13-08-2014
Kenmare District 3-11
St Kierans 2-12
For the second year in
a row, and the third time in four years, St Kierans were dealt the cruel hand
of sporting fate when an injury time penalty for Kenmare grabbed them victory
from the jaws of defeat in this very evenly contested and entertaining Acorn
Life County Under 21 Football Final In Fitzgerald Stadium.
Having been reduced
the 14 men in the 57th minute after the dismissal of substitute Eoin
Murphy, St Kierans were clinging to the slenderest of margins when referee
Tadhg Ahern of Listry awarded Kenmare a lifeline, amazingly the third penalty
awarded in this game to them, to the consternation of the St Kierans players
and supporters.
Kenmare’s star man,
Brian Crowley, expertly dispatched the spot kick and within seconds the final
whistle was blown and the cup was returning to Kenmare for the first time since
1985 to the delight of Pat Spillane, his management team and players.
St Kierans started the
game brighter and were 1-1 to no score ahead by the 4th minute after
a point by centre forward Shane O’Connor and a well taken goal by midfielder
Gearoid McCarthy. They were laying down
a marker that they wanted to put the disappointment of previous final defeats
behind them.
Kenmare were handed a
way back in to the game in the 6th minute when centre forward
Crowley was upended and the first penalty of the game was awarded. Crowley shook himself down to take the spot
kick but it was well saved to his left by St Kierans keeper Conor Kiely.
After Cian Hallissey
had reduced the deficit with a free, St Kierans Mike Finnegan, named at wing
back but lining out at centre forward, cut in from the sideline with a driving
run and blasted the ball to net and St Kierans had opened up a six point lead. Kenmare now needed a response and Crowley
showed that he was up to the task when he burst through the St Kierans defence
and expertly finished to the net. And
when he was brought down for a second time in the St Kierans square in the 18th
minute he made no mistake this time and Kenmare were right back in the game
once more.
Both sides exchanged
points for the remainder of the half and sides were level at 2-5 to 2-5 when
the half time whistle was blown.
St Kierans once more
were out of the blocks quicker at the start of the second half and with the
ever dangerous full forward Thomas Hickey now finding some space they raced in
to a three point lead by the 36th minute. Hickey kicked two scores when set up well by
Finnegan and centre forward Shane O’Connor and corner forward Timmy Finnegan
also chipped in with a point a piece.
Kenmare looked to be
struggling at this stage but midfielder Cian Hallissey kept them hanging in
there with some well taken frees. Brian
Crowley and his namesake Gavin at centre back were now showing the leadership required
and with them driving at the St Kierans defence, Gavin Crowley kicked an
inspirational score in the 52nd minute to reduce the deficit to two
points. The momentum now seemed to be
shifting once more and St Kierans situation wasn’t helped when centre forward Shane
O’Connor was black carded in the 54th minute.
And when Murphy was
dismissed in the 57th minute the deficit had been reduced to the
minimum and Pat Spillane’s charges were attacking the St Kierans defence in
waves. Hickey had the opportunity in the
59th minute from a free to ease the pressure and extend the lead to
two points once more but his attempt dropped short. And in Kenmare’s last attempt to rescue the
game referee Ahern decided that they had been upended and Crowley held his nerve
to steal the title at the death.
Man of the Match: Brian Crowley, Kenmare
District
Scorers:
Kenmare District: Brian Crowley (3 gls), Cian Hallissey (7 pts), Gavin
Crowley (1 pt), Josh Holland (1 pt), Pat Spillane (1 pt), Denis O’Neill (1 pt)
St Kierans: Michael Finnegan (1 gl, 1 pt), Gearoid McCarthy (1 gl, 3 pts), Shane O’Connor
(3 pts), Timmy Finnegan (1 pt), Thomas Hickey (4 pts)
Referee: Tadgh Ahern, Listry
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