a great Spa move to the net and Cian Murphy closed out a much needed win for Spa, while leaving an unlucky Crokes, whose inter-county/injured list stretches well into double figures, facing an uphill battle for the remainder of the league.

Dingle drew with Kerins O’Rahilly’s on 1-15 apiece and had Barry Dan O’Sullivan and Tom Leo O’Sullivan on duty. Both got on the score sheet as did Matthew Flaherty but it was Cathal Bambury who was their top scorer. Darragh O’Connor was Strand Road’s leading light but their cause was not helped when they lost Ben O’Brien to a second yellow in the 48th minute. It appeared that Dingle were going to earn their first win when Bambury struck for a goal in the 54th minute but five minutes late O’Connor grabbed a share of the spoils with late equaliser. O’Rahilly’s also grabbed a late point the previous week against Rathmore through Tom Hoare.

Kenmare Shamrocks appear to be the favourites now as they sit on top having hammered bottom club Beaufort 2-24 to 0-12, having led 1-11 to 0-6 at half-time. The Shamrocks ran riot in the second half and had 11 different scorers, with Kevin O’Sullivan scoring 1-4, Donal O’Sullivan Down scoring 0-6, Jack Tagney (1-1) Jimmy Lehane (2) and veteran Paul O’Connor with two when introduced.

The most bizarre result of the day was joint leaders Rathmore were beaten by Austin Stacks but it was the score that was remarkable, 3-18 to 0-3. Rathmore did not score in the opening half, trailing 1-7 to 0-00. They only managed 0-3 in the second, two from Darragh Rahilly and one from Darragh Nagle. Meanwhile Stacks had 12 scorers with Cian Purcell (1-3), Conor Horan (1-2) and Jordan Kissane with 0-5 top scoring.

Kilcummin move up to joint second thanks to a 1-20 to 2-13 win over East Kerry neighbours Gneeveguilla. This game was notable for a two-pointer and a ’45 scored by keeper Brendan Kealy, a goal by Matt Keane and some superb points from Paul and Mark O’Shea, Ian Devane and Chris O’Leary. Gneeveguilla's goals were scored by Ronan Collins and Oisin O’Leary.

Killarney Legion, having suffered some bad luck in earlier rounds, managed to beat high flying Glenflesk 1-16 to 0-18 in a midweek game.