Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club seniors team travelled to Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday with the hope that it might be third time lucky in the Kerry County Intermediate Championship semi final where they faced Kenmare Shamrocks.
Desmonds haven fallen in the last two semi-finals in 2014 and 2015 maybe you felt their luck might change this year.
Desmonds went into an early lead with points from play by Stan Divane, Brian Leonard and Kieran Brennan. With only four minutes gone in the game you felt Desmonds luck was about to change. Credit to Kenmare, they did not panic and they opened their account in the tenth minute with a score from Sean O’Leary.
Kieran Brennan added another great point from play in the 12th minute to make it 0-4 to 0-1.
Injury to Desmonds Players
An injured Patrick Hickey, playing at full forward for Desmonds, had been replaced at this stage by his first cousin, Cian Dom O’Connor.
After 16 minutes of play the sides were level. By now, Kenmare had points from Patrick O’Shea, Sean O’Leary and Sean O’Shea and then came the first goal of the game Kenmare midfielder, David Hallissey with 19 minutes gone in the half. Kenmare, playing against a strong wind, added scores with three unanswered points from frees as Desmonds backs could not keep the Kenmare forwards at bay.
Kenmare’s Paul O’Connor scored all three frees plus he added another point from play to make it 1-08 to 0-4. Desmonds midfielder, Pat Fitzgerald was now to finish his involvement in the game as he was to go off injured in the 25th minute.
Points from O’Connor and Bartlett
Desmonds Cian O’Connor and Steven Bartlett scored points to see the score at half time read Kenmare 1-08 Desmonds 0-6.
Desmonds made two substitutions at the half time interval with the introduction of Thomas Hickey, and Graham O’Connor in the forwards.
Kenmare stared the second half with a point from play. This game, even though early in the second half you felt was now slipping away from the men from The Island.
Like in the first half, Desmonds Stan Divane added a point from play. Kenmare’s senior Kerry player, Stephen O’Brien was now showing his class and he scored a lovely point from play.
Upped Their Game
Kenmare upped their game with a goal from Kevin O’Sullivan and a point from Alan O’Leary to make it 2-11 to 0-8pts with 15 minutes gone in the second half.
Then, Kieran Brennan scored Desmonds only goal of the game through a well worked move to see him knock it past the Kenmare keeper at the scoreboard end of the ground.
Kenmare’s Paul O’Connor added another point from play. Thomas Hickey, having not played since the Legion game in June through injury, added his name to the scoreboard with pointed free. But this game was gone past Desmonds by now we were to see it finish on a 1-09 to 2-13 scoreline.
Scorers: Kieran Brennan, 1-02; Stan Divane 0:2; Cian O’Connor 0:2; Brian Leonard, Steven Bartlett and Thomas Hickey 0-1each.
Castleisland District U-16 Team in Final on Sunday
Congratulations to Castleisland District U-16 team who reached the final of the county championship which takes place this weekend. They now play Mid Kerry on Sunday at 11:30am in Austin Stack Park, Tralee. They reached the final on defeating Kenmare District by 2-16 to 1-13 on Sunday last.
Desmonds V Beale in North Kerry Championship
The draw for the North Kerry championship took place last week Desmonds senior team were drawn at home to Beale. This game is to be played over the weekend of the 8th and 9th of October.
No Lady Luck in U-15 Championship
Desmonds U-15 girls had no luck in the semi-final of the U-15 County Football Championship played here in Castleisland last week going down to a very strong Rathmore team by 3-11 to 1-11.
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