12th November 2006 - South Kerry Junior Football Championship Semi-Final in Con Keating Park

St. Mary's 1-07 V 1-10 Valentia

St. Mary’s Junior team’s last chances of silverware were denied on Sunday morning last when they were defeated by Valentia Young Islanders in the second semi-final of the South Kerry Junior Championship in Cahersiveen. With Reenard already qualified it was down to the strongest two sides in the competition, on paper, to battle it out to join them in the final in a few weeks time. St. Mary’s lined out with out influential players Seamus Fitzgerald and captain Alan Clifford, although Fitzgerald made an appearance as a second half sub, while Valentia’s, Kerry U21 soccer star Brian O’Connor was replaced between the sticks by Declan Lynch.

An even first half saw the sides separated by the minimum in favour of the home side, thanks to a 17th minute goal from Sean Donal O Shea, while a goal in the opposite half from Valentia veteran Richard Quigley saw the Young Islanders progress with three points to spare 1-07 v 1-10.

St. Mary’s welcomed back Ml Pat O’Donoghue, due to college commitments, and he made an immediate impact on the side with numerous block downs inside the opening minutes and provided the assist for Sean Cournane’s opening score of the game. Points from Colm McGill and Richard Quigley meant Valentia took the lead. A second from Cournane and when a Cathal O’Connell long ball found Sean Donal O Shea he tapped in from close range to put the Mary’s into the driving seat. Valentia battled hard after the blow and pulled level with a minute left until the break thanks to John O’Connor and Alan Curran (2) but good build play from St. Mary’s meant Vinny Moriarty opened his account and give his side the lead deep into first half stoppage time, at the break 1-3 v 0-5.

It took only 43 second for Valentia to take control after the restart when Muiris O Sullivan sent a high ball across the face of the goal and Richard Quigley rose above keeper Cormac O Sullivan to punch the ball to the back of the empty net to set his side on their way to the final. Colm McGill extended his sides lead while the two Sean’s, Donal O Shea and Cournane picked away at the Valentia lead. Just as the Mary’s were getting a grasp on the tie, it all fell backwards again when Valentia added three unanswered points from the outstanding John ‘Baf’ O’Connor (2) and Alan Curran after good Brendan O Sullivan build up play. Ml Pat O’Donoghue and Sean Cournane brought their side to within two with 6 minutes remaining and even after the introduction of full forward Seamus Fitzgerald, Colm McGill wrapped up the game with a point two minutes from time and leave the final score St. Mary’s 1-07 Valentia 1-10.

On this performance Valentia will have to be installed as favourites for the South Kerry Junior Championship final against Renard, who were very lucky to over a Skellig Rangers team who produced a late rally and nearly stole the game.

This was a game in which St. Mary’s left slip, after all their hard fought battles through the year, Gneeveguilla in Killorglin for example, it was school boy errors which cost them the game. After such a promising year St. Mary’s juniors came out the other end with no silver ware to their name.

Teams & Scorers

St. Mary’s: Cormac O Shea, John P Mahony, Dan Mahony, Ciaran Casey, Niall McCarthy, Brian Curran, John Donovan, Declan O Sullivan, Connie Connor, Vinny Moriarty (0-1), Cathal O’Connell, Sean Donal O Shea (1-1), Sean Cournane (0-4,2f), Paul O’Connell, and Ml Pat O’Donoghue (0-1). Sub Used: Seamus Fitzgerald. Unused: Colm Cournane and Shane Horgan.

Valentia: Declan Lynch, Joe O Shea, Patrick O’Connor, Ray Lyne, Alan Lyne, Ger Shea, Brendan Sullivan, John O’Connor (0-3,1f), Colm McGill (0-3,2f), Martin Falvey, Muiris O Sullivan, Alan Curran (0-3,1f), Mark Lynch, Dan O’Connor, and Richard Quigley (1-1).

Referee: Dan Fitzpatrick (Waterville)