Kenmare reach Corn Uí Mhuirí quarters with thrilling Kerry derby victory over Castleisland
In St Don Dennehy Final Jack Castleisland Inbhear Quarter Macmonagle Pats During Kenmare And Photo: The Corn Mhuiri Killian O'sullivan Preliminary Ui Action Sceine
History-makers Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare produced a sensational comeback to break St Pat’s Castleisland hearts, and advance to the last eight of the Corn Uí Mhuirí in their first year in the competition, after a preliminary quarter-final thriller.
This Munster Colleges SFC cracker at Fitzgerald Stadium appeared destined to go the way of the Castleisland school for at least three-quarters of proceedings. Leading by three points at half-time (0-9 to 0-6), they moved five clear by the 45th minute mark (0-13 to 0-8).
Evan Brennan was ruling the roost at full-back, Killian Dennehy was dominating the midfield exchanges, while Joseph Bell was supplying the ammunition for Conor Cahill, Michael Horan and Gerard Costello to deliver the goods inside. Even a black card for corner-back Thomas Kelliher didn’t affect them.
The Kenmare outfit, with Ronan Buckley and Sean O’Shea at the helm, badly needed a flash of inspiration to resurrect their hopes, and with substitutes quick to make an impact off the bench, the engrossing affair was turned on its head in the space of 60 seconds.
Replacement Liam Brown was the first to strike, burying a Jack Tangney assist through the legs of the St Pat’s ‘keeper. Winning the resultant kick-out, Jack O’Sullivan found the herculean Donncha O’Sullivan, and the net was bulging once more (2-8 to 0-13).
It was as dramatic a turn of events as you could get, but it certainly wasn’t the end of the excitement. Tangney added another Inbhear Scéine point, they lost centre-back Michael Tangney to the sin-bin, and another sub Dawid Grebowiec slotted home their third goal in the 57th minute.
From five points in front to five points behind (3-9 to 0-13), St Pat’s Castleisland were shell-shocked. To give them due credit, they never threw in the towel. The excellent Cahill converted two placed balls, before the improving Tangney kicked what turned out to be a crucial point at the other end.
Three minutes into injury-time, Inbhear Scéine’s four-point cushion was reduced to the bare minimum, with Ciaran O’Connell’s deflected shot slipping under the body of Barry Fitzsimons and into the net. Ruairí Brosnan had one last opportunity to force a late, late equalizer, but his effort went just wide.
D O’Sullivan 1-2 (0-2fs), J Tangney 0-4 (0-2fs), L Brown, D Grebowiec 1-0 each, N O’Shea 0-2, C Kelleher, M Tangney 0-1 each.
C Cahill 0-6 (0-2fs), M Horan 0-3, K Dennehy 0-3(fs), C O’Connell 1-0, G Costello 0-2, D Healy 0-1.
B Fitzsimons (Kenmare); J Sweeney (Kenmare), B O’Callaghan (Kenmare), D O’Connor (Kenmare); D O’Brien (Kenmare), M Tangney (Kenmare), R MacGearailt (Kenmare); J O’Sullivan (Kenmare), D O’Sullivan (Tuosist); C Kelleher (Kilgarvan), L O’Sullivan (Kenmare), K O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan); N O’Shea (Kenmare), J Tangney (Kenmare), A O’Sullivan (Kenmare).
D Grebowiec (Kenmare) for A O’Sullivan (40), L Brown (Kenmare) for K O’Sullivan (42), S O’Donoghue (Kilgarvan) for O’Shea (54), M O’Mahony (Templenoe) for Kelleher (59).
M Hickey (Cordal); O O’Connor (Currow), E Brennan (Castleisland Desmonds), T Kelliher (Cordal); T Jones (Cordal), R Brosnan (Currow), D Healy (Currow); K Dennehy (Cordal), C Martin (Ballymacelligott); C Walsh (Scartaglin), J Bell (Knocknagoshel), J Brosnan (Knocknagoshel); C Cahill (Knocknagoshel), G Costello (Cordal), M Horan (Scartaglin).
J Ryan (Currow) for Martin (44), D Hickey (Knocknagoshel) for J Brosnan (53), C O’Connell (Ballymacelligott) for Kelliher (56).
S Mulvihill (St Senans, Kerry).