2nd August 2006 - South Kerry U12 League Final Division 1 in Pairc Peile Piarsaigh na Dromoda

St. Mary's 5-12 V 5-04 Waterville

St. Mary’s broke a 9 year barren spell when they claimed the South Kerry U12 League with victory over Waterville in Dromid on Wednesday night last. After a first half in which at the beginning looked as if Waterville were going to run away with thanks to goals from James O’Connor and Oran Mahony but a tactical switch saw the Cahersiveen side come back into the tie with two goals from Denis Daly and Aidan O’Connor and numerous points from Conor O’Shea. A second half in which saw goals galore, seemed to see Waterville take victory but the Mary’s came strong in the final quarter and a brilliant display from player of the match Megan O’Connell helped the Mary’s on their way to victory.

The Cahersiveen side opened the scoring when, after a foul on full forward Conor O’Shea he picked himself up and knocked over a handy free for the opening score of the game. This lead didn’t last long when Owen O’Sullivan sent a long ball to full forward James O’Connor who turned his marker and hammered the ball to back, O’Connor was on the mark again a minute later when he pointed a close free. Waterville now had total control of the game and when Sam O’Dwyer hit the post Oran Mahony was on hand to convert for Waterville’s second goal of the game. St. Mary’s were finally finding form and after Megan O’Connell hit post Conor O’Shea hit a long range beauty to cut Waterville’s advantage, but as soon as the Mary’s were gaining control Sam O’Dwyer once again linked up with James O’Connor and when he came one on one with Ronan McCarthy in the Mary’s net he hammered it home to bring his side advantage to 8 points after 10 minutes of play. Conor O’Shea added his third and fourth points of the game after 12 and 13 minutes from placed ball while St. Mary’s were regaining domination of the tie and made it 3-1 to 0-4. St. Mary’s then made the all important switch of bringing Denis Daly to full forward and Megan O’Connell to full back and instantly this paid dividend when Daly banged a goal after a long free from O’Connell to bring their side right back into the game. Goals were now all that were on the players minds and when Daragh Stack sent a high ball in from the wing Aidan O’Connor was on hand to punch the ball to the back of the net to level the game, this was followed by further points from Daragh Stack and Denis Daly to leave the half time score St. Mary’s 2-6 Waterville 3-1.

Waterville very nearly went ahead after a minute of play when Sam O’Dwyer had a clear cut goal chance only to be denied by a magnificent save from the leg of Ronan McCarthy in the Mary’s net, Conor O’Shea punished them a minute later with a close free, but rubbed it in even more in the next attack when Megan O’Connell won the kick out and found O’Shea in space and he rattled the net to extend his sides lead. Waterville cut the margin with a James O’Connor free after a foul on O’Dwyer, but when Oran Mahony picked up a loose ball in the goal mouth he brought his side back to within two points with a goal. James O’Connor had another good goal chance with a close free but another great save from McCarthy denied the Waterville man, but 3 minutes later O’Connor saved his blushes with a goal after great support play from O’Dwyer again, O’Connor added to his sides lead with a close free but this was to be the Casey’s last score of the game and St. Mary’s took control from here on in. Daragh Stack began the revival after receiving a short free from Conor O’Shea, then on the 15 minutes of the second half came the score of the game when Megan O’Connell out jumped two other players and after a clean catch she turned and pointed all in one move from 25m out for her first point of the night and level proceedings. Megan then trebled her tally when Amy Fitzgerald’s clearance found O’Connell and he goaled from close range, St. Mary’s added two more points without reply from Daragh Stack and Aidan O’Connor before Megan O’Connell added her second goal with 5 minutes remaining after a long pass which cause problems around the Waterville house and ended up in the back of the net to give her side a 7 point lead. St. Mary’s lead was kept in tact by Gaberial Dennehy who put in a magnificent display in the full back line and cleared off the line with time running out before Aidan O’Connor rounded off his tally to 1-2 with a point and allowed St. Mary’s captain Denis Daly, in replica to Bryan Sheehan 9 year ago, collect the Gearoid Lyne Perpetual Cup and crown St. Mary’s South Kerry U12 Division 1 League Champions for 2006.

St. Mary’s – Ronan McCarthy, Gaberial Dennehy, Kerri Dowling (Amy Fitzgerald), Denis Daly (c), Megan O’Connell, Daragh Stack, Aidan O’Connor, Conor O’Shea and Jack O’Connor. Subs: Jonathan Coffey, Patrick Cournane and Robert O’Shea.

Waterville – Aoife Fitzgerald, Liam Higgins, Eoin O’Sullivan (c), William Alcott, Oran Mahony, Fionan Clifford, Jonna Curran, James O’Connor and Sam O’Dwyer. Sub: Stefan Koln.

Referee – Michael Curran (Piarsaigh na Dromoda)

South Kerry U12 League Division 1 Champions St. Mary's - Back (l to r) - Patrick Cournane, Denis Daly (Captain), Daragh Stack, Jonathan Coffey, Ronan McCarthy, Megan O'Connell, Amy Fitzgerald, Front (l to r) - Jack O'Connor, Aidan O'Connor, Conor O'Shea, Gaberial Dennehy, Kerri Dowling, Robert O'Shea.

Above - Centre: Captain Denis Daly Jnr. conducting post match interviews, Inset above left: Selector Denis Daly Snr., above right: Selector Edward Stack, below left: Manager Peter Murphy, below right: Tim Dennehy