Our footballers took on Dingle yesterday in the first round of the Senior Football Club Championship. This was played in Fr Breen Park in front of a huge crowd of supporters, and what we witnessed was a game of two halves. After a bright start, where we went up by 3 points to no score, thanks to Seanie (2) and one from Tom Murnane, we found ourselves 5 points to 3 down after 20 minutes, with Conor Geaney scoring 3 points of his own. We had lost our way a little bit and could not get a grip on the game. By the end of the first half, we were trailing the visitors 10 points to 5 points.
Half Time – Kenmare Shamrocks 0-05 Dingle 0-10
Whatever was said at half-time in the dressing room worked as we came out in the second half as a changed side. Paul O Connor (for Griffin Wharton) was brought on and moved into the full forward line, Donal O Sullivan went out to the 40, and Seanie started in midfield. From the throw-in, we were hungry for the ball, quicker with movement, and confident in front of the goal.
We had a perfect start to the second half as Seanie kicked two superb frees in quick succession, Zack O Shea popped over his second point from wing back, while Paul O’Connor also got on the score sheet. By the 42nd minute, the scoreboard read Kenmare Shamrocks 0-12 Dingle 0-10. It didn’t stop there as Tommy Cronin kicked over a lovely point (according to himself) followed by a Tom Murnane point.
Jack Tangney was introduced for Eoghan McCarthy at 43 minutes and had his name on the scoresheet 3 minutes later. Darren Allman replaced the hard-working Jimmy Lehane on 51 minutes, and soon after Tangney sailed over his second score of the game. At this stage, it was wave after wave of Kenmare attacks. Donal O’Sullivan pounced on a short kick out from the Dingle keeper on the 54th minute, hand passed to the running on Tom Murnane, and he coolly slotted the ball passed the stranded Gavin Curran.
Paul O Connor pointed twice from play before the excellent James McCarthy burst through from midfield, played a one/two with Donal O Sullivan, and placed a perfect shot to the back of the net. Deep in injury time, Donal pointed himself to cap off a great performance. Tom Murnane has the last say with another wonderful point to bring his tally to 1-03 for the day.
Our second-half performance was wonderful to watch; it was also great to see our younger players getting their chance and taking it with both hands. We will play Milltown/Castlemaine in two weeks time.
Full Time – Kenmare Shamrocks 2-20 Dingle 0-13
Scorers for Kenmare Shamrocks: S O’Shea 0-8 (0-3fs, 2tpf), T Murnane 1-3, P O’Connor 0-3, J McCarthy 1-0, Z O’Shea, J Tangney 0-2 each, T Cronin, D O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dingle: C Geaney 0-6 (0-3fs, 1tp), D Geaney 0-3 (1tp), D O’Sullivan, C Bambury, N Ryan, T de Brún 0-1 each.
KENMARE SHAMROCKS: K Fitzgibbon; C O’Sullivan, J McCarthy, T Cronin; J O’Sullivan, D O’Shea, D O’Connor; G Wharton, D Hallissey; J Lehane, S O’Shea, Z O’Shea; E McCarthy, D O’Sullivan, T Murnane.
Subs: P O’Connor for Wharton (ht), J Tangney for McCarthy (45), D Allman for Lehane (53), J O’Regan for Z O’Shea (59), S O’Sullivan for Hallissey (59).
DINGLE: G H Curran; M Flannery, S Óg Moran, P Ryan; A O’Connor, T Leo O’Sullivan, B Devane; D O’Sullivan, Billy O’Connor; T de Brún, M Geaney, N Ryan; C Bambury, C Geaney, D Geaney.
Subs: Brian O’Connor for Devane (47), L de Brún for M Geaney (55), C Keane for P Ryan (58), M Boland for D Geaney (58), B O’Connell for Flannery (59).
Referee: B Brosnan (Glenflesk).
