Ben Kelliher goal decisive for Sem in O'Sullivan Cup semi

A classy goal by the the Kerry U20 star saw off a brave Mercy Mounthawk challenge

Ben Kelliher (St Brendan’s College), referee Cathal O Dubhda and mercy Mounthawk's Conor McGibney before their O’Sullivan Cup (Kerry Colleges SFC) semi final meeting in Currans

Kerry Colleges Senior A FC (U19½) semi-final: 

St Brendan's College Killarney 3-15 Mercy Mounthawk 3-7

St Brendan’s College were pushed all the way by a gusty Mercy Mounthawk side in this Kerry Colleges Senior Football (O’Sullivan Cup) semi-final played at the COE in Currans on a blustery afternoon.

St Brendan's were warm favourites but Mounthawk failed to read the script and powered by Ben Litchfield at midfield and hat-trick hero Mickey Somers on the forty, they were just two points adrift (2-12 to 3-7) with 10 minutes left.

Then St Brendan's College struck for the game-winning goal, when John Henderson, who had been introduced as a substitute, floated in a high ball that invited a classy flick over his head by Ben Kelliher to push the Killarney side five clear. The Sem embellished their margin with late points from Liam O’Brien, Mark O’Carroll and Finan Blackwell.

The opening half had been end to end stuff with 15-year-old Billy Kirby catching the eye for Mounthawk while Harry Murphy was combining well with Conor McGibney and Mikey Somers, under the watchful eye of his brother Ben, home from the AFL.

St Brenda'ns made the better start when Jake Coffey took advantage of a keeper error to finish to the Mounthawk net, while Mark O’Carroll, Cillian O’Donoghue and Jack Culloty added points.

After Rory Bowler opened the scoring for Mounthawk, Paddy Lucid sent Mikey Somers through and the St Senan's youngster buried the ball in the back of Sem net. Somers then levelled the contest with a two-point free but Kerry U-20 player Kelliher replied with an orange flag from play. 

The sides traded points before St Brendan’s struck for a second goal in the 19th minute, when Mark Looney intercepted a pass out of defence. He found Jack Culloty, who set up Kelliher, who finished clinically.

From the kickout, Mikey Somers took a two-point free that dropped under the crossbar to the net, to leave it 2-6 to 2-5 and game on.

Thanks to the foraging of Cian Stack, Jack Hallissey, Zach Cronin and Mark O’Carroll, St Brendan's tagged on three unanswered points from Kelliher, Daniel Cronin and Jack Culloty to retire 2-9 to 2-5 in front.

At the second throw-in, disaster struck Mounthawk, as towering midfielder Litchfield landed awkwardly on his ankle and had to retire.

Mounthawk did get another goal in the 39th minute, in bizarre fashion, when the referee moved a free into the 13 metre line and Mikey Somers, spotting the Sem defence had fallen asleep, fired to an unguarded net.

It was nip and tuck with Mounthawk kicking three bad wides before the St Brendan's captain Ben Kelliher decided the contest with that audacious 54th- minute goal.

St Brendan's will now face either St Michaels College Listowel or Castleisland CC in a unique final.

ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE: J Casey (Spa); D McCarthy (Listry), Z Cronin (Kilcummin), C Clifford (Dr Crokes); C Lynch (Dr Crokes), C Stack (Kilcummin), J Hallissey (Fossa); M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes), J Coffey (Legion); M Looney (Legion), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), D Cronin (Firies); L O’Brien (Glenflesk), C O’Donoghue (Listry), J Culloty (Legion).

Subs: J Ahern (Kilcummin) for C Lynch (inj h/t), F Blackwell (Legion) for J Coffey (h/t), J Henderson (Firies) for C O’Donoghue (52), F O’Donnell (Dr Crokes) for L O’Brien (58), J Nash (Dr Crokes) for C Clifford (58).

MERCY MOUNTHAWK: S Sargent (John Mitchels); C Nolan (Churchill), K O’Shea (Firies), E Crowley (Churchill); R Bowler (John Mitchels), C McGibney (Churchill), D Hobbert (Austin Stacks); B Litchfield (Austin Stacks), P Lucid (Austin Stacks); B Kirby (Austin Stacks), M Somers (St Senans), H Murphy (Austin Stacks); J Diggin (Austin Stacks), L O’Carroll (Churchill), R Onyekwere (Kerins O’Rahillys).

Subs: J O’Dowd (Austin Stacks) for B Litchfield (inj 31), B Conway (John Mitchels) for J Diggin (43), M Carmody (Austin Stacks) for R Onyekwere (43).

Referee: C O Dhúbhda (An Ghaeltacht).