22nd October 2006 - South Kerry Junior Football Championship 1st Round in Con Keating Park

St. Mary's 1-15 V 0-13 Sneem (aet)

In their second meeting of the year St. Mary’s finally got the better of Sneem in the opening round of the South Kerry Junior Football League in brilliant conditions in Con Keating Park on Sunday morning last. A close encounter saw the biggest lead built by any side be three points. It was the veteran heads in the end which proved to be the winning move which entitled St. Mary’s to advance after 80 minutes of football. A great display of kicking from Seamus Fitzgerald and a goal in extra time from Paul O’Connell saw St. Mary’s come out on top alongside some great defending from the home side on a scoreline of St. Mary’s 1-15 v Sneem 0-13 writes Stephen McCarthy.

St. Mary’s were first off the mark when they clocked up 3 unanswered points in the opening seven minutes from Seamus Fitzgerald (2) the first a massive 45m free and Sean Close from a 13m free. It wasn’t until the ninth minute before Sneem opened their account through a BJ Regan close free, Regan doubled his account three minutes later before Seamus Fitzgerald and Brian Curran extended the home sides advantage. Regan from frees cut the lead to the minimum. Sneem were then dealt a huge blow on 25 minutes when their impressive scoring forward Regan picked up a nasty injury and had to be substituted. Sean Cournane, Vinny Moriarty, St. Mary’s, and Sean Sullivan and Niall Drummond exchanged points before the short whistle and leave the score St. Mary’s 0-7 Sneem 0-6.

The second half saw no one side get a strong hold on the tie with every score being cancelled out. St. Mary’s wasted three great scoring opportunities in the opening 4 minutes and could of cost them the game, while Kieran Casey and Tony Drummond punished the missed chances and put Sneem in front for the first time after 36 minutes. Seamus Fitzgerald (2), Sean Cournane and Brian Curran had looked to have St. Mary’s poised for victory but Sneem responded in great fashion with fine scores from Jimmy O’Brien, Kieran Burns and Denis Sullivan to pull their side level again, Sneem even had a chance of winning the game 3 minutes into injury time when Cormac O’Shea pulled off a fantastic save from Kieran Burns when a point would have been a smarter option and leave the score at full time of normal time St. Mary’s 0-11 Sneem 0-11.

As the sides lined out for extra time St. Mary’s called upon the experienced heads for the influence and this proved the turning point of the game as Paul O’Connell, John ‘Casur’ O’Sullivan and Seamus Fitzgerald spearheaded the Mary’s attack. A Fitzgerald 25m free put the home side ahead before the all important goal came after 69 minutes when Vinny Moriarty sent a pin point ball to Sean Cournane who combined with Seamus Fitzgerald to release Paul O’Connell in front off goal and he didn’t disappoint and rattled Dan Murphy’s net just before the break. It was St. Mary’s recent training spell that stood to them in the end as Sneem just ran out of steam and Seamus Fitzgerald (2) and Vinny Moriarty punished the lacklustre Sneem defence while Kieran Burns and Pat Sullivan did managed to add two consolation points for Sneem in the dying moments and leave the final score in Con Keating Park, St. Mary’s 1-15 Sneem 0-13.

Best for the home side were Cormac O’Shea, John P Mahony, Niall McCarthy, Brian Curran, Declan O’Sullivan, Paul O’Connell, John ‘Casur’ O’Sullivan, Sean Cournane and Man of the Match Seamus Fitzgerald kicking a great tally of 0-8 along the way, while Sneem’s marksmen were Aidan Drummond, Pat Sullivan, BJ Regan and Kieran Burns.

Teams & Scorers
St. Mary’s – Cormac O’Shea, John P Mahony, Daniel Mahony, Kieran Casey, Niall McCarthy, Brian Curran (0-2), Connie Connor, Cathal O’Connell, Declan O’Sullivan, Pat Corkery, Vinny Moriarty (0-2), Sean Donal O’Shea, Sean Cournane (0-3,3f), Seamus Fitzgerald (0-8,3f) and Alan Clifford. Subs Used – Paul O’Connell (1-0), Colm Cournane, John ‘Casur’ O’Sullivan.
Sneem – Dan Murphy, Aidan Drummond, Gerald Sugrue, Ryan Breen, Pat Sullivan (0-1), Tony Drummond (0-1,1f), Ray White, Darren Breen, Jimmy O’Brien (0-1,1f), Denis O’Sullivan, (0-1), Sean O’Sullivan (0-1), Kieran Casey (0-1), BJ Regan (0-4,3f), Kieran Burns (0-2,2f) and Niall Drummond (0-1).

Wides
St. Mary’s 9 Sneem 8
Frees
St. Mary’s 28 Sneem 24

Referee – Michael Curran (Piarsaigh na Dromoda)