Kerry Petroleum Senior Football Club Championship, Group 1, Round 2.
Kenmare Shamrocks 2-07, Templenoe 0-12.
A heart-breaking defeat for Templenoe, who were ahead for much of the game, but fell victim to an injury time goal from Kenmare’s Shane O’Sullivan for the home side to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat. It was a case of déjà vu for Templenoe who suffered a similar fate in the closing minutes to the same opposition in their first senior club championship meeting back in 2020.
There was a very large crowd in attendance for this local derby game on a lovely afternoon at Fr Breen Park last Sunday. Templenoe started the brighter and made full use of their wind advantage to go 0-00 to 0-03 ahead inside the first 4 minutes. Stephen O’Sullivan opened their account with a well taken mark. Killian Spillane added another, then a patient build-up from Templenoe ended with Stephen O’Sullivan splitting the posts from play. It was the perfect start for the visitors, but Kenmare Shamrocks responded with Jimmy Lehane finding space to register their first score, before Seanie O’Shea doubled their tally. In between Templenoe almost had a goal from Stephen O’Sullivan, but his shot went narrowly wide. Unbowed, Templenoe upped their game again with the next two scores courtesy of a left legged effort from Killian Spillane and Stephen O’Sullivan handpassing the ball over the bar to extend their lead to three points. Seanie O’Shea (free) and Stephen O’Sullivan exchanged points before Colin Crowley put Templenoe 0-03 to 0-07 ahead after 17 minutes of play.
Then came Kenmare’s first goal of the day, when good work by Kevin O’Sullivan put Jimmy Lehane through one on one with Templenoe Keeper Mark Looney and he made no mistake with the finish. Kenmare now had the momentum and they made it count with the next two scores in a row to put them in front for the first-time thanks to Seanie O’Shea and Micheal McCarthy. Shortly before the break Killian Spillane tied the scores again with a point off his right boot.
Half Time Score: Kenmare Shamrocks 1-05, Templenoe 0-08.
At the re-start Kenmare Shamrocks restored their one-point advantage with Stephen O’Brien popping the ball over the bar from left corner. However, Templenoe promptly hit back with Killian Spillane converting a free after Aidan Crowley was fouled. Both sides then exchanged a few wides before two points on the trot from Killian Spillane made the score 1-06 to 0-11 midway through the second half.
With Kenmare struggling for scores despite having the aid of the breeze, they introduced a few a subs for the final quarter. Soon after Kevin O’Sullivan narrowed the gap to one point to set up for a grandstand finish. But once more Templenoe responded in kind with Killian Spillane working a short free to Aidan Crowley, who in turn offloaded to Martin Reilly for Templenoe’s last score. Kenmare substitute Paul O’Connor had a chance to reduce the margin, only pull his shot for a point wide of the posts, then at the other end Killian Spillane was off target with a free for Templenoe. With the game now in injury time Kenmare Shamrocks launched a frantic attack which ended with James McCarthy and Stephen O’Brien setting up Shane O’Sullivan to palm the ball to the net from the end of the square. Templenoe were stunned, but they have one last chance to salvage something from the game, however Kenmare Shamrocks held out for the narrowest of wins. Templenoe will now need to beat Na Gaeil in the round 3 to avoid a relegation play-off, but despite the defeat to Kenmare Templenoe can take heart from much improved performance from that against Spa the previous weekend.
Final Score: Kenmare Shamrocks 2-07, Templenoe 0-12.
Scorers:
Kenmare Shamrocks: Jimmy Lehane 1-01, Seanie O’Shea 0-03 (1f), Shane O’Sullivan 1-00, Micheal McCarthy 0-01, Stephen O’Brien 0-01, Kevin O’Sullivan 0-01.
Templenoe: Killian Spillane 0-06 (2f), Stephen O’Sullivan 0-04 (1m), Martin Reilly 0-01, Colin Crowley 0-01.
Wides:
Kenmare Shamrocks: 5
Templenoe: 8
Teams:
Kenmare Shamrocks: Kieran Fitzgibbon, Dara Crowley, Tommy O’Sullivan, Cian O’Sullivan, Dara O’Shea, Tommy Cronin, Jamie O’Regan, David Hallissey, James McCarthy, David Ciuciu, Seanie O’Shea, Jimmy Lehane, Stephen O’Brien, Kevin O’Sullivan, Micheal McCarthy.
Subs used: Tommy O’Sullian (Atlantic), Paul O’Connor, Darragh O’Connor, Shane O’Sullivan, Darren Allman.
Templenoe: Mark Looney, Michael Hallissey, Kieran O’Neill, Mark Casey, Gavin Crowley, Tadhg Morley, Martin Reilly, Sean Sheehan, Adrian Spillane, Stephen O’Sullivan, Patrick Clifford ©, Colin Crowley, Killian Spillane, Brian Crowley, Aidan Crowley
Subs Used: Kieran McCarthy (Temporary), John Rice.
Match Report: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41208748.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
