Our senior footballers were beaten by the narrowest of margins against a Diarmuid O’Connor-inspired Na Gaeil side last evening in Lewis Road Killarney.

The first half was evenly contested with Kevin O’Sullivan, Stephen O’Brien, and Seanie O’Shea in fine form. After 15 minutes we led 4pts to 3pts. A disallowed goal (square ball) from James McCarthy halfway through the first half was a major talking point going into the break as it would have given us a nice cushion of 3 pts. Instead, when the ref blew for halftime, nothing could separate the sides

Half Time – Kenmare Shamrocks 0-07 Na Gaeil 0-07.

The Tralee side got off to a great start in the second half with 3 unanswered points before Stephen kicked over 2 of his own. Just when it looked like we were getting on top, Mike Griffin (who had 2 points registered already) buried the ball past Kieran Fitz leaving the score 1-10 to 0-09. Our response was swift with Seanie kicking 2 points which reduced the margin to two. Cian O’Connor replaced a hard-working Pearse O’Brien but it was the Tralee side who kicked over the next score.

Griffin Wharton replaced David Cronin at the 50th-minute mark (David had come on after 6 minutes for the injured Cian O’Sullivan). Seanie knocked over a point with a long-distance free kick to bring the deficit back to 2. With 8 minutes of normal time remaining, our workhorse Kevin O’Sullivan received his second yellow card. Na Gaeil kicked over the resulting free which put 3 between us.

David Cuicui replaced James McCarthy while Seanie reduced the margin to 2. Then a well-worked move after a brief stoppage in play saw Paul O’Connor expertly place a low shot past the outstretched arm of Devon Burns. We were winning by a point with 2 minutes remaining.

Our euphoria was short-lived as Na Gaeil went back up the field and Diarmuid O’Connor drove through the heart of our defense and blasted the ball passed Kieran Fitz. Seanie responded with a point to put us within one, he also had a shot brilliantly saved by the Na Gaeil goalkeeper at the death. Hard luck on the night to our players and management, thank you to everyone who traveled.

We will go again next week !!!

Final Score – Na Gaeil 2-12 Kenmare Shamrocks 1-14

Kenmare Shamrocks: S O’Shea (0-8, 4 frees, 1’45, 1 M), S O’Brien (0-4), P O’Connor (1-0), K O’Sullivan (0-2)

KENMARE SHAMROCKS: K Fitzgibbon; T Cronin, Tommy O’Sullivan, C O’Sullivan; D O’Shea, J McCarthy, J O’Regan; D Hallissey, S O’Shea; S O’Sullivan, K O’Sullivan, S O’Brien; P O’Brien, Tommy O’Sullivan, P O’Connor

Subs: D Cronin for C O’Sullivan (12), C O’Connor for P O’Brien (48), G Wharton for D Cronin (50), D Ciuciu for J McCarthy (53).