MUCH more than local bragging rights was at stake when Oskars fundraising partners Kilcummin and Glenflesk clashed in the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship final this Sunday and after a pulsating tie, full of non-stop action and real passion, it was Kilcummin that got to bring home the silverware.
Three goals in the opening quarter of an hour at Austin Stack Park – courtesy of Sean O’Leary, Kevin McCarthy and Padraig Nagle – proved to be a real killer for Glenflesk who trailed 0-3 to 3-3 at one stage in the first half but they demonstrated incredible passion and true grit to get right back into it, with Darragh Roche bulging Brendan Kealy’s net on two occasions.
Roche could have made it three late in the second half when he had a chance to level the game from the penalty spot but Kealy did enough to put him off and the shot was off target.
Kilcummin, for whom Sean O’Leary was outstanding at wing back, eased into a commanding first half lead and they bossed proceedings all through until the second half.
But Glenflesk have nothing if they don’t have spirit and even coming from the disadvantage of being so far behind, they made a right game of it and, at one stage, they looked like they could actually go on and win it.
But two timely points from the classy Kerry star Kevin McCarthy – just when they needed him to lead by example – settled Kilcummin and a second Sean O’Leary goal just before the end gave Kilcummin victory on a 4-13 to 2-13 scoreline just months after being relegated from senior level.
In a cracking Junior Premier final Eanna O’Malley’s Beaufort came from two points down at half-time to draw with Na Gaeil by full time, 1-11 to 0-14, but they went on to win the championship in extra time, by the narrowest of margins, on a 4-13 to 2-18 scoreline.
Laune Rangers beat Gneeveguilla 1-13 to 1-11 in the Intermediate Football Championship relegation play-off.
Kilcummin: Brendan Kealy, Chris O’Leary,Daniel Moynihan, Donal Maher, Sean O’Leary, Philip Casey, William Maher, Kevin Gorman, Kieran Murphy, Shane McSweeney, Gary O’Leary, Padraig Nagle, Kevin McCarthy, Damien O’Leary, Noel Duggan.
Glenflesk: Roy Kelliher, Ciaran O’Mahony, Shane Courtney, Chris O’Donoghue, Daniel O’Brien, James McCarrick, Cian Horan, Kieran Murphy, Jeff O’Donoghue, Paudie Healy, Darragh Roche, Brian O’Donoghue, Michael O’Shea, Lee O’Donoghue, Ian Roche.
- The victorious Kilcummin team will be arriving at the clubhouse shortly after 8.30pm tonight and they will be greeted by a bonfire at Lawlor’s Cross on the way. Supports have been urged to come out and show their appreciation
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