Group 1
Reenard 2-13 Asdee 1-8
Asdee’s aspirations of reaching the knockout stages of the group were damaged when Reenard, last year’s County finalists, served notice of their intention to go one better this time round with a comprehensive win.
In fairness to the home side they tried hard and probably should have registered a few more scores but a much more determined and classier South Kerry side were always in command.
The game got underway with the visitors aided by a stiffish breeze and striking as early as the first minute when Donagh Quinlan struck for the opening point of the game. That was followed 3 minutes later with a goal from the boot of Eoin McCrohan. Darragh Keane pulled a point back for Asdee. However, powered on by midfielder and Man of the Match Robert Wharton, Reenard were to lead the home side a merry dance for the remainder of the half. Conor O Leary, Eoin McCrohan and Jim Sugrue were causing all sorts of problems in the home defence and it could have got worse only for Asdee keeper Ryan Henry saving at point blank range in a crowded goalmouth. Paul O’Carroll, with 2 pointed frees, and an injury time goal from Eoin McCrohan left the half time score; Reenard 2-7 Asdee 0-3.
On the changeover, even though they got the opening points from Darren Russell and Eoin Tydings, Asdee were still struggling to get hold of the ball. Points followed from Donnagh Quinlan, Jim Sugrue and Robert Wharton before Eoin Kennedy struck for a tremendous goal after the water break. This spurred the home side on; they were now taking the game to Reenard and Kennedy was most unlucky not to have got his second goal, only for a fine save in the goalmouth. Reenard soaked up the pressure and with substitute Kevin Curran, (2pts) and Donnagh Quinlan exchanging points with Darragh Keane and Eoin Tydings it was the South Kerry men who marched on.
Duagh 2-14 Moyvane 0-16
Brosnan Park Moyvane was the venue with the visitors firm favourites to get over this challenge; however they had to survive some anxious moments before getting over the line and I suppose the highlight of the game that saw 32 scores in all was the clubs' sharpshooters who scored 21 points between them; Martin Stack , Moyvane (12 pts 9f) and Martin Scannell, Duagh (9pts 7f).
Moyvane got off to a good start with Martin Stack kicking over 2pts before Kieran Lucey and Martin Scannell levelled up the contest. Donie Stack and Scannell swapped points as the teams reached the first quarter. Then the visitors took a firm hold in the game with Michael Kirby and Donnagh Maher finding the net and at the interval it was Duagh were well in front at 2-7 to 0-5.
On resumption Moyvane hit back with points from Colin Enright, Martin Stack, Michael Fogarty, Tadhg McEvoy Duagh stood firm and finished the game with Anthony Maher, Martin Scannell and Dan O Donoghue splitting the uprights to secure 2 important points.
Group 2
Beale 1-10 Cordal 1-10
It was Cordal who set the pace and led at the interval 1-6 to 0-4, with Cordal getting their goal from Mike Flynn.
On the changeover the home side tried hard but were finding it difficult to put scores on the board.
A Darragh Buckley goal and a great comeback, down 6 points with 10 minutes left in the game, saw them get on terms, with the in form Darragh Buckley swinging over the levelling score.
It is worth noting that 9 of Cordal’s points came from frees.
Scartaglin 1-16 Valentia Young Islanders 2-8
Scart started brightly and led 1-5 to 1pt after 15 minutes; Sean Horan with the goal after a defence splitting pass from Eddie Horan. Valentia battled back and were rewarded with a pair of quickfire goals either side of the water break. Andy Quigley converted a penalty before John Shanahan goaled after a great turnover from Joe Lynch. Half time: Scartaglen 1-10 Valentia 2-02.
The second half was an even affair with the pick of the scores from Scart’s Eddie Horan and Valentia’s Joe Lynch. Best on the day for Scart was Sean Horan, ably supported by Mike Horan and Eddie Horan who top scored with 8 points. Best after an encouraging display for Valentia were Joe Lynch and Mark Lynch who pulled off a series of outstanding saves in an accomplished performance between the sticks. The club would like to take this opportunity to thank all club members who helped out on the day.
Group 3
Kilgarvan 2-9 Sneem/Derrynane 1-7
Sneem/Derrynane’s Jack Riney got a black card within 2 minutes of the start. Kilgarvan's Daniel Casey opened the scoring with a well taken free after 4 minutes. Ian Galvin opened the score for the home side with a free before Daniel Casey replied with a point from play. Another Ian Galvin free had the sides level again after 13 minutes. Kilgarvan's midfield duo of John Mark Foley and Gearoid Fennessey were winning ball and, with some lovely passing movements between the forwards,were rewarded with a smashing goal by Daniel Casey. This was quickly followed by a point from play by the same player. Ian Galvin scored another free to make it 1-03 to 0-03 with 15 minutes played. Kilgarvan goalie Flor O'Donoghue’s kick outs were on form and Kilgarvan were playing the better football. Kilgarvan's Liam Twomey, who was having a great game at full back, suffered a blow to the face which resulted in a red card for the home side. Kieran O'Sullivan came on for Kilgarvan to replace the injured Liam Twomey. Jack Riney scored a point from play before Daniel Casey replied for Kilgarvan with a super goal to put the score Kilgarvan 2-03 Sneem/Derrynane 0-04 at the break.
Ian Galvin pointed another free after the break. Kilgarvan were then reduced to 14 when corner back Gary Randles received a second yellow with 25 minutes to go. Kilgarvan's Daniel Casey scored a free which was quickly followed by a point from the impressive John Mark Foley. Connor O'Brien pointed a free before Kilgarvan's Dion Murphy replied with a great point. Denis O'Sullivan scored a goal against the run of play to make it 1-06 to 2-06 with 15 minutes to go. Daniel Casey was in fine scoring form and scored a super point from play. A John Mark Foley free ensured that Kilgarvan came out deserving winners.
Annascaul 3-15 Knocknagoshel 2-9
Knocknagoshel hosted pre-tournament favourites Annascaul in round 1 of the Junior Championship on Sunday afternoon. Annascaul quickly signalled their intent kicking four points in the opening 7 minutes. Michael Walsh opened Knocknagoshels account while James Crean converted a free for Annascaul to leave the score 0-1 to 0-5 at the end of the opening quarter.
Annascaul added to their tally after the water break with a goal by Cathal Ferriter, a Jason Hickson free and three points by James Crean. Edmond Walsh pointed for Knocknagoshel from an acute angle at the end of the half. Half time: Knocknagoshel 0-3 Annascaul 1-9.
In the opening minute of the second half James Crean scored a spectacular goal for Annascaul and he quickly added a point. Michael Keane and John Bell scored goals for Knocknagoshel to reduce the deficit with Annascaul scoring points by Cathal Ferriter (2) and Shane Foley. Edmond Walsh added two long range frees after the water break but these were soon cancelled out when Killian Falvey goaled for Annascaul. Knocknagoshel had points by John Bell, James Walsh, Edmond Walsh and Padraig Reidy in the closing stages while Aiden Crean and Jack Farrell added to Annascauls account.
Group 4
Castlegregory 2-16 Cromane 0-13
A lively start from Castle had them leading 4pts to 1 after 9 minutes with the O Grady brothers( Jimmy and Cian) and Michael Scanlon notching up scores. Anto Kelliher was to replace an injured Cian O Grady in the 10th minute and he soon added a point with Sean O Sullivan pulling one back for Cromane. A water break and then more of the same, both teams moving the ball forward well. both teams defending even better and scores from play were hard to come by. A free from O Sullivan, a free from Jimmy O Grady, Alan Fitz with a great score form a tight angle and Cromane's Darragh McKeefry replied with 2 points from play. Very little in it at half Time....Castle 0-8, Cromane 0-7.
The visitors, playing into the breeze, started the second half with a little bit more hunger, captain Darren Houlihan scoring 2 good points from play and O Sullivan, covering lots of ground in the forward line, converted 2 further frees. Cromane had edged in front by 2 and whist Anto Kelliher was to pull one back, the mojo seemed to have left the Castle attack as they were turned over, hit wides and overplayed for a 5 minute spell. A second yellow for Cromane's No. 5, Cathal Crosby was however to be the key for Castle as in a 6 minute period they took advantage of the extra man, controlled the middle of the field and scored 2-3 against a single point for Cromane. Corner forward Brandon Hoare certainly found his mojo as he rifled a couple of points and cooly slotted 2 goals to deflate the visitors. With a strong fitness level on show Castle finished out the match dominating and controlling possession. 2 late scores from O Sullivan were never going to re-ignite Cromane's contest and a final Jimmy O Grady free was to bring Castle to a tally of 2-16 against Cromane's 0-13.
Great to see the intensity of play from both sides today and great to see the solid performances of the five lads making their debuts for Castle in Championship football.
Tarbert 0-25 Lispole 0-10
AN exhibition of point-kicking from forwards Cillian Langan and Andrew Doherty helped propel Tarbert to a convincing victory at Shannon Park. Wing-forward Langan was the star performer, weighing in with eleven points (including five from play) while corner-forward Doherty also hit five from play in his seven-point haul. Visitors Lispole actually made a solid start, with the unerring free-taking of Cathal O’Sullivan giving them an early lead (0-2 to 0-1) but that was as good as it got for the westerners as Tarbert then gained control of most sectors on the field. The home team went in at the break with a six-point cushion (0-11 to 0-5), with the electric Finbarr Carrig being foiled of a goal by a brilliant save from Lispole netminder, Mickey Kennedy, though the losers almost put the cat among the pigeons before the half-time whistle. In rare forays through a dominant Tarbert rearguard, home goalkeeper Jamie Diggins saved a flicked effort at the back post, and in Lispole’s very next attack, they had the ball in the net but it was disallowed for a square ball infringement.
Despite the loss of midfielder Shea McDonnell through illness at the interval, Tarbert kept the scoreboard pressure on their opponents throughout the second period, as Langan and Doherty
continued their tour de force displays. Lispole were nothing if not game, and despite some good work by corner-forward Tom Kavanagh, who kicked a couple of fine scores, the Tarbert defence, anchored by Shane Enright and inspired by Danny Wren, didn’t allow the visitors to get any chink of light. Momentum remained with Tarbert all the way to the end as they sauntered over the finishing line with a bit to spare, but they will know that tougher tests lie ahead, and that they will need to be more ruthless in raising green flags in future tests.
TARBERT SCORERS: C Langan 0-11 (0-4 frees, 0-2 45s), A Doherty 0-7 (0-2 frees), F Carrig 0-2, S Enright,
P O’Connell, K Denihan, G O’Sullivan, D Wren 0-1 each.
