Crowley spot on for Kenmare

By Murt Murphy

Kenmare District 3-11 St Kieran’s 2-12

Shades of the SFC final of ’87 when Kenmare, with Pat Spillane a key figure, snatched victory with a late injury-time goal against Dr Crokes.

At the Fitzgerald Stadium last night, it was Spillane’s young Kenmare District side that snatched a 63rd-minute winning goal, from a Brian Crowley penalty, that broke St Kieran’s hearts.

It was a remarkable game, the sides level at half-time 2-5 apiece, with

Brian Crowley missing a penalty and scoring two goals, one from play and the other from a second penalty.

Mike Finnegan and Gearóid McCarthy had goals for St Kieran’s, who appeared to take a firm grip on proceedings early in the second-half, with Kerry Junior captain Thomas Hickey kicking three points and Shane O’Connor with two points, as they moved 2-12 to 2-8 clear.

However, with Cian Hallissey unerring from frees and St Kieran’s losing one player to a black card and Eoin Murphy to a red, the pendulum swung to Spillane’s side and points from Pat Spillane, Gavin Crowley and Cian Hallissey just left a point between the sides.

Then Brian Clifford was fouled deep in injury-time and Brian Crowley, who could have tapped it over to earn his side a replay, went for broke. That decision paid a handsome dividend.

Scorers for Kenmare District: B Crowley 3-0 (2 pens), C Hallissey 0-7 (5f), G Crowley, F O Sullivan, P Spillane and D O’Neill 0-1 each

Scorers for St Kieran’s: G McCarthy 1-3 (0-3f), M Finnegan 1-1, T Hickey 0-4 (1f), S O Connor 0-3, T Finnegan 0-1.

KENMARE DISTRICT: K Fitzgibbon (Kenmare); J M Foley (Kilgarvan), J Spillane (Templenoe), A Quinlan (Kenmare); D O’Shea (Kenmare), G Crowley (Templenoe), D Hawker (Tousist); C Hallissey (Templenoe), J Holland (Templenoe); F O’Sullivan (Kenmare) , B Crowley (Templenoe), P Spillane (Templenoe); D O’Neill (Templenoe), K O’Sullivan (Kenmare), J Rice (Templenoe).

Subs: P Clifford (Templenoe) for A Quinlan, C O’Sullivan for J Holland (h/t), B Clifford (Kenmare) for J M Foley (40).

ST KIERAN’S: C Kiely (Brosna); S Fitzmaurice (Brosna), M Lynch (Desmonds), G O’Connor (Currow); J O’Connor (Cordal), M Walsh (Knocknagoshel), C Sheehan (Knocknagoshel); C O’Connor (Desmonds), G McCarthy (Desmonds); A Barry (Brosna), S O’Connor (Desmonds), T Lynch (Desmonds); T Finnegan (Brosna), T Hickey (Desmonds), M Finnegan (Brosna).

Subs: G Downey (Knocknagoshel) for G O’Connor (20), E Murphy (Desmonds) for C Sheehan (50), V Horan (Ballymac) for S O Connor (54, B/C), L Lyons (Desmonds) for G McCarthy (56)

Referee: T Ahern (Listry).