St. Columbkille’s Fall to Kerry in Championship Opener

 

Kerry 1-9 St. Columbkille’s 1-2

 

The Intermediate football championship opened with Kerry, who came down a level from senior to intermediate, and St. Columbkille’s.  St. Columbkille’s battled well in the first half and were unfortunate not to have been ahead by 3 or 4 points, but some fresh Kerry legs entered the fray in the second and as the half wore on the Kerrymen took a firm grip.

 

Kerry goaled through wing forward Franny O’Rourke early in the game, a great start for the kingdom.  The Brighton side, St. Columbkille’s, gradually fought their way into the game and Colin Murphy at corner forward, along with Brian Pedereschi, looked threatening.  Pedereschi almost answered Kerry’s goal with his own, but his finish let him down from close range.  Points came from Pedereschi and James Kinsella, who is more used to taking the field with hurl in hand.  The St. Columbkille’s back line did well for most of the half, as did newcomer to the Killes, Fintan Gamble, at corner back.  Kinsella goaled to level the game for the Killes on the stroke of half time.

 

The second half was a different story as the St. Columbkille’s began to struggle.  Kerry took over in midfield, Keith Greensmith saw plenty of ball, and Darren Lee who moved to center forward came more into the game and posed several problems.  Lee opened the scoring in the half, and more points came from John Burrows, Owen Bradley, Mick McCann and Mike Godley.  First blood to Kerry, and something to build on for St. Columbkilles.

 

St. Cols (County):  Paddy McKenna (Tyrone), Fintan Gamble (Antrim), Damien Lee (Dublin), Pat. Mahoney (New Jersey), Darragh Keane (Dublin), Rory O’Donnell (Dublin), John Cunningham (Donegal), Conor Hannick (Mayo), Niall McDermott (Antrim), Chris Lawless (Louth), James Kinsella (Wexford) (1-1), Colin Murphy (Galway), Brian. Pedereschi (0-1) (Dublin).  Subs:  PJ Walsh (Cork), Finbar Devlin (Tyrone). 

 

Kerry:  B. Kelly, B. Geraghty, T. O’Neill, D. McGillicuddy, F. O’Sullivan, C. O’Sullivan, K. Greensmith, M. Godley (0-1), J. Malone, J. Burrows (0-1), F. O’Rourke (1-0), D. Lee (0-2), M. McCann (0-3).  Sub: O. Bradley (0-1)