Kerry Club SFC semi-final: Rathmore far too good for Milltown/Castlemaine

Rathmore secured their place in a first senior club decider in 14 years

A well-drilled and extremely efficient Rathmore showed no mercy to Milltown/Castlemaine. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.

RATHMORE 2-21 MILLTOWN/CASTLEMAINE 0-11

A well-drilled and extremely efficient Rathmore showed no mercy to Milltown/Castlemaine as they stormed to a convincing 16-point victory in the first of the Kerry senior club FC semi-finals at Johnny Culloty Park in Direen.

Using the breeze to great effect in the first half, against an opposition that appeared to be lacking in energy after last week’s epic extra-time win over Kenmare Shamrocks, Aidan O’Mahony’s men built the main foundation before the half-time whistle.

Indeed, with half-forward Fionn Murphy finding the back of the net in the 28th minute for the contest’s opening goal, Rathmore were basically home and dry heading into the resumption. A 12-point cushion, 1-12 to 0-3, was always going to suffice.

Kingdom star Paul Murphy set them on their way with a two-point beauty in the fourth minute, and things almost got worse for Milltown/Castlemaine, but ‘keeper Cormac Leane denied Alan Dineen with a fine stop. Nevertheless, the winner had laid down a marker.

With Ciaran Collins, lining out at midfield in a swap with Mark Ryan, also launching over an orange flag score, the East Kerry men were four up (0-6 to 0-2) at the conclusion of the first quarter. Cathal Ryan quickly booted another two-pointer, and the gap was widening.

The green flag arrived two minutes from the interval. Dineen, Mark Ryan and Darragh Nagle were all in the move, and when the latter’s shot was brilliantly blocked by diving defender Aaron Dinham, Fionn Murphy tapped home from close range.

Despite losing the lion-hearted David Roche to a head injury in the 42nd minute, and with their attack well marshalled by a superbly organised Rathmore rearguard, Milltown/Castlemaine dug in, and held their own in the third quarter (1-15 to 0-6).

Rathmore were going through the motions at this stage, with sloppiness and erratic shooting entering their play. However, the introductions of Brian Friel and Mark Reen steadied the ship, with both hugely effective in the game’s last 15 minutes.

Indeed, Reen notched 1-2 off the bench, finishing as Rathmore’s top scorer, with the green flag arriving in the 54th minute. Having made a fine initial stop to deny Reen, Milltown/Castlemaine’s replacement custodian Cian O’Connor had no chance from the ensuing rebound (2-16 to 0-10).

With Paul Murphy and Andrew Moynihan dictating affairs down the stretch, and ten different players registering on the scoresheet, Rathmore drove on, adding five of the game’s last six points. Their place in a first senior club decider in 14 years had long since been secured.

Scorers for Rathmore: M Reen 1-2, F Murphy 1-1, C Collins 0-4 (1tp, 0-1f), M Ryan, C Ryan (1tp) 0-3 each, P Murphy(tp), B O’Keeffe(fs), P Moynihan 0-2 each, A Dineen, B Friel 0-1 each.

Scorers for Milltown/Castlemaine: E O’Connor 0-4 (0-2fs, 1tpf), B Casey 0-2, D Roche, D Hogan, C Griffin, K Kerins, M Lynch 0-1 each.

RATHMORE: W Casey; C O’Connor, F Holohan, D Murphy; D Nagle, P Murphy, A Dineen; A Moynihan, C Collins; F Murphy, C Ryan, P Moynihan; B O’Keeffe, M Ryan, J Darmody.

Subs: B Friel for Darmody (42), M Reen for O’Keeffe (47), M Dennehy for Nagle (56), D Fitzgerald for F Murphy (56), A Darmody for C Ryan (57).

MILLTOWN/CASTLEMAINE: C Leane; A Kelliher, M Lynch, S Roche; P Wren, D Roche, A Dinham; D Quirke, G Horan; O Spring, D O’Neill, G McKenna; E O’Connor, B Casey, D Hogan.

Subs: K Kerins for O’Neill (29), C Griffin for Spring (42), K O’Carroll for D Roche, inj (temp, 42-60), S Griffin for Kelliher (45), S Hogan for Quirke (46), C O’Connor for Leane (47).

Referee: P Dowling (Ballylongford).