Kerins O’Rahillys 0-11 Templenoe 1-7
Kerins O’Rahillys were crowned county Under 21 Club football champions at a wet and windy Killarney Legion grounds at Direen on Saturday evening last following a one point victory over Templenoe before a large and enthusiastic attendance. It was a victory the Tralee side just about deserved following a game in which the marking was very tight throughout and during which the elements were certainly not conducive to good football.
Templenoe had first use of the strong wind that blew from one end of the field to the other, however Kerins O’Rahillys certainly held their own in the possession stakes for a great part of that first half. John C. O’Connor and Sean Walsh were in great form around the middle of the field and the likes of Jack Savage and Kieran O’Mahony were always dangerous up front. The sides were level on three points apiece at the end of the first quarter with Jack Savage accounting for the Rahillys points from frees and John Rice, Teddy Doyle and Patrick Clifford getting the Templenoe scores.
Kieran O’Mahony and Teddy Doyle exchanged points but as the half wore on Templenoe began to assert themselves and after wing back Patrick Clifford had the second of two fine points from play Killian Spillane picked out Cian Hallissey with a fine pass in the 25th minute and Hallissey gave Ciarán O’Connor in the O’Rahillys goal no chance from close range. Crucially, Jack Savage scored the final point of the half to leave the winners just 1-5 to 0-5 in arrears at the break with wind advantage to come.
Templenoe were dealt a crucial blow just on the call of half time when Gavin Crowley received an injury that prevented him from resuming and when Jack Savage (2) and Gavin O’Mahony pointed to level up the scores within six minutes of the resumption the omens did not look good for the Kenmare side. With a stranglehold around the middle third of the field, it was all Rahillys at this stage and further points from O’Mahony and John Ferguson had them leading by two at the three quarter stage.
However, improved play from the likes of Adrian Spillane, Patrick Clifford and Teddy Doyle saw Templenoe back in the game and when Killian Spillane pointed with ten to go just a point separated the sides. It was end to end stuff at this stage and Templenoe strung together some fine passing movements that they just failed to finish off . Kieran O’Mahony put daylight between the sides with his fourth point of the game in the 52nd minute but it was to be their last score of the game as Templenoe threw everything at the Tralee side with Brian Crowley blazing wide with a great chance and Adrian Spillane having two shots blocked down in the large square. Teddy Doyle had a fine point from a long distance free just before he was forced to leave the field with a serious injury, to reduce the deficit to the minimum once more but amid tremendous excitement O’Rahillys held on.
After the Game, Vice Chairman of the County Committee, Ger Galvin presented the Tom Naughton Cup to winning captain Kieran O’Mahony.
Teams and Scorers:
Ceirín Ó Rathaille: Ciarán O’Connor, Tommy Begley, Martin Tierney, Cormac Coffey, Robert O’Shea, Andrew Thompson, Mitchell Donnelly, John C. O’Connor, John Ferguson (0-1), Cian Sayers, Jack Savage (0-6, 3fr), Greg O’Connell, Ronan Quill, Sean Walsh, Kieran O’Mahony (0-4). Subs: Ciaran Higgins for Greg O’Connell, Ryan Carroll for Cian Sayers.
An Teampall Nua: Colm Breen, Daniel O'Neill, Kieran O'Neill, Tommy Spillane, John Spillane, Tadgh Morley, Patrick Clifford (0-2), Gavin Crowley, Adrian Spillane, Cian Hallisey (1-0), Denis O'Neill, John Rice (0-1), Killian Spillane (0-1Fr), Teddy Doyle (0-3,2fr, 1”45”), Brian Crowley. Subs: John Moriarty for G. Crowley, Martin Reilly for Denis O’Neill, Josh Holland for Daniel O’Neill, O’Neill for Teddy Doyle.
Referee: Denny O’Sullivan (Scartaglin) had a full complement of officials and handled the game well.
