Watch and read: Goals key as Kilcummin overcome Ballymac to seal Kerry IFC semi-final spot

Kilcummin have a bit of work to do yet, but the prospect of a county semi will excite them.

Kerry IFC quarter-final: Kilcummin 2-16 Ballymacelligott 0-14 

KILCUMMIN are the first name in the last four of Kerry’s IFC, tidier and wilier Saturday than their visitors Ballymacelligott but with work to do.

A pair of goals inside the first ten minutes of the second half put daylight between the victors and Ballymac, and decisive as they were, that isn’t the whole story.

A point behind at the break (0-10 to 0-9), Ballymac – their first year back intermediate after victory in the Premier JFC at county and All-Ireland level last season – threatened goals in the opening exchanges after half time.

First Jack Joy dragged a chance wide, then Brendan Kealy, the Kilcummin keeper, pulled off a top save from no range to deny Tadhg Brick a goal after an initial effort from Michael Quirke was blocked down.

Straight up the pitch and the visitors profligacy was properly punished, Philip O’Leary dancing inside for Kilcummin, and the game’s first goal on 35 minutes.

Ballymac responded with a Quirke free but still clearing their heads, they were undone again three minutes later when veteran full forward Kevin McCarthy slipped a ball across the square for the impressive Mikey Casey to claim a second goal. Paul O’Shea pointed from a free and when McCarthy added a two-pointer from a free, the roof had caved in on the visiting challenge – 2-13 to 0-10 on 41 minutes. 

Quite the turnaround.

It’s only five years since Kilcummin were a senior outfit in the Kingdom and given Ballymac only emerged from Junior this year, the result would seem to go the way of expectation, but in reality there was little between these sides for long stages.

With McCarthy leading a dangerous inside line with goalscorers Casey and O’Leary, Kilcummin made better use of their promising situations throughout.

Ballymac have a tendency to be less than clinical anyway, but again they will rue big chances that, if converted, would have tested Kilcummin’s pulse a little more.

The hosts, on the back of a tap over free from McCarthy, who finished with 0-7, led 0-6 to 0-3 when Ballymac’s Cathal Dunne was black carded on 18 minutes but in the time the midfielder was off the field, Ballymac outscored their hosts 0-4 to 0-1 – and that included a point from Niall Collins that he should have goaled.

Kilcummin's Paul O'Shea under pressure from Ballymac's Daire Keane and Jack Joy in Saturday's Kerry IFC quarter final at Kilcummin. Pic: Seamus Healy

McCarthy and Casey restored Kilcummin’s two-point lead but Quirke landed a wide-assisted two point free to level before keeper Kealy edged the hosts in front at the break. Game on.

Though against the wind, Ballymac carried greater intent, as Kilcummin failed to get to grips with their kick-outs or Jack Joy’s foraging runs. The Kerry U20 was a rapid threat on occasions but only ended with a point. Something to work on.

Kevin McCarthy is at the other end of his career, and twice Joy’s age, but it wasn’t just his free-taking that kept him busy. He was a willing and capable pivot for Kilcummin’s other attacker, with the likes of Cian Foley profiting with a couple of points.

By the time Mark O’Shea was awarded a (suspect) point on 55 minutes, Kilcummin had put the challenge to sleep, 2-15 to 0-11 in front and despite three late points from Ballymac, the visitors were keenly aware that in such a brutally competitive grade, they need to add a clinical edge to their often seductive play.

Kilcummin, at the same time, have a bit of work to do yet, but the prospect of a county semi will excite them.

Scorers for Kilcummin: K McCarthy (0-7, 1 2pf), M Casey (1-3), P O’Leary (1-1), C Foley (0-2), B Kealy (45), P O’Shea, M O’Shea (0-1 each). 

Scorers for Ballymac: D Daly (0-5), M Quirke (0-3, 2pf), N Collins (0-3), D Keane (0-2, tp), J. Joy (0-1).

KILCUMMIN: B Kealy; C O’Leary, D Stack, J Williams; S O’Leary, D O’Callaghan, J Nagle; P O’Shea, K Gorman; K O’Shea, K Murphy, C Foley; M Casey, K McCarthy, P O’Leary.

Subs: M O’Shea for K O’Shea (half time); C Kelleher for Murphy (half time); D Moynihan for C O’Leary (53); J Fogarty for P O’Shea (57); M O’Shea for McCarthy (60).

BALLYMACELLIGOTT: C Leen; E Creedon, D O’Shea, E Joy; A Sheehy, T Brick; D Dunne; C Dunne, C White; J Joy, D Keane, D Galvin; N Collins, D Daly, M Quirke.

Subs: D Regan for Sheehy (42); E Moriarty for O’Shea (51), C Savage for Quirke (52), P Reidy for Creedon (52), C O'Connell for D Dunne (53).

Referee: S Joy (Killorglin)

Footage courtesy of Clubber TV.