Ballymacelligott the real winners as Kildare pip Kerry with late winner
Kerry 0-17 Kildare 0-18
By Murt Murphy for ballymacgaa.ie
Kerry appeared to be coasting to victory in this senior football friendly with Kildare in the splendid sunshine that marked the Ballymacelligott Official Pitch Reopening, but Kerry boss Jack O’Connor emptied his bench and the Lilywhites just came good late on with a Tommy O’Neill 70th minute winner.
The gods smiled kindly on Ballymacelligott as the club welcomed two good footballing sides and no stone was left unturned by the Ballymac Club as they produced a day to remember for the parish.
The organization was top class as stewards ensured that everything went off without a hitch and it was a credit to club chairman Stephen O’Brien, Secretary Kieran Savage and their hard working committee.
The field was in top condition, and with two strong sides it was always going to be a great occasion. County Board Vice Chairman Ger Galvin officially reopened the pitch along with club chairman Stephen O’Brien and Arch Bishop Dermot Clifford, a Ballymac native.
It was an entertaining contest which lacked the bite a competitive game but Jack O’Connor and Kieran McGeeney used the occasion to try out various formations with O’Connor in particular, probably the happier boss despite the loss.
Kerry started with Declan O’Sullivan at full forward and that saw Kieran Donaghy play at wing forward as the Kingdom’s inside line of James O’Donoghue, O’Sullivan and Barry John Keane had the Kildare defence at sixes and sevens in the opening half as Kerry raced 0-13 to 0-9 clear by half time.
James O’Donoghue really caught the eye with six first half points, including two from play. But it was a battle of the free takers as Bryan Sheehan contributed four from placed balls with Mikey Conway replying with 0-4 from three frees and a forty five for Kildare.
Kerry experimented with Daniel Bohan at fullback and he had a good game on Tomas O’Connor while Michael Foley returned for Kildare and broke even in his tussle with Kieran Donaghy. Emmet Bolton kicked two points and kept Darran O’Sullivan scoreless as Kerry resumed the second half on top, thanks to the midfield dominance of Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan.
Patrick Curtin was another to catch the eye and kicked three superb points from play, one in the opening half and two in the second. Brian McGuire added to his growing reputation at wing back while Marc Ó Sé gave an exhibition at corner back while Daniel Bohan settled into the fullback role as the game progressed.
When one considers that Kerry were without regulars such as Tomas Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony, Eoin Brosnan, Colm Cooper, Paul Galvin and Donnchadh Walsh to mention just five, the management team will be happy with a lot of what they saw, save for the final ten minutes when Kildare fired over seven points without reply.
It was also a special day for two young Ballymac footballers, Kevin O’Shea who replaced Killian Young with ten minutes to go, while Aidan Breen came in for James O’Donoghue at the same time.
Both could have scored as Kevin O’Shea saw his effort being punched against the crossbar and then two minutes from time. Aidan Breen could have sealed victory but he was so unlucky as his attempt at a point, came back off the post.
Kerry fired over four unanswered points in the opening fifteen minutes of the second period two each from Paddy Curtin and Bryan Sheehan as Kerry moved eight points clear ( 0-17 -0-9) and Kildare shot five wides on the trot.
It looked all over as Kerry appeared to be coasting to a facile victory in the sun but then it all started to go awry.
Once Kerry started to bench starters and the likes of Marc O’Se, Declan O’Sullivan, Kieran Donaghy, Killian Young and James O’Donoghue were withdrawn, they lost their way and did not score for the final twenty minutes.
Kildare rallied and some fine points from Eamon Callaghan (4), a bizarre own point punched by Michael Moloney ( unwittingly ) , Emmet Bolton, Des Lawlor and a last minute winner from the boot of Tommy O’Neill saw the Lilywhites grab victory but Kerry will not be too bothered, as they seemed well on top before they made all the changes.
Scorers
Kildare
M Conway 0-5 ( 0-4 frees, 0-1 ’45), E Callaghan 0-4, E Bolton 0-2, M Moloney ( own point) , J Doyle, P Fogarty, E O’Flaherty, P O’Neill, T O’Neill and D Lawlor 0-1 each
Kerry
B Sheehan 0-6 (0-5 frees, 0-1 ’45), J O’Donoghue 0-6 (0-4 frees), P Curtin 0-3, Declan O’Sullivan and A Maher 0-1 each
Kerry
T Mac a tSaoir, M O’Se, D Bohan, P O’Connor, J Lyne, K Young, B McGuire, A Maher, B Sheehan, P Curtin, Darran O’Sullivan, K Donaghy, J O’Donoghue, Declan O’Sullivan, B J Keane
Subs: B Kealy for T Mac a tSaoir ( h/t), D Geaney for Darran O’Sullivan ( 46), D O’Callaghan B J Keane ( 46), M Geaney for K Donaghy ( 55), K McKenna for M O’Se ( 55), F Fitzgerald for P O’Connor ( 55), M Moloney for J Lyne ( 55), C Kerins for Declan O’Sullivan ( 56), K O’Shea ( Ballymacelligott) for K Young ( 60), A Breen ( Ballymacelligott) for J O’Donoghue ( 60)
Kildare
R Eyres, A McLoughlin, M Foley, H McGrillen, E Bolton, M O’Flaherty, C Fitzpatrick, J Doyle, P Fogarty, E O’Flaherty, M Conway, P O’Neill, E O’Callaghan, T O’Connor, A Smith
Subs; T O’Neill for C Fitzpatrick ( 20), R Sweeney for E O’Flaherty ( 24), D Lawlor for A Smith ( h/t), K Dowling for T O’Connor ( 50), K Ennis for J Doyle ( 50), M Scanlon for A McLoughlin ( 56)
Referee Shane Hourigan (Limerick)
Do you know that the Ballymac lotto can now be played on line by clicking here?
All the proceeds from the lotto go to supporting and training all our teams from Under 6 to Senior. The Lotto is a vital source of revenue and we greatly appreciate all the support we get each week.
The Last Lotto draw was held on Monday 20th February 2012. The Jackpot was not won.
The Lucky dip winners were:
1. Paul/Jane Reidy, Raemore
2. Grace Comerford, Kevin Barrys Villas, Tralee
3. Suzanne Raggett, Kielduff
4. Michelle Lynch, Kielduff
5. Tom Lyons, Chutehall
Seller Prize: Tom Leen
Next weeks draw will be for a Jackpot of €11,550.00 on Monday night…
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