Singers: Hollyanne Smith, Aoife Kerins, Orla O’Donoghue, Aoife Walsh, Jane Lawlor and Ava Fitzmaurice pictured before the Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship first round game between St. Kieran’s and Feale Rangers in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Shane Kelliher (left) and Pierce Flynn doing their bit for their club at half time in the St. Kieran’s V Feale Rangers Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
St. Kieran’s full forward, Philip O’Connor putting pressure on the Feale Ranger’s back line as ???? tries to limit the damage during their Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship first round game in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
St. Kieran’s mid-fielder, Séamus Scanlon about to take control of this kick-out from Tom McCarthy, Feale Rangers as Aidan Breen, St. Kieran’s and Brendan Guiney for Rangers await the break – it didn’t happen – during their Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship first round game in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
St. Kieran’s corner back, Dan O’Sullivan about the ease the pressure on his line in spite of the close attention of Feale Ranger’s Brian Sweeney during their Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship first round game in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Feale Ranger’s corner forward, Conor Cox in possession and trying to get beyond St. Kieran’s full-back, Shane Fitzmaurice during their Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship first round game in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
St. Kieran’s centre forward, Aidan Breen from Ballymacelligott in action against Feale Ranger’s mid-fielder, Donal Leahy in their opening game of the 2016 Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Down to business: St. Kieran’s corner forward Thomas Hickey in possession and heading in from the wing as Feale Ranger’s wing-back, Seán Dillon moves in to halt his progress during their Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship first round game in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
St. Kieran’s supporters, Hannah O’Connor (left) and Sadhbh Prendiville from Castleisland pictured in Cordal on Sunday in support of St. Kieran’s in their win over Feale Rangers in the opening round of the Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Two-and-a-half year old, Jamie Doyle from Listowel was an unwitting, on field entertainer at half-time during the Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship first round game in Cordal on Sunday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
St Kierans 1-17 Feale Rangers 1-15
Brilliant sunshine and a team of highly efficient stewards kept traffic flowing smoothly at the St. Kieran’s V Feale Rangers first round game in the Garvey’s SuperValu County Senior Football Championship at Cordal GAA Club grounds on Sunday.
There were tributes paid and a minute’s silence observed for the late Cordal club chairman, Tom Wrenn and St. Kieran’s club officer, Tom Greaney of Knocknagoshel who both passed away recently.
A small choir of local girls: Holly Ann Smith, Aoife Kerins, Aoife Walsh, Ava Fitzmaurice, Orla O’Donoghue and Jane Lawlor sang Amhrán na bhFiann before Laune Rangers referee, Seán Joy threw the ball in the air to let the game begin.
Without County Star
Rangers were without county star Anthony Maher and Pat Corridon started with a lot of young players. St.Kieran’s started brightly but Feale Rangers clawed their way back into the game with Conor Cox taking a quick free that rattled the St. Kieran’s net after their backs were caught napping.
Then Cllr. Mikey Kennelly had a go at Puck umpire, Mike O’Shea about a call he made. O’Shea called it a point for St. Kieran’s and gestured a hands-apart rough ‘inside-the-post’ measurement to Kennelly.
The Listowel politician looked to the nearest group and said “That was that much outside,” – he also used the hands-apart standard unit of measurement. But Mikey’s protest fell on deaf ears. “We’ll get Dan Kiely to check it,” came the quick as lightening riposte from one of the O’Donoghue twins and St. Kieran’s supporter.
Touche ! Cllr. Kennelly could only join in the laughter. It was Cllr. Kennelly who was involved with Dan Kiely in the famous Listowel area council election recount last February.
A Fine Catch
On the field: Thomas Hickey and Philip O’Connor took well worked scores from play for St. Kieran’s. A point, after a fine catch in his square by Damien Sommers, just on the stroke of half time left the score Feale Rangers 1 – 6 to St. Kieran’s 0-8.
Rangers started the second half as they ended the first with Conor Cox and Jack McGuire pushing them into a five point lead but St. Kieran’s made some very astute changes which swung the game dramatically.
A piece of magic by sub, John Buckley rattled the net and turned the game. It brought St. Kieran’s over the line as full time approached. Referee, Seán Joy showed eight yellow cards and issued one red to Cormac Mulvihill of Rangers. For St. Kieran’s, it will put the wind in their sails at they face into their annual ‘Tour of the Parishes’ fundraiser on Sunday morning. They will meet Dr. Crokes’s in the next round.
