Kerry Petroleum Senior Club Championship
Austin Stacks 2-5
Kilcummin 1-6
They say there is a thin line between defeat and victory and in this case, it was the width of the crossbar! With Stacks leading by two points deep in injury time Kilcummin mounted one last desperate attack. After carrying the ball, the full length of the field involving numerous players, Shane Mc Sweeney unleashed a rocket of a shot that smashed against the crossbar!
As Padraig O’Sullivan blew the final whistle you would have to feel disappointed for the players who had given it their all in a waterlogged Connolly Park as the result meant we finish bottom of the group and face a relegation battle between either Templenoe or Kerins O’Rahillys later in the year.
Stacks started much the better and lead by 1-2 to 0-1 after 15 minutes with Kilcummin struggling to get their hands on the ball. After the water break Kilcummin introduced Kevin McCarthy and his influence was very noticeable as we took control of the middle of the field and by half time had drawn level courtesy of points from Noel Duggan, Kevin O’Gorman, and Philip O’Leary.
The third quarter belonged to Kilcummin as we tagged on another point from a Noel Duggan free and when the same player was fouled when through on goal Paul O’Shea dispatched the penalty with aplomb. However, Stacks showed their resilience and finished much the stronger and following a goal by Shane O’Callaghan made again by Kieran Donaghy, they ran out two-point winners.
Kilcummin’s defence was outstanding on the night, none more so than Oscar O’Connor who had a stormer well supported by the likes of Donal Maher, James Nagle and Sean O’Leary.
Team: Brendan Kealy, Donal Maher, Kevin McSweeney, Paul O’Riordan, Oscar O’Connor, Sean O’Leary, James Nagle. Kevin O’Gorman (0-1), Shane McSweeney, Danny Cronin, Philip O’Leary (0-1), Gary O’Leary, Noel Duggan (0-4, 3f), Eoin O’Donovan, Paul O’Shea (1-0, 1p). Subs Used: Kevin McCarthy, Matt Keane
