Credit Union County Senior Football League Division 2, Round 10.

Templenoe 2-08, Kenmare Shamrocks 1-14.  

Kenmare Shamrocks had their first county league win over Templenoe since 2015 and remain on track to win the Division 2 league title after they had 3 points to spare over their neighbours on Friday evening.

There was a big crowd in attendance for this local derby game. Templenoe won the toss and opted to play with the breeze for the first half. Brian Crowley fresh from his wedding last week opened the scoring for the hosts inside the first minute. However, Kenmare replied with a bang Tom Murnane split the posts, before Dara O’Shea found himself through on goal and he pulled on the ball to take it past keeper Mark Looney to put the visitors in front. Adrian Spillane who was operating at full forward hit the post with Templenoe’s next attack. Kenmare then extended their lead with another point from Tom Murnane, before Colin Crowley found the net for the hosts after he also pulled on the ball for Templenoe’s first goal. The hosts followed this up with a 2 pointer free from Aidan Crowley and a further score from Sean Sheehan to put them 1-04 to 1-02 ahead at the end of the first quarter.

Soon after three points on the trot from the visitors saw them retake the lead courtesy of scores from Tom Murnane, Donal O’Sullivan Down and Jamie O’Regan. Then Aidan Crowley popped over a lovely 2 pointer from play, before Darren Allman got his name on the score sheet for Kenmare to level the scoring. Templenoe were then dealt a blow when Patrick Clifford had to retire injured. However, the hosts did have reason to cheer just before the break, when Adrian Spillane showed great courage to rise the highest to a long ball in, before gathering possession and firing the ball into the net for the host’s second goal.  

Half Time Score: Templenoe 2-06, Kenmare Shamrocks 1-06.

On resumption Kevin O’Sullivan reduced the deficit with a point for Kenmare. The visitors dominated possession in the third quarter, but they squandered a few chances before Donal O’Sullivan Down eventually equalized with a 2pointer free. They almost followed this up with a goal only for Mark Looney to deny Tom Murnane’s effort. Templenoe edged themselves ahead again at the end of the third quarter with an Aidan Crowley free to make it 2-07 to 1-09.

Kenmare Shamrocks introduced veteran Paul O’Connor and he made a good impact on this game scoring 2 points, one from a free and one from play, either side of a Dara Crowley score as the visitors started to take control. At the other end Templenoe were struggling for scores with their efforts either going short or wide. Donal O’Sullivan Down extended the visitors lead to 4 points with 2 frees. Time was fast running out for Templenoe and they did pull one back with Aidan Crowley slotting over another free. However to salvage something from this game also needed another green flag, but they just couldn’t find a path to goal.  

Final Score: Templenoe 2-08, Kenmare Shamrocks 1-14.

Scorers:

Templenoe: Aidan Crowley 0-06 (4f) (2 2pointers), Adrian Spillane 1-00, Colin Crowley 1-00, Brian Crowley 0-01, Sean Sheehan 0-01.

Kenmare Shamrocks: Donal O’Sullivan 0-05 (5f) (1 2pointer), Tom Murnane 0-03, Dara O’Shea 1-00, Paul O’Connor 0-02 (1f), Jamie O’Regan 0-01, Darren Allman 0-01, Kevin O’Sullivan 0-01, Dara Crowley 0-01.

Wides:  

Templenoe: 6

Kenmare Shamrocks: 2

Teams:  

Templenoe: Mark Looney, John Spillane, Kieran O’Neill, Ciaran Crowley, Kieran McCarthy, Martin Reilly, Joseph Sheehan, Sean Sheehan, Gavin Crowley ©️, Mark Casey, Patrick Clifford, Adrian Spillane, Colin Crowley, Brian Crowley, Aidan Crowley

Subs Used: Ríain O'Byrne, Michael Hallissey.  

Kenmare Shamrocks: Kieran Fitzgibbon, Cian O’Sullivan, James McCarthy, Jamie O’Regan, Dara O’Shea, Dara Crowley, Darragh O’Connor, Griffin Wharton, Donal O’Sullivan, Zack O’Shea, Kevin O’Sullivan, Jack O’Sullivan, Eoghan McCarthy, Tom Murnane, Darren Allman.

Subs used: David Hallissey, Paul O’Connor, Jimmy Lehane, Shane O’Sullivan, Tommy Cronin.