Controversy as North Kerry snatch late win over East Kerry in minor decider 

North Kerry edged East Kerry by a single point to win their first minor title since 2022.

A late disallowed goal was a talking point at Austin Stack Park. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

North Kerry 1-16 East Kerry 3-9 

Despite a night of wasted chances on their part, North Kerry got it together when they needed to in the last five minutes of the Keane’s Supervalu Kerry MFC Final. 

They came from five points down with eight minutes left to pip a brave East Kerry by a single point to win their second minor title since the amalgamation of Shannon and Feale Rangers in 2021, and a first since 2022.

But the game ended in controversy, as a slick hand pass from Darragh Keane to Fionn Doyle was deemed illegal, despite Doyle kicking over what would have been an equaliser.

Although East Kerry had the breeze in the first-half they struggled to get to grips with it in the first 10 minutes. The first score of the game came from North Kerry’s Tadhg O’Connell in the fifth minute. Liam O’Brien got East Kerry on the board in the 11th minute as Darragh Keane converted a 15th minute free, before Keane struck twice in as minutes for their two first-half goals at the end of the first quarter.

North Kerry tried in vain to keep the first one out but the manner in which East Kerry cut through their defence for the second goal was amazing. All of a sudden East Kerry led by 2-2 to 0-1. North Kerry responded and East Kerry goalkeeper Jonah Casey saved well from Brody Mulvihill with another two goal scoring opportunities coming North Kerry’s way but ultimately not finding the net.

East Kerry’s lead was 2-4 to 0-4 at the break and it looked like they were in a great position to pull off a shock. Oisin O’Leary scored a third goal for them in the 38th minute to go 3-5 to 0-8 in front. North Kerry kept asking questions though as they found themselves 3-9 to 0-13 down in the 52nd minute. A Tadhg O’Connell free and a ‘45’ from Christian O’Donnell brought North Kerry back within three as a high ball into the East Kerry goalmouth was fisted in by substitute Ryan Hurley to level matters at 1-15 to 3-9.

The honour of the winning point went to Brody Mulvihill for North Kerry as East Kerry had two late chances for an equaliser denied on a night former All-Ireland Minor winning All-Star John Curtin was awarded the man-of-the-match prize.

Scorers for North Kerry: T O’Connell (0-8, 2tpf, 1tp, 1f), R Hurley (1-1), B Mulvihill (0-2), D Laide J Curtin, C Byrne, M Somers (’45’) and C O’Donnell (‘45’) (0-1 each) 

Scorers for East Kerry: D Keane (2-5, 1tpf, 1f), O O’Leary (1-0), L O’Brien (0-3, 2fs) and L Harmon (0-1) 

North Kerry: C O’Donnell (Tarbert); J Breen (Listowel Emmets), R Sheridan (Duagh), O McElligott (Emmets); D Twomey (Emmets) J Curtin (Ballyduff), F Byrne (Ballylongford); M Somers (St Senans), J Kissane (Moyvane); O Buckley (Beale), T O’Connell (Tarbert), D Costello (Ballyduff); B Mulvihill (Beale), A Heffernan (Emmets), C Byrne (Ballylongford) 

Subs: D Laide (Finuge) for C Byrne, R Hurley (St Senans) for A Heffernan (both H/T), T Kennelly (Emmets) for M Somers (49), O Dooley (Duagh) for F Byrne (51), D Buckley (Tarbert) for B Mulvihill (60) 

East Kerry: J Casey (Spa); A Cremin (Firies), Z Cronin (Kilcummin), J Ahern (do); TJ O’Leary (Gneeveguilla), C Stack (Kilcummin), R Guerin (Glenflesk); D Cronin (Firies), O Hurley (Gneeveguilla); D Moynihan (Rathmore), L O’Brien (Glenflesk), C Casey (Rathmore); L Harmon (Firies), O O’Leary (Gneeveguilla), D Keane (Kilcummin) Subs: J Hallissey (Fossa) for TJ O’Leary (23), F Doyle (do) for O Hurley (33), J Kelly (Glenflesk) for R Guerin (38), J Henderson (Firies) for L O’Brien (46), D O’Riordan (Gneeveguilla) for D Moynihan (55) 

Referee: C O’Connor (Glenbeigh/Glencar)