5th May 2006 - County Minor Football League Semi-Final in Reenard

St. Mary's 1-04 V 1-06 Skellig Rangers

A last grasp goal from Kerry Minor Garry O’Driscoll salvaged victory for Skellig Rangers where they advanced to the County Minor Football League final at the expense of St. Mary’s on last Friday evening in poor conditions in Renard. After a strong first half performance from the Rangers, they held a 3 point lead at the break while St. Mary’s played the better football after the interval and when Conor Moran goaled early on they held the lead till the final minute but when a Garry Driscoll free dropped short it deflected off the post to the back of the net so his side would meet Lispole in the final.

A Micheal O’Sullivan point after three minutes opened the day’s proceedings for Skellig Rangers, while Sean Cournane cancelled this out when he was assisted by Paulie Donoghue and Conor Moran. Owen Connor (SR), from a free, and Micheal O’Shea (St. M) exchanged points for their sides after four and six minutes before Skellig rangers added four unanswered points from Bernard Casey, Micheal O’Sullivan, Ger Walsh and Brian O’Sullivan. The Portmagee side also had a good goal chance denied after Micheal O’Shea cleared off the line from Brian O’Sullivan before St. Mary’s Paulie Donoghue managed to pull one back before the break from a 35m free to leave the half time score St. Mary’s 0-3 Skellig Rangers 0-6.

Full forward Conor Moran got the all important goal for the Mary’s after thirty five minutes of play when he picked up the ball 30m from goal and ran straight through a wall of Portmagee defenders and buried the ball the bottom corner past Bernard Walsh in the Rangers net to level the game. Portmagee were now very much struggling missing numerous scoring range frees which could have proved costly. As the rain kept pouring and the ground becoming more and more difficult to play football on the game became very sloppy and both teams found scores hard to come by, and it took ten minutes for the next score Paul O’Donoghue 28m free to edge his side out in front by the minimum. With time ticking out St. Mary’s seemed to have the game wrapped up and went defensive only to be caught out when Garry O’Driscoll gained a free 45m out from goal and when he left a high ball around the square the ball rebounded off the post and to the surprise of the goalkeeper and defenders slipped into the back of the net and with this referee Micheal Lyne, Valentia, blew his whistle for full time and left the final score at O’Donoghue Park Renard St. Mary’s 1-04 Skellig Rangers 1-06.

Skellig Rangers were best served by Seamus O’Sullivan, Bernard Casey and Micheal O’Sullivan while St. Mary’s were best served in defeat by Conor O’Shea, Ian Casey, Vinny Moriarty, Micheal O’Shea and Conor Moran. In what was appalling conditions St. Mary’s never deserved to lose in the manner that they did and also the loss of Ian Casey through injury towards the end of the second half proved costly. Skellig Rangers will play Lispole in the final next weekend and will go into the game very much favourites having kept a 100 percent record throughout their campaign to date.