Garvey’s SuperValu 2020 County Senior Football Club Championship, Round 1
Dingle 1-12, Templenoe 3-07.
It was an evening that will live long in the memory of all Templenoe GAA Club members and supporters following a breathtaking win by our Senior team over match favourites Dingle in their own backyard on our debut year in the county senior championship. While it was very disappointing no spectators could attend this game due to the Covid-19 restrictions, there is no doubting how much this win meant to the Club. The draw for the next round of the County Championship will be awaited with great interest by all in Templenoe.
The match was played in wet and rainy conditions with Templenoe having a slight breeze advantage for the first half. The visitors got off to a perfect start with Brian Crowley opening the scoring inside the first minute. Dingle countered with an effort from Dylan Geaney, but it was Templenoe who dominated the possession early on and they had two successive wides, before Killian Spillane restored their one point lead. Five minutes later Conor Geaney pointed for the hosts and then the game took a turn in their favour when a ball across the Templenoe goal from Tom O’Sullivan ended with a superb strike to the net from Matthew Flaherty. Templenoe though refused this let this unsettle them and got a valuable point through Stephen O’Sullivan ahead of the first half water break to make the score 1-02 to 0-03.
On resumption, Dingle had a wide from play, before Killian Spillane slotted over two points on the trot -one from play and one from free to bring the contest back level. Then came the first goal for Templenoe - when Adrian Spillane passed the ball to Teddy Doyle who soloed towards the goal and despite been put under strong pressure from the Dingle defence, he somehow managed to get a shot in to gift Templenoe a three points lead. Tom O’Sullivan hit back with a point for Dingle, but they also suffered a setback in this period, when they lost Michael Geaney to injury. However, for Templenoe it was a case of onwards and upwards and soon after they rocked Dingle with another goal, after a high ball in from Sean Sheehan broke kindly for Killian Spillane who finished brilliantly to open up a five points lead for Templenoe. Dingle knew they had fight on their hands now, but they did cut the margin back to three with points from Conor Geaney and David O’Connor (45) before the interval. In between Templenoe keeper Mark Looney made a great and important save from Tom Leo O’Sullivan.
Half Time Score: Dingle 1-05, Templenoe 2-05.
The second half was only three minutes old when Brian Crowley cut through the Dingle defence before releasing the ball to the unmarked Josh Crowley Holland, who finished the ball to the net from the edge of the square. This increased the visitors lead to six points with the Templenoe faithful watching on in live stream now daring to dream of a famous win. However, there was still a long way to go and there was no chance of Dingle rolling over. True to form the hosts replied with four unanswered points courtesy of George Durrant, Conor Geaney (2) and Dylan Geaney to reduce the margin to two points. Killian Spillane briefly settled Templenoe’s nerves with a pointed free, but Dingle were coming back strong. In the ensuing passages of play they tagged on two more points from Conor Geaney and Tom O’Sullivan ahead of the second half water break to make the score 1-11 to 3-06.
The game was now set for a grand stand finish, but Templenoe’s concerns were increasing when the inspirational Adrian Spillane had to retire through injury ahead of the final quarter. When play resumed Dingle were off target with two attempts either of which would have levelled the contest and potentially provided them with a big psychological advantage going into the closing stages. However, the home side just could not land an equalizer and instead good work by John Rice paved the way for Templenoe’s sharp shooter Killian Spillane to fire over a pivotal point for the visitors. With time fast running out both sides were giving it absolutely everything and a point from Tom O’Sullivan did put the minimum between the sides again. But in contrast to 3 weeks ago against Kenmare, Templenoe were not going to be denied at the death this time and held on for a famous victory with all 17 players that saw game time playing their part. -Not least the lion hearted Gavin Crowley in defence and Tadhg Morley who kept County star Paul Geaney scoreless.
Templenoe are now through to the quarter finals of the county championship, a remarkable and proud achievement for a small club and make no mistake about it, Templenoe are well capable of going further in this competition. Well done to all involved and best of luck with the preparations for the next round, the draw for which takes place this evening (Sunday). Commiserations to Dingle, who will no doubt be back.
Credit also to the Irish Examiner and Kerry County Board for providing live streaming of the game which facilitated all the supporters unable to attend the chance witness this historic win.
Final Score: Dingle 1-12, Templenoe 3-07.
Scorers:
Dingle: Conor Geaney 0-05 (0-02f), Matthew Flaherty 1-00, Tom O’Sullivan 0-03, Dylan Geaney 0-02, David O’Connor 0-01 (0-01 45), George Durrant 0-01
Templenoe: Killian Spillane 1-05 (0-02f), Josh Crowley Holland 1-00, Teddy Doyle 1-00, Brian Crowley 0-01, Stephen O’Sullivan 0-01.
Teams:
Dingle: David O’Connor, Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Padraig O’Connor, Michael Flannery, Aidan O’Connor, Tom O’Sullivan, Michael Boyle, Dara O’Sullivan, Liam O’Connor, Ruadhán McCarthy, Michael Geaney, Matthew Flaherty, Dylan Geaney, Paul Geaney, Conor Geaney.
Subs: George Durrant, Barry O’Sullivan, Cathal Bambury, Niall Geaney.
Templenoe: Mark Looney, Tom Spillane, Tadhg Morley, Kieran O’Neill, Martin Reilly, Gavin Crowley, John Rice, Sean Sheehan, Adrian Spillane, Teddy Doyle, Brian Crowley, Josh Crowley Holland, Stephen O’Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Colin Crowley.
Subs: Cian Hallissey, Kieran McCarthy.
