We retained our division 1 status when defeating old rivals Austin Stacks on a final scoreline of 2-16 to 0-18 after extra time in Austin Stack Park. This defeat condemns Stacks to division 2 football for next year and the first year since 2018.

The damp and greasy underfoot conditions, the tension both on and off the pitch plus the delayed start due to crowd congestion, perhaps all contributed to a dull first half which saw us lead by the minimum at the break, 0-06 to 0-05 following scores from Darragh (2), Diarmuid (2), Tommy and Barry John - Barry John’s effort was the nearest we came to scoring a goal when Tommy & Conor combined to put him through but his shot, though on target was high and sailed over the bar.

Stacks for their part had a wider range of scorers with Michael O’Donnell, Donagh McKivergan, Fiachna Mangan and David Mannix all finding the target.

We started the second half brighter but 3 wides and two points conceded had us on the back foot with Stacks finding it that bit easier to hit the target and Stacks had raced into a 4 point lead by the 20th minute as we continued to probe, but some poor shot selection plus good defending meant we only had the one point to show for our efforts, a Barry John point in the 6th minute.

The game was blown wide open in the 22nd minute however when Conor combined with Diarmuid and the big man found the bottom corner of the net with a powerful drive giving the keeper no chance - the kickout was vital and duly won by David who surged forward and landed the equaliser with a capital score.

We were now sensing blood but Stacks replied with a long range free from Michael O’Donnell, an award that was dubious when Diarmuid looked to be fouled but Cormac, now operating at centre back and raiding forward at will, struck a beautiful score off the outside of his right boot to again tie up the scores.

From here to the finish the game ebbed and flowed but points from Cormac and Ross, who intercepted a cross field pass looked to have earned us the win before a Stacks “45” was duly dispatched by Seán Quilter sending the game to extra time.

Stacks had cornerback Colm Browne sent to the line on a red card minutes before the end but they would be able to call on a full complement for the 20 additional minutes.

Extra time brought its own drama and while Stacks kicked two early points to our one score from Barry John, it was the next score in the 4th minute that decided the issue; Cormac won a ball around the middle and surged forward at pace before placing a beauty high into the right hand corner and beyond the reach of the Stacks keeper - it was a magnificent score,and when livewire Shane McElligott followed up with a point we were 3 to the good; Stacks did narrow the gap to 2 when Paul O’Sullivan pointed but a hit off the ball by Niall Fitzmaurice saw him receive a black card and Stacks were down to 14 for the final 10 minutes.

David Moran and Conor Hayes then both added further points from play and Stacks would finish the game with 13 players when Jordan Kissane saw red for a high tackle on Tommy.

Seán Quilter narrowed the gap but Shane McElligott somehow found the energy and legs to get up the pitch before punching over the bar to end the scoring.

Final score: Kerins O’Rahillys 2-16

Austin Stacks 0-18

In the final analysis our victory owed much to the never say die attitude of our players - though slow to start and missing some chances they would normally put away, every man played himself to a standstill.

It may be invidious to name check any one player/players but in David Moran and Cormac Coffey we had the stand out performers - David was a colossus when needed and his kick passing had us on the front foot time and again - one booming effort to Tom Hoare in front of the stand will remain long in the memory.

When the need was greatest it was Cormac, operating at centre back who changed the course of the game - his point taking in normal time was first class but his goal in extra time was the clincher. Every man in blue covered himself in glory and the team and management will take great heart from this heading into the club championship in 3 weeks time.

After the highs of the last year when winning Kerry and Munster club championships, this year was going to be, at times, a struggle - allied to the loss of Karl, Mush, Padraig, Cian, Cormac & Jack the ask was huge - in overcoming these challenges we have blooded the likes of teenagers Jake, Ben & Darragh - Rob in goal has justified his selection plus other players who have starred in Div 6 are not far away from making senior debuts - overall, a fine campaign of which every player who donned a blue jersey should be proud.