South Kerry Minor Football Championship 1st Round Sunday 16th October 2005 V Skellig Rangers (Cahersiveen)

St. Mary's 3-09 Renard 2-06

Played in ideal footballing conditions on Sunday afternoon last St. Mary's defeated Skellig Rangers in the first round of the South Kerry Minor Championship in Con Keating Park. Both teams were very evenly matched going into the game with the main battle being between Gary O'Driscoll (SR) and Brian Curran (St. M), both these players are being highly tipped for great things in the future. The home side were first out of the blocks when some great work by wing back Mark McGillycuddy lead to Paul O'Donoghue's first point or the game off his left peg, this minimum lead didn't last for long when a Skellig Rangers 50m free dropped short to Bernard Casey, he dispatched to the left legged Daniel O'Sullivan who pointed. St. Mary's early tactic of the long ball then worked as they found the Skellig Rangers weak link, their goalkeeper, as the long ball found Sean Cournane in around the box he made no mistake in dispatching the ball to the back of the net. The Rangers then found the Mary's defence napping when they added 3 points without reply, another beautiful point from Daniel O'Sullivan with his back to the goal, a Bernard Casey handy free, and then St. Mary's were given a lifeline when Gary O'Driscoll was one on one with Shane Horgan in the St. Mary's goal could only manage a point to bring the sides back to level terms. Sean Cournane then found himself with another goal opportunity but as he closed down on goal Florence Donnelly denied Cournane his second goal with a fine block. O'Donoghue then pointed the resulting 45 to put his side out in front. O'Donoghue was on target again two minutes later when he picked up the scrappy ball to point from close range. Then possibly the turning point of the game came when Aidan Walsh ran at goal and a last second attempt to prevent the wing forward from gaoling resulted in Sneem referee Barry Clifford pointing to the spot, Liam Sheehan then stepped up and duly slotted the ball to the bottom corner of the Marina goal past David Tyler to leave 5 points between the sides, but the goal glut wasn't going to stop there as the Mary's added their third goal before the break after Sheehan was fouled his quick free found O'Donoghue and he scored a great goal to bring the half time score to St. Mary's 3-3 Skellig Rangers 0-4.

The visitors at half time would have wanted to go and get a couple of early scores up on the board to have any chance in the game before it fell out of their grasp, and the signs were looking good when a foul on Gary Driscoll lead to the games second penalty, O'Driscoll then got up to take the penalty, but as Shane Horgan pulled off a great save he could only parry it and quickest to react was Bernard Casey who made no mistake at his sides second time of asking to bring the margin back to 5 points again. As Liam Sheehan came out after half time a rejuvenated player he instantly made an impact when a great run could only be curtailed by a foul, and after dusting himself off, he pointed the placed kick from 25m. St. Mary's by now had turned on the style and their forwards speed and mazy runs made short work of the Rangers defence, O'Donoghue was the next player to be stopped in his tracks with a hefty challenge which Sheehan once again produced a fine point from a free. Sheehan was everywhere and when his fantastic cross field ball found Paul O'Donoghue he set Cathal O'Connell up in front of goal who points on one of his rare runs towards goal. After some great defending by St. Mary's especially captain Brian Curran, the Rangers finally found a way through when Daniel O'Sullivan pointed from a close range free to bring the margin back to 7 points. Midfielder Vinny Moriarty then brought his season scoring tally to 5-22 after some good combination work between full forwards Cournane and Sheehan. Sheehan again came close when he hit the upright, but made up for it when he added another assist, this time setting up wing forward Aidan Walsh for his 5th point of the season. As the home side continued attacking Skellig Rangers launched a counter attack and when a quick free found Gary O'Driscoll he tried to save his side humiliation and he finally got the goal he was treating to get all day. O'Driscoll was on target again a minute later when he pointed after a long ball picked him out. With time nearly up, came the move of the game when young Paul O'Donoghue launched a run inside his own 45 and dodged tackles left, right and centre before finally being fouled 20m out from the town goal and to leave the easy work to Liam Sheehan to add his 3rd point from a free to leave the final score at Con Keating Park St. Mary's 3-9 Skellig Rangers 2-6. This was a fantastic team performance by the home side who gelled together magnificently, with some fantastic performances from Shane Horgan in goal, Cathal O'Connell and Vinny Moriarty in midfield, Paul O'Donoghue and Liam Sheehan in the forwards and especially Brian Curran at full back who produced a real captains performance and done a fantastic job on Gary O'Driscoll who at the outset would have been the main target man on the Rangers side. Although real outsiders for the Championship with a bit of luck in the draw for the semi-finals St. Mary's can't be written off just yet. St.

Mary's Team and Scorers: Shane Horgan, Brian Curran, Colm Cournane, Micheal O'Shea, Mark McGillicuddy, Cathal O'Connell (0-1), Vinny Moriarty (0-1), Aidan Walsh (0-1), Paul O'Donoghue (1-3,145), Liam Sheehan (1-3, 1-3f), Sean Cournane (1-0). Subs: no subs used - Conor Moran, Conor O'Shea, Danny Joe Murphy, Ian Casey, Colm O'Shea and Colin Walsh.

South Kerry Minor Football League 1st Round Wednesday 6th July 2005 V Renard (Renard)

St. Mary's 2-08 Renard 2-11

St. Mary’s minors were defeated by 4 points in the first round of the south Kerry Minor League at the hands of neighbours Renard on Wednesday evening last in O’Donoghue Park. After a level first half Renard minus Kerry Minors Killian Young and Eoin O’Neill took control with positive outcomes from Stephen O’Sullivan free taking. St. Mary’s threw everything they had in the end at the home side but some great saves from Patrick McGill meant that Renard would take the spoils. St. Mary’s started the better with an early point from Vinny Moriarty after good work from Aidan Walsh before Shane Horgan in the Mary’s goal pulled off two great saves in quick succession from John Shanahan and Cian McCrohan. Cathal O’Connell and Paul O’Donoghue then respectively prepared Aidan Walsh’s for two points in 5 minutes. Stephen O’Sullivan and Vinny Moriarty both exchanged points before Paul O’Donoghue went on a 50 yard dash to bring the score to 0-5 v 0-1. The first goal of the game then arrived when after a foul on Rory Sullivan, an O’Sullivan free put Liam O’Sullivan through on goal where he made no mistake. Within 3 minutes St. Mary’s had retaliated when a quick free from Paul O’Donoghue lead to Danny Murphy’s opening his account for the year with a goal but this proved to no avail when a long ball found Liam Sullivan for his second goal of the game. A Cian McCrohan point in the final minutes of the first half left the half time score at St. Mary’s 1-5 v Renard 2-2.Rory O’Sullivan opened the scoring in of the second half from 30m with a point, while a Paul O’Donoghue free and a Vinny Moriarty point meant that the Mary’s took the advantage for the last time in the game. Stephen O’Sullivan then stole the show when he added 6 points (4 frees) in succession before Sean Cournane finally broke the spell from his own 21m free. As time ran out for the Mary’s they concentrated on goals and their luck finally changed when Cathal O’Connell broke though and punished the Renard defence with a goal to leave the final score at O’Donoghue Park St. Mary’s 2-08 Renard 2-11. St. Mary’s Team & Scorers: Shane Horgan, Brian Curran (Capt.), Colm Cournane, Mark McGillicuddy, Micheal O’Shea, Cathal O’Connell (1-0), Vinny Moriarty (0-3), Paul O’Donoghue (0-2,1f), Aidan Walsh (0-2), Sean Cournane (0-1,1f), Danny Murphy (1-0). Subs: Conor O’Shea 4 Aidan Walsh (inj), Kieran O’Sullivan, Ian Casey, Colm O’Shea, Colin Walsh.

Co. League Semi-Final St. Mary's v Lispole (Killorglin)

Lispole claimed the County Minor League Division 6 title over St. Mary’s in Killorglin on Friday evening last on a scoreline of 2-9 v 0-8. Lispole dominated proceedings in the first half, this showed when the West Kerry side had 2-5 scored where St. Mary’s could only manage 0-2. The South Kerry side staged somewhat of a comeback in the second half but this didn’t make a significant difference as Lispole cleaned up at midfield. More>>>

Co. League Div 6 Round 3 Friday 15th April 2005 V Lispole (Keel)

St. Mary's 3-11 Lispole 1-10

After a poor start to both halves put the Mary's on the back foot throughout the game until the 45 minute when a Vinnie Moriarty 45 dropped shot and when Lispole goalkeeper couldn't hold on the ball the Mary's took the lead for the first time in the match. Moriarty added his second goal of the match when another long shot proved too hot to handle for the goal keeper again. The South Kerry's side other goal came from the boot Sean Cournane while points were added by Vinnie Moriarty, Brian Curran, Paul O'Donoghue, Liam Sheehan and Sean Cournane. Lispole got to a flyer when they score 1-3 without reply before good play between Danny Murphy an Paul O'Donoghue set Sean Cournane up for his first goal of the campaign. Paul O'Donoghue was involved in the Mary's next three points, the first coming after a great run through the centre he slipped the ball over the bar, the second a free after a foul on Danny Murphy, and the third a well taken point while in the process of being fouled. Lispole were unlucky not to add a second goal before the interval only to be denied by a fantastic save by Shane Horgan that resulted in a point to leave the half time score Lispole 1-6 St. Mary's 1-3. Lispole racked up 2 points at the beginning of the second half before the Mary's finally woke up and replied when Paul O'Donoghue sent a long ball to Sean Cournane and he promptly pointed. Liam Sheehan added two points for the Mary's the first a high ball that dropped short and bounced over the bar, the second coming from a sideline ball which produced a great point. O'Donoghue pointed a handy free soon afterward after a foul on Sheehan. Midfielder Brian Curran then found time on his hands and produced his first point of the season. Vinnie Moriarty then created 2-2 before the final whistle in the space of 10 minutes to win the game for St. Mary's. A Moriarty free dropped shot which lead to a Liam Sheehan punched point, then when Brian Curran took a quick free Vinnie was quick to produce his second point of the game and to give the Mary's the minimum advantage. Then came the killer blow, in the space of three minutes Vinnie Moriarty racked up two goals, the first a 45 the dropped between the goalies hands and the second someway similar when Moriarty sent in another long ball that seemed not to trouble the Lispole goalie but the ball ended in the back of the net to leave the final score in Keel, St. Mary's 3-11, Lispole 1-10. St. Mary's Team: Shane Horgan, Colm Cournane, Conor O'Shea, Ian Casey, Mark McGillicuddy, Kieran O'Sullivan, Vincent Moriarty (2-2,1f), Brian Curran (0-1), Micheal O'Shea, Paul O'Donoghue (0-4,2f), Danny Murphy, Sean Cournane (1-1), Liam Sheehan (0-3). Sub: Colin Walsh.

Co. League Div 6 Round 2 Friday 8th April 2005 V St. Senans (Beaufort)

St. Senans 2-13 St. Mary's 2-05

A poor start let St. Mary's trailing for the whole game, the Mary's first half display was very unlike the side and when St. Senans goaled within 16 minutes due to poor defending there was no way back for the Cahersiveen side. It took 26 minutes for St. Mary's to get off the mark when a good piece of individual play from Micheal O'Shea resulted in a point, this was to be the Mary's only score of the half while Senan's had 1-6 racked up thanks to some fine score from Ricky O'Sullivan and Brendan O'Connell. St. Mary's then finally woke up in the second half and added some impressive scores, with time ticking on and Senans still picking off scores the Mary's finally had something to cheer about when substitute Mark McGillicuddy got a leg to a loose ball to rattle the net and have the score at 1-9 v 1-2 still in favour of Senans. With 6 minutes remaining the north Kerry side made sure of the points when they scored their second goal, despite Vincent Moriartys last minute goal the game was too far gone. St. Mary's second half points came from Paul O'Donoghue and Sean Cournane. St. Mary's Team: Shane Horgan, Brian Curran, Conor O'Shea, Aidan Walsh, Colm Cournane, Kieran O'Sullivan (Ian Casey), Vincent Moriarty (1-0), Micheal O'Shea (0-1), Conor Moran (Mark McGillicuddy (1-0)), Paul O'Donoghue (0-2,2f), Danny Murphy, Sean Cournane (0-2,2f), Liam Sheehan. Sub: Colin Walsh.

Co. League Div 6 Round 1 Friday 25th March 2005 V Annascaul (Cromane)

St. Mary's 2-08 Annascaul 1-11

A game of two halves left the Mary's and Annascaul playing out a thriller draw. St. Mary's played with the wind in the first half and lead at the break 2-5 to 0-3. The Cahersiveen side played some excellent football and some great passing movements and catching skills led to scores from Vincent Moriarty, Paul O'Donoghue and Sean Cournane. The Mary's defending skills resulted in only conceding 3 points in the opening half. Annascaul took charge in the second half but despite the Mary's scoring first from Paul O'Donoghue the West Kerry side hit numerous unanswered points. With ten minutes remaining Annascaul seemed to have the game wrapped up but the Mary's rallied on and with points from Liam Sheehan and Sean Cournane the teams shared the spoils.  St. Mary's Team: Shane Horgan, Conor O'Shea, Brian Curran, Aidan Walsh, Colm Cournane, Ian Casey Vincent Moriarty (1-1), Micheal O'Shea, Sean Cournane (0-2,1f), Danny Murphy, Craig Quirke (Kieran O'Sullivan (Conor Moran)), Paul O'Donoghue (1-4,3f), Liam Sheehan (0-1). Subs: Fergus Keating, Colin Walsh and Kieran Moriarty.