2 days ago
Gneeveguilla stun Kerins O'Rahillys with 19-point drubbing
It was a bad weekend for three established big three clubs in Tralee, as they all failed to land a glove on their respective championship opponents.
Following Austin Stacks' defeat to Na Gaeil on Friday night, John Mitchels were expected to lose to Kilcummin, but while some would have thought that Gneeveguilla would test Kerins O'Rahilly's in Strand Road, nobody could have predicted a 19-point humiliation as Gneeveguilla shredded the home defence at times to record a 5-16 to 0-12 victory and are now back in the battle for the two qualifying places.
Following their 1-19 to 3-9 win at Glenbeigh, Beaufort are in pole position to top group four and earn a home quarter-final.
Kerins O'Rahillys now have to travel to Beaufort and beat the locals to stay in the IFC, while Gneeveguilla, who lost the previous week to Beaufort, will now host winless Glenbeigh/Glencar and a win or possibly a draw will be good enough to see them make the knockout stages.
A hat-trick of points from man of the match Pádraig Doyle, plus points from Paudie O'Leary, Pa Brosnan and Paul O'Leary, had the winner's six points to the good, 0-7 to 0-1 by the 14th minute. It got worse for O'Rahillys a minute later when Doyle set up Sean O'Keeffe to finish to the net.
Trailing by nine points (1-7 to 0-1), Kerins O'Rahillys needed to finish the half strongly but instead, in the 28th minute, Gneeveguilla struck for a second goal, finished expertly by Kerry senior panelist Paudie O'Leary.
Jack Savage was the only home player who looked capable of doing any damage but Gneeveguilla led 2-9 to 0-5 at half-time and the Tralee side needed a Lazarus-like comeback. But it was not to be as the visitors struck for two early second-half goals from Padraig Doyle.
Beaufort made it two wins on the trot when they cut loose in the second half to beat Glenbeigh/Glencar 1-19 to 3-9 but it was more comprehensive than a four-point win suggests.
Inspired by their two Kerry seniors, Mike Breen and Sean O'Brien, Beaufort led 0-10 to 1-6 with the Glenbeigh goal scored by Caolim Teahan. Fergal Hallissey, Jack and Darragh O'Connor, along with Liam Carey, kept Beaufort in front.
The crucial score arrived in the 37th minute, as Liam Carey racing through the opposition defence.
A defender did get a hand in to dispossess him, but Carey rode the tackle soccer-style before blasting a brilliant shot to the net.
In Group 1, Kilcummin joined Fossa on four points at the top of the table after beating John Mitchels 0-16 to 0-10 in Tralee during a thunderstorm.
Paul O'Shea scored 0-5 for the winners, Brendan Kealy and Mark O'Shea kicked two pointers and now they will take on Fossa at home next weekend to decide who tops this group and gets home advantage for the last eight.
In group 2 Laune Rangers, thanks to a late Eoghan Hassett point from play, grabbed a 1-10 to 0-13 share of spoils and now Rangers have three points, while Ballydonoghue have two.
But it's still wide open as Legion grabbed a win over Listowel Emmets 0-16 to 2-9, with Joe Joe Grimes leveling the game 0-12 to 1-9 midway through the second half.
When Sean Keane found the Legion net, the drama began as the sides were level.
Listowel were on the attack going in search of a winner when they were caught on a defensive breach and David O'Sullivan kicked Legion in front, but after Listowel Emmets were awarded a free from two-point land, Sean Keane saw his point go agonizingly wide as Legion were still in the mix.
Laune Rangers now play Listowel, while Ballydonoghue will be at home to Legion, with all to play for.
In group 3, An Ghaeltacht impressed with a hard-earned win over St Mary's in Gallarus while Desmonds and Glenflesk traded blows in Castleisland.
Glenflesk, thanks to Luke Crowley and Tommy Bowler (1-13 between them), were the difference for the East Kerry side who beat Desmonds 1-21 to 3-11. Bowler kicked four two-pointers in the opening half as Glenflesk led 0-15 to 2-7 with the Desmonds goals scored by Adam O'Donoghue and PJ Curtin.
In a rip-roaring contest, Luka Brosnan gave Desmonds the lead in 49th minute but Darragh Roche leveled in the 51st minute and then, in a dramatic finish with the sides level, Luke Crowley kicked Glenflesk in front.
Then a disastrous kick-out resulted in Tommy Bowler drilling the ball to the Desmonds net as Glenflesk made it two wins from two on a 1-21 to 3-11 scoreline.
An Ghaeltacht are now just a point behind Glenflesk after a resounding 2-18 to 0-15 win over St Mary's.
Ex-Cork dual star Aidan Walsh was gifted a first-half goal when Bryan Sheehan injured his Achilles as he took a short kick out.
Walsh collected and rolled the ball into the empty net. Sheehan had to retire and so did Walsh - at half-time - but Cathal Ó Beaglaoich, with 1-2 in the second-half and Ruaidhri Ó Beaglaoich with 0-5, ensured that they now travel to Glenflesk next weekend to decide who tops the group.
