Gaeltacht too strong
in replay
 
 
 

Loss of Maurice Fitzgerald due to injury a big blow to South Kerry at
Gallarus
 
 

AN GHAELTACHT 1-13 SOUTH KERRY 1-8
 

A CROWD of approximately 2,500 came to Páirc Ghallarais on Saturday evening
in anticipation of a great hour's football as An Ghaeltacht and South Kerry
lined out to replay their first-round game in the AIB County SFC. But such
expectations were not fulfilled as, on the night, the local club combination
proved far too strong and too enterprising for a disappointing South Kerry
side.

Admittedly, the divisional side did manage to stay in contention with their
rivals in the opening half, at the end of which they trailed by five points
(1-6 to 0-4).

But, try as they did in the second half, South Kerry were unable to match
their opponents in most facets of the game. For one thing, Gaeltacht lorded
matters in the centre of the field where Roibeárd MacGearailt and the
indefatigable Pól Ó Cuinn proved far too resourceful for Sean Hussey and
John Quirke.

Then, of course, misfortune befell the South Kerrymen midway through the
opening half when they lost Maurice Fitzgerald with a knee injury; the St
Mary's man, who was operating at left wing-forward, hobbled his way to the
sideline after 15 minutes to receive some physio treatment. But, even though
he did resume, Fitzgerald was forced to retire from the game almost
immediately afterwards and the southerners had been dealt a fell blow.
Fitzgerald was replaced by James O'Shea, but, hard and all as the St
Michaels / Foilmore man strived, he was unable to make any worthwhile
impression on a teak tough Gaeltacht backline.

The half-back line of Tomás Ó Sé, Sean MacSithigh and team captain Seán Ó
Conchúir was rock-solid and time and again repelled threatening South Kerry
forays.

In addition, the full-back line of Micí Ó Conchúir, Feargal Ó Sé and Seán Ó
Beaglaoi kept very close surveillance on John Shanahan, Bernard O'Connor and
Johnny Clifford.

As stated, the loss of Fitzgerald so early in the game greatly undermined
the losers' hopes of succeeding at the second time of asking.

Even as it was, Fitzgerald was unable to make any lasting impact on the
exchanges for the quarter of an hour or so that he was on the field. And
this was a game in which South Kerry needed to get a good kick-start.
As it was, it took them nine minutes to notch their first score of the game
- a point from a long-range free by Fitzgerald. But by then the home side
had raced into a three-point lead, the scores coming from Dara Ó Cinnéide
(two frees) and Tomás Ó Sé.

Dara Ó Cinnéide was in sparkling form on the 40 for the winners and the
Kerry stalwart tortured and tormented the losers' defence all through the
game.

He used his speed and craft to full advantage and South Kerry's Chris
Drummond was unable to do much to stop Ó Cinnéide from launching a series of
blistering attacks.

He pointed a free in the 17th minute, but this was negatived three minutes
later by a John Shanahan point from a free.

South Kerry applied a bit more pace to their game at this juncture as they
pulled back a point when Denis O'Dwyer scored a great point from play after
21 minutes.
The Waterville man had been brought back from the US for the game. But, even
though he was quite effective on the 40, nevertheless he was not allowed to
dictate matters up front to any great extent, with Gaeltacht's centre
half-back, Sean MacSitigh, seeing to that.

South Kerry moved full-back Stephen O'Sullivan out to right half-back to
mark the elusive Cathas Ó Dubhda and the Skellig Rangers man did quite a
good policing job in the circumstances.

In the 24th minute, Roibeárd MacGearailt raced through to pick off a lovely
point, but O'Dwyer was again on target for the losers with a 25th minute
point.

However, South Kerry were showing distinct shortcomings in attack with the
departure of Fitzgerald: Denis O'Dwyer found Sean Husset with a neat pass,
but the Sneem man kicked a terrible wide and the losers' chances weren't
helped when Kieran Burns shot another wide, with all the space in the world
in which to manoeuvre.
But three minutes later Gaeltacht struck for what was to be the crucial
score of the game - a goal from the boot of the dynamic Ó Cinnéide.

The centre-forward gained possession out on the right flank, close to the
end line: he eeled his way goalwards, leading the South Kerry backs a merry
dance before blasting an unstoppable shot to the net, and the huge local
following cheered Ó Cinnéide to the echo.

That great goal was a shattering blow to the visitors as it propelled
Gaeltacht into a four-point lead and when Tomás Ó Sé put Cathas Ó Dubhda
through for another point in the 30th minute things were looking diwstinctly
bad for the southerners.

Indeed, Gaeltacht should have increaed their lead in injury time in the
first half, but Roibeárd MacGearailt and Dara Ó Cinnéide, with two frees,
were wide of the target.

So, Gaeltacht went in at half-time leading by five points.

Even though South Kerry tried for all they were worth in the second half to
overtake their rivals they were always fighting a vain battle against the
confident, quick-thinking West Kerry combination.

The second half was only seconds in progress when Aodán MacGearailt picked
off a lovely point and this was added to with another point from a free by Ó
Cinnéide in the 35th minute.

South Kerry, for their part, were only playing in snatches. Wing-forward
Kieran Burns had their first score of the half when he pointed from play
after seven minutes, but this was quickly answered with a great point from
corner-forward Tomás Ó Conchúir, after a brilliant run down the left wing.

South Kerry tried to stem the tide, but both John Shanahan and Sean Hussey
were wide in turn from play.

Ronan O'Connor replaced Johnny Clifford at left corner-forward, but the
losers' forwards were still finding it extremely difficult in making any
real headway against the tight-marking Gaeltacht backs.
James O'Shea had two chances for South Kerry, but he kicked them wide.

Nearing midway in the second half, Darragh Ó Sé, who didn't start because of
injury, made an appearance, coming on in place of right wing-forward Eoin Ó
Cruadhlaoich.

John Shanahan and Dara Ó Cinnéide then exchanged points before Roibeárd
MacGearailt made it 1-11 to 0-6 with a point from play in the 49th minute.

The home side were in total control of matters at this stage and Cathal Ó
Dubhda quickly added another point.

Gaeltacht were coasting at this stage as Kieran Burns pulled back a point
for the visitors after 55 minutes.

Gaeltacht came very close to snatching a second goal when, following a great
burst by Darragh Ó Sé, the ball came to Tomás Ó Conchúir but his shot blazed
wide across the goal.

Roibeárd MacGearailt added to South Kerry's tale of woe with
another point
from play in the 57th minute. Then Darragh Ó Sé saved from a free by James
O'Shea.

South Kerry were fighting a lost cause as the game moved to a close, but to
their credit they kept battling away.

Right corner-back, Buddy O'Shea, moved up to the attack and, after the
referee had played the advantage rule, the Waterville man booted over a
well-taken point.

The same player was again to the fore in injury time when he got on the end
of a movement involving Ronan O'Connpor and Sean Hussey to rattle the net
with a great shot.

But that goal was purely academic and only served to put a slightly more
respectable look on the scoresheet.

Gaeltacht were easy victors in the end and, on this showing, they should
present a stern challenge to reigning champions, East Kerry, when the teams
meet in the quarter-final in Tralee on September 5.

As stated, Dara Ó Cinnéide was at the top of his form at centre half-forward
and he received excellent support in attack from Cathal Ó Dubhda, Tomás Ó
Conchúir and Aodán MacGearailt.

South Kerry were always chasing this game once Ó Cinnéide found the net
before half-time and the team seemed to lose its shape once Maurice
Fitzgerald retired injured.

They had their best performers in Stephen O'Sullivan, Buddy O'Shea and
Killian Burns in defence, Sean Hussey at midfield and Denis O'Dwyer, Kieran
Burns, John Shanahan and substitute Ronan O'Connor in attack.