26th March 2006 - South Kerry Senior Football League in Valentia

St. Mary's 0-09 V 1-08 Valentia

Pictures

The reigning South Kerry Champions Valentia Young Islanders qualified for the semi-finals of the South Kerry League after victory over St. Mary’s in O’Connor Park, Chapletown on Sunday afternoon last. The visiting side started off the brighter, and took an early advantage but Barry Lynch struck for goal after 11 minutes for Valentia to bring his side back into the encounter, however the Mary’s held the half time lead by 3 points with the strong wind advantage contributing greatly. Valentia held a firm grasp on the game in the second half mainly thanks to John Shanahans excellent free taking, and with this he led his side into the semi-finals for the first time in 5 years.

St. Mary’s Adam Quirke opened the day’s proceedings with an early point after a poor kick out from the Valentia keeper, while Declan O’Sullivan and Niall O’Driscoll extended their sides advantage after 4 and 5 minutes respectively. Declan O’Sullivan was in the thick of the action again two minutes later when he was fouled, and Austin Constable converted the free from 25m out. Valentia’s talisman John Shanahan got the first of his 5 points from frees from the same distance, then on 11 minutes Shanahan sailed a free towards the goals and when the ball struck the upright and rebounded Valentias Barry Lynch was quickest to react and buried the ball to the back of the net to level matters. St. Mary’s retaliated in great fashion with four unanswered points from Liam Sheehan (2), Adam Quirke and James Fitzgerald, but after a foul on Valentias Barry Lynch, John Shanahan closed the halves proceedings at St. Mary’s 0-8 Valentia 1-2.

The home sided took control straight from the throw in of the second half with John Shanahan transferring two close range frees to points in the opening 5 minutes. Valentia were now dominating and the Mary’s couldn’t muster up any few passes to get the ball past the half way line, and this showed when some sloppy Mary’s defending led the a simple point for Daniel Falvey to draw the game level, as the games anticipation dropped a notch it took 15 minutes for the next score and once again a Falvey was on the scoresheeet this time Sean with a point after Valentia launched a counter attack. Although the Islanders were still dominating there was only one between the sides but with time running out the Mary’s tried everything and couldn’t even get a shot at the posts until Austin Constable pointed his own free from 21m to level the game once again. This wasn’t enough as Muiris O’Sullivan kicked a magnificent point from the right wing and John Shanahan rounded up the days proceedings with a free to put his side through to the semi-final on a score line of Valentia 1-8 St. Mary’s 0-9.

Best players on the day for the home side were Tadhg Lyne, Stevie O’Connor, John  O’Connor, Sean Falvey, Daniel Falvey, and the outstanding John Shanahan, while St. Mary’s performers on the day were Brian Curran, Paudie O’Shea, Liam Sheehan, James Fitzgerald, Adam Quirke and Declan O’Sullivan. Both sides were minus players and will be looking forward to next weeks round of County League games, where in Division 1 St. Mary’s take on Listowel in Cahersiveen and in Division 3 Valentia take on Kenmare in Kenmare. Both sides will be looking to pick up points from these games, while Valentia will then look forward to a South Kerry League semi-final against Dromid.

St. Mary’s Team & Scorers: Cormac O’Shea, Brian Curran, Mike T. O’Connor, Paudie O’Shea, Niall McCarthy (Conor Moran), Aidan O’Sullivan, Liam Sheehan (0-1), Niall O’Driscoll (0-1,145), James Fitzgerald (0-1), Adam Quirke (0-2), Ray Keane, Daniel O’Sullivan, Vinny Moriarty, Austin Constable (0-3,2f), Declan O’Sullivan (0-1). Sub: John P. Mahony.

Pictures