Co Minor League
Renard/St Marys 2-12 Kerins O’Rahillys 1-7
Our minors were always going to have a tough test in South Kerry on Saturday last against a home selection from the combined Renard and St Marys clubs. The elements were inclement with a strong wind accompanying the rain. The locals opened the scoring with a point after some good combination play. They followed it up with a goal which started with a sideline kick and ended with a good diagonal ball into the corner forward who turned and gave Joe Hanafin no chance with a blistering shot. Strand Road rallied immediately and worked the ball upfield from the kickout with Conor Hayes placing TJ McMahon who forced the keeper into a good save at the expense of a 45 that was pointed by Daniel Bowler. The margin was reduced further when the Tralee side won the kickout and Conor O’Sullivan drove through and raised another white flag, before the home goalkeeper again denied McMahon, but Conor Hayes goaled from the rebound to put O’Rahillys one point in front. Back came the South Kerry lads and three consecutive points saw them in the ascendancy once more. O’Rahillys responded with a pointed free from Daniel Bowler after a foul on Conor Hayes. Then Hayes converted superbly from 35 metres to tie the scores at 1-4 apiece, before he combined with Graham O’Carroll to place Bowler who pointed to restore O’Rahillys’ lead. Back came the home side and it took a great save from Joe Hanafin to deny them what looked a certain goal – but three points in a row saw Renard/St Marys lead 1-7 to 1-5 at half time.
The second half started with a pointed free from Daniel Bowler and then TJ McMahon pointed with his left foot to tie the scores again. This was to be our last score however as the locals forged two points ahead before they punished an intercepted pass to the full to move five points to the good. Despite the best efforts of Brian O’Dowd, Stephen Nix, Mark Roche and Joe Hanafin, Renard/St Marys notched the last three points of the game to run out deserving winners.
Kerins O’Rahillys: J Hanafin; R McLysath, G Dunne, S Murphy: B O’Dowd, S Nix, J Daly; L Magee, D Bowler; G Burrows, C O’Sullivan, E Reka; G O’Carroll, C Hayes, TJ McMahon. Subs: M Roche, S McCarthy.
