15th April 2006 - Credit Union County Senior Football League Division 1 Round 3 in Gneeveguilla

St. Mary's 1-04 V 1-17 Gneeveguilla

St. Mary’s took a hammering on Saturday evening last when they travelled to Gneeveguilla for the third round of the County Senior Football League, after a good first half and a goal from Daniel O’Sullivan, the visitors lost both James Fitzgerald and Ray Keane due to injury which didn’t help their cause. Gneeveguilla then took control in the second half with some magnificent scorers from Liam Murphy, Donie O’Connor and a goal from John P Brosnan and took the victory by a whooping 13 point margin.

The home side started much the brighter when Liam Murphy opened the scoring with two early points before Danny O’Sullivan converted a 21m free after 9 minutes. With St. Mary’s third attack a great Adam Quirke ball found Daniel O’Sullivan unmarked and he had an easy task of slotting the ball to the back of the net past Adrian O’Connell. Brosnan, Michael Murphy, and Liam Murphy all retaliated in fine form for their side with three points to put their side out in front again before St. Mary’s Paul O’Donoghue  pulled one back for his side from a 45. Barry O’Leary and Michael Murphy kept Gneeveguilla in the driving seat. With 2 minutes remaining in the first half St. Mary’s were dealt a blow when they lost influential midfielder James Fitzgerald to injury but when replacement Sean Cournane found himself with he room he went toe to hand and set Niall O’Driscoll up for a great point, this score was to no avail when Michael Murphy capitalised on a misplaced kick out to leave the half time score Gneeveguilla 0-8 St. Mary’s 1-2.

Gneeveguilla took control as soon as the ball was thrown in for the second half with points from Timmy O’Leary, Fergus McAuliffe and Liam Murphy after 40 minutes. St. Mary’s tried everything especially with the backs and midfield really trying hard but whatever they done Gneeveguilla done better and when the East Kerry side brought on Donie O’Connor, he added two points within 3 minutes of his entrance, before Austin Constable who was brought out from full forward to midfield pointed from 35m, but when Fergus McAuliffe won the kick out O’Connor was on target again with two more points while Ronan McAuliffe added his sides finally point before Niall O’Driscoll got a consolation for his side to leave the final score in Gneeveguilla, Gneeveguilla 1-17 St. Mary’s 1-04.

Best for the home side where the full back line, midfield and Ml Murphy, Liam Murphy, Barry O’Leary and substitute Donie O’Connor in the forwards, while mainly in the first half the best for St. Mary’s were Paudie O’Shea, John M Clifford, Brian Curran, Mike T O’Connor and Niall O’Driscoll. St. Mary’s will take to the field next week against Dr. Crokes on Saturday at 7:00, Crokes will be minus their Kerry players while St. Mary’s will be once again without Bryan Sheehan, who laid down an excellent marker for his starting birth against Laois in the National League semi-final last weekend.

St. Mary’s: D Corcoran, P O’Shea, JM Clifford, B Curran, L Sheehan, MT O’Connor, S O’Brien (C Moran), N O’Driscoll (0-2), J Fitzgerald (Sean Cournane), A Quirke, R Keane (C Connor), P O’Donoghue (0-1,1f), D O’Sullivan (1-0), A Constable (0-1), D O’Sullivan (JP Mahony).