Kerry IFC: Hassett inspires Laune Rangers, Listowel scramble to late draw

Irish Examiner

a day ago

The Kerry Petroleum Intermediate Football Championship started in earnest over the weekend with a number of predictable results but also a few surprises that saw a number of sides fight back to draw.
Fossa's victory over John Mitchels sees them join Kilcummin on top of Group 1. Kilcummin had a big win the previous weekend. This weekend, Fossa will be at home to local rivals Firies, while John Mitchels will be at home to Kilcummin.
Laune Rangers had a big win over Killarney Legion - 2-15 to 1-13. The Killorglin side were superior except for the opening five minutes when Legion raced 1-3 to 0-00 in front thanks to a Denis Sheahan goal and two Ryan O'Grady points.
But once last year's beaten finalists Laune Rangers got moving, Legion had no answers as points from Darragh Clifford, Patrick Daly and Gearoid Hassett had Rangers back in the game. Then when a Hassett shot was blocked, Ciaran O'Sullivan found himself alone inside the Legion cover and levelled the contest with a bullet like drive.
Three minutes later a penalty was awarded after a foul on Shane Daly, and this saw John Tyther stroke home to the Legion net despite Brian Kelly tipping his spot kick against the post. Hassett, Daire Cleary and Brian Gannon all added points and Rangers led 2-8 to 1-6 at half-time.
Rangers, with Eoin Clifford and Oisin Birmingham raiding from the back, never looked like surrendering the lead and despite a two point free from Kelly and some good work by Cian Gammell, Gearoid Hassett ensured that Laune Rangers would make a winning start.
The other game in this group played on Sunday saw Listowel Emmets come from three down in added time to grab a point after a 1-15 apiece draw. Jason Foley initiated some big plays for Ballydonoghue while Jo Jo Grimes gave a big performance for Emmets.
Ballydonoghue led 0-11 to 1-7 at half time. After a Kieran Lynch goal, they were 1-14 to 1-10 clear with time running out. A two pointer from Grimes and a Sam Tarrant point left the minimum between them. Jack Kennelly then pushed Ballydonoghue two clear but late points from Sean Keane and Sam Tarrant ensured a drawn game. The group looks wide open.
Group 3 is one of the toughest groups. Deep into injury-time, Glenflesk goalkeeper Marc Kelliher booted over a magnificent two-point free to break St Mary's hearts right at the death and see his side over the line on a 0-16 to 0-15 scoreline.
The south Kerry side were the better team in the first half, building a four-point lead on three separate occasions, with the sides level on 0-9 apiece at half-time.
Bryan Sheehan had three points for St Mary's with Tadhg O'Connor, Daniel Daly, Alex Coffey, Darren Casey, Aidan Walsh and Sean Cournane also on the mark for the Cahersiveen team. At the other end, Tommy Bowler, Ian Roche and Dylan Roche had braces in the opening 30 minutes.
But it came down to that Kelliher massive two pointer and the win for Glenflesk.
An Ghaeltacht and Castleisland Desmonds, who have thoughts of going all the way, finished level on 0-13 apiece in Strand Road, with a late point from An Ghaeltacht's Tomás Ó Sé (DC) earning the west Kerry side a share of the spoils against a battling Desmonds outfit.
An Ghaeltacht got off to an absolute flyer in the first half, leading by six points to no score within ten minutes. Eanna Ó Conchúir fired over a two-point free, Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich had a brace, from play and placed balls, with former Cork star Aidan Walsh launching over a superb orange flag effort as the west Kerry side led 0-8 to 0-4. But Brian Leonard, Steven Bartlett, Ruairi Burke and Leonard against saw Desmonds roar back and a late Leonard point appeared to have secured the win for Desmonds but it was not to be.
Group 4 went along predictable lines with Kerins O'Rahillys holding on against Glenbeigh Glencar 1-17 to 1-15 while Beaufort proved too strong for Gneeveguilla 0-20 to 0-11.