Kerry districts wrap: Bryan Sheehan wins 15th South Kerry Championship
Bryan Sheehan, St Mary's. Picture: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
St Mary's continued their domination of the South Kerry SFC by retaining the Jack Murphy Cup with a 3-11 to 0-6 victory over Dromid Pearses in Reenard on Saturday afternoon. The success was the 39th overall and the ninth success in eleven stagings for the Cahersiveen club. Five-time All-Ireland medal winner with Kerry, Bryan Sheehan, won his 15th medal in the competition as he came forward numerous times from the goalkeeping position.
St Mary's started strongly with 1-5 without reply inside the first 17 minutes, man of the match Tadhg O’Connor with the first of two goals for himself on the day. Graham O’Sullivan and Chris Farley rallied the 2019 and 2022 winners Dromid somewhat, bringing the match back to 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.
However, another run of 1-5 without reply at the beginning of the second half effectively sowed up the game for St Mary's. Oisin Moran’s goal was an effort at a point which dropped into the net. It was unlucky on Donal Jer O’Sullivan’s efforts overall in the Dromid goal on the day as Tadhg O’Connor’s second goal saw him fist a 45 from Sheehan that dropped short into the net for their third goal in the closing stages.
Sheehan himself scored four frees as Jack Daly had a good day at midfield for the victors.
Kilcummin and Rathmore will meet in this year’s East Kerry O’Donoghue Cup final following weekend wins over Dr Crokes and Glenflesk, respectively. Kilcummin played effectively a Crokes B side with only Tom Doyle starting from the team that beat Castlehaven the previous week.
When the sides were tied at 0-6 apiece midway through the second half, Pat O’Shea did not send on the big names on the bench with only Charlie Keating coming in for Doyle so clearly Dr Crokes have bigger fish to fry. Paul O’Shea with three frees and his brother Mark with two from play, were Kilcummin’s best performers in a desperately disappointing game. Liam Randles got the Crokes goal deep in added time.
Rathmore qualified for their first district final since 2017 following a 1-13 to 0-11 win over Glenflesk. Both Paul Murphy and Shane Ryan (at full forward) lined out for their club with former All-Ireland winning Kerry minor Dan Murphy putting in a man of the match display.
Paul Murphy’s first cousin Fionn Murphy was Rathmore’s goal scorer in the seventh minute as Glenflesk were without Luke Crowley on the day. An injury to team captain Ian Roche didn’t help matters either for Glenflesk as they trailed by 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time.
Although Seamus Moynihan’s club started well in the second-half in reducing the margin to a single point, Rathmore reasserted their dominance around the three-quarter mark with Ryan kicking 0-5 (4f) on the day. While the victors could have grabbed another couple of goals, Glenflesk battled hard throughout proceedings.
Both Murphy and Ryan will be amongst a number of Rathmore players bidding to join a certain former club stalwart Aidan O’Mahony in winning a fifth medal in the competition when they face Kilcummin in the final on Sunday, December 1st in Fitzgerald Stadium.
Beaufort just managed to hang on to deny a gallant Keel side, winning by a single point on a 1-10 to 0-12 scoreline in the Mid Kerry decider. Kerry senior defender Mike Breen scored an early Beaufort goal that proved the difference on the day and he was joined by Kerry team mate Sean O’Brien while Keith Evans had a fine outing for Keel.
Listowel Emmets will meet Castleisland Desmonds in the North Kerry final. Emmets defeated Ballyduff 1-13 to 0-11 in Sunday's semi-final. Desmonds beat Moyvane in the other last four game a week ago.
In the West Kerry Championship, Dingle will play Castlegregory in the final. Dingle defeated An Ghaeltacht 2-11 to 0-7 in the semi-final on Sunday. Castlegregory beat Annascaul a week previous.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
