COUNTY MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Kilcummin 2-15, South Kerry 2-14. On Wednesday night last the Kilcummin Minor Team became only the 4th club side to capture the County Minor Championship with an outstanding and memorable performance in defeating a fancied South Kerry side by a point played in Killorglin. Great credit is due to this dedicated panel of players and their management of Tony Sugrue, Noel O’Leary, Tommy Brosnan and D.J.Fleming for their commitment and a job well done. Kilcummin got off to a dream start with a point from John McCarthy in the opening minute. South Kerry were level a minute later with a well taken point. Kilcummin went ahead in the 4th minute with a 21m free from Gary O’Leary for a foul on Padraig Nagle. South Kerry added points in the 6th and 8th minutes. Gary O’Leary had the sides all square a minute later with a 14m free. South Kerry then took control with a point and Kilcummin conceded two goals in the 12th and 18th minutes leave South Kerry a head 2-5 to 0-3. In final ten minutes after the Kilcummin Mentors made some excellent positional change Kilcummin took control. In the 20th and 21st minutes Kevin McCarthy kicked two excellent points. South Kerry replied with a point. The outstanding Kevin McCarthy was fouled and Gary O’Leary made no mistake from the resultant free and a further point from Padraig Nagle reduced the lead to 0-7 to 2-6. South Kerry added a point before Kilcummin raised two more white flags with points from a Gary O’Leary free and Ian Devane. Half Time Score Kilcummin 0-9, South Kerry 2-7. The second half began with Kilcummin dominating. In the opening minute Gary O’Leary kicked a point. In the 4th minute Gary O’Leary was fouled and referee Denis Sayers awarded a penalty, up stepped Christopher O’Leary who made no mistake from the resultant penalty and leave the sides all square. South Kerry replied with two unanswered points lead by two points. In the 9th minute the ever reliable Gary O’Leary converted a 25m free for a foul on Kevin McCarthy. The sides were level two minutes later with a well taken point from Noel Duggan. South Kerry regained the lead in the 14th minute from a Barry Dwyer point. In the 15th minute a great move involving Kieran Murphy, Chris and Gary O’Leary found Padraig Nagle who shot the ball to the net for a Kilcummin goal. Gary O’Leary added a point from play to leave Kilcummin a head 2-13 to 2-10. South Kerry Fought back with three unanswered points in the 18th, 19th and 20th minutes to leave the sides all square. Both sides then had chances to go ahead. In 24th minute Gary O’Leary converted a free for a foul on himself. This score was cancelled out once more with an Eanna O’Connor point in the 29th minute and a draw looked on the cards. In injury time Kilcummin got the ball out of defence, Ian Devane kicked an historic winning point for Kilcummin. South Kerry failed in one last attack as the Kilcummin defence stood solid clearing their line to leave Kilcummin Victorious on a final score Kilcummin 2-15, South Kerry 2-14. After the game in exciting and jubilant scenes County Board Chairman Jerome Conway presented the Frank King Cup to the victorious Kilcummin Captain John McCarthy and Gary O’Leary was presented with the man of the Match award. Team Shane Muprhy, Enda O’Sullivan, Damien O’Leary, James Devane, Kieran Fitzgerald, Patrick Buckley, Kieran Murphy, Christopher O’Leary, Gary O’Leary, Noel Duggan, Padraig Nagle, John McCarthy, T.J.Moriarty, Ian Devane and Kevin McCarthy.
Subs- Jer Sheehan, Micheal O’Neill, Tadgh Ryan, Denis O’Riordan, Donald McSweeney, Gavin O’Connor, Tommy O’Sullivan, Brendan Fleming and Donal Maher.