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Killes Triumph in Thriller Semi Final
St. Columbkille’s 3-9 Kerry 1-13
(After Extra Time - full time 3-5 to 1-11)
Saturday evening saw a
tremendous battle between Kerry and St. Columbkilles
to win a place in the Intermediate Football final next week. Kerry looked to have had the game in the bag
only for St. Columbkille's to score an equalizing goal with the last kick of
the ball and force extra time. St. Columbkille’s
had the momentum going into the extra period and came away two point winners as
darkness descended on the Irish Cultural Centre.
Kerry opened the game with
three early wides, but finally opened their account
with a point from midfield. St. Columbkilles opened theirs with a JP Stokes effort after
seven minutes. Two minutes later Odhran McCann made a 40 yard run and the St. Bridgets man buried the ball into the Kerry net – momentum
to St. Columbkilles.
Kerry picked their scores off however, free taker John O’Brien could not
miss, while in contrast St. Columbkilles could not
buy a point. O’Brien put two frees over
the bar, and then in the 14th minute put Kerry ahead with a well
taken goal. Eoin
Keating and Andy Farrell converted one each for St. Columbkilles,
while O’Brien continued to hit the mark for Kerry. With Kerry holding a slight advantage in the
midfield battle, the game was in the balance.
Darren Burke goaled again for St. Columbkilles
in the 28th minute as the Monaleen man
finished a great move that began in the St. Columbkilles
back line with Niall Clarke. Kerry
almost matched that goal, but Colin Murphy made a super save to deny the
inrushing Bernard O’Connor. At the half
St. Columbkilles led by a point.
The second half seemed to be
a little less frantic, and Kerry turned the screw. As St. Columbkilles
squandered several good scoring chances Kerry made the most of theirs. Pauric Whelan put
two nice points over the bar, and O’Brien another to put Kerry in a two point
lead. Dara Shovlin managed a free for St. Columbkilles,
but O’Brien answered two-fold and Kerry led by three with the game in injury
time. Kevin Ward, who was introduced as
a sub at corner back, made a run almost the length of the field and seemed to
gather speed with every passing few feet.
The ball made its way across the face of goal to the awaiting Donnacha Lee
who slotted home with the last play of the game to level the scores and force
extra time. Davey
Feehan was the hero in extra time for St. Columbkilles. Having
come back from the dead the
St. Cols: Colin Murphy (Gaillimh),
Fiontan Gamble (Aontroim), Darragh Keane (Ath Cliath), Jason O’Brien (Luimnigh), Niall Clarke (Ath Cliath), Darren Burke (Luimnigh), John Cunningham (Tir Chonaill), Conor Hannick (Maigheo), Odran McCann (Ath
Cliath), JP Stokes (Luimnigh), Andy Farrell (Ath
Cliath), Eoghan Keating (Luimnigh),
Dara Shovlin (Ath
Cliath). Subs: Donnacha Lee (Ath Cliath), Paddy McKenna (Tir Eoghain), James Kinsella (