Kerry are Munster Under16 Hurling Inter-Divisional B winners

The Kerry Under 16 hurling team travelled to Mallow GAA complex on Saturday, 2nd May to take part in the 2015 Munster Under 16 Inter-Divisional ‘B’ competition. Although missing a number of key players through injury, Kerry still entered the competition with a strong squad of players and were confident of being competitive.

Kerry were drawn in a group with Cork East B and Mid Clare B. In the first group game, Cork East B defeated Mid Clare B on a scoreline of 2-07 to 0-09. This meant that Kerry’s first game against Cork East B was a must win encounter.

Kerry started the game well and led by 3 points to no score after 10 minutes. However, Cork East then began to settle and were soon level. Some good defending and goalkeeping by Cork East kept Kerry out on numerous occasions although Kerry were able to add a further 2 points before the break. The second half saw Cork East draw level with Kerry almost immediately. After this it was point for point until Cork East had the last free to draw level and the sides finished level on a scoreline of Cork East 0-08 Kerry 0-08.

Team: 1. Adam O’Sullivan (Crotta O’Neill’s) 2. Evan Murphy (Causeway) 3. Gearoid O’Mahony (Causeway) 4. Diarmuid O’Connor (St. Brendan’s) 5. Chris Creedon (Kilgarvan) 6. Gary Carey (Causeway) 7. Gerard Leen (Causeway) 8. Brian McAuliffe (Lixnaw) 9. Jeaic McKenna (Crotta O’Neill’s) 10. John Quilter (Crotta O’Neill’s) 11. Barry O’Mahony (Crotta O’Neill’s) 12. Cormac Slattery (Ballyheigue) 13. Padraig O’Mahony (St. Brendan’s) 14. Jack O’Sullivan (Ballyduff) 15. Gearoid Fennessy (Kilgarvan)

Subs used: James Lawlor (St. Brendan’s), Shane O’Mahony (St. Brendan’s), Eamon Shanahan (Crotta O’Neill’s), Dylan Dermody (Dr. Croke’s), Chris Whyte (Ballyduff).

Due to the draw with Cork East B, Kerry knew that a win against Mid Clare B while conceding less than 9 points would send them through to the final. Kerry started this game in whirlwind fashion and with Dylan Dermody, Padraig O’Mahony and Barry O’Mahony to the fore upfront were able to get in for 2 early goals. These settled Kerry straight away as they went on to add 5 further points before the break to Mid Clare’s 2 points. Half time score: Mid Clare B 0-02 Kerry 2-05. The second half was to follow a similar path to the first as once again Kerry got in for an early goal. With the Kerry defence standing strong, Mid Clare once again only managed 2 points while Kerry finished strong with another goal. Final score: Mid Clare B 0-04 Kerry 4-11. This result meant Kerry had now qualified to meet South Tipperary in the final on Bank Holiday Monday.

Team: 1. Adam O’Sullivan (Crotta O’Neill’s) 2. Evan Murphy (Causeway) 3. Gearoid O’Mahony (Causeway) 4. Eamon Shanahan (Crotta O’Neill’s) 5. Chris Creedon (Kilgarvan) 6. Gary Carey (Causeway) 7. Shane O’Mahony (St. Brendan’s) 8. Brian McAuliffe (Lixnaw) 9. Jeaic  McKenna (Crotta O’Neill’s) 10. James Lawlor (St. Brendan’s) 11. Barry O’Mahony (Crotta O’Neill’s) 12. Richard Flaherty (Kilmoyley) 13. Padraig O’Mahony (St. Brendan’s) 14. Dylan Dermody (Dr. Croke’s) 15. Gearoid Fennessy (Kilgarvan)

Subs used: Adrian Nolan (St. Brendan’s), Chris Whyte (Ballyduff), John Quilter (Crotta O’Neill’s), Cormac Slattery (Ballyheigue), Diarmuid O’Connor (St. Brendan’s), Jack O’ Sullivan (Ballyduff), Gerard Leen (Causeway).

Final: Kerry 1-14 South Tipperary 1-07

Kerry travelled to the Mallow GAA complex once again on Monday, 4^th May to compete in the final of the Munster Inter-Divisional ‘B’ competition where they faced stiff opposition in South Tipperary. Unfortunately for Kerry, Kilgarvan man Gearoid Fennessy was ruled out with an ankle injury picked up on the Saturday during the group stages. Kerry opted to play against the wind in the first half but started brightly and led by 4 points to no score after 15 minutes with the scores coming from Barry O’Mahony (f), James Lawlor and 2 from captain Padraig O’Mahony. South Tipperary then registered their first point with a good long range effort before Padraig O’Mahony once again responded with another well taken point after beating his marker. However, South Tipperary upped it a gear and dominated the last 10 minutes of the half outscoring Kerry by 1-04 to 2 points. Kerry’s scores came from Barry O’Mahony (1f) while South Tipperary’s goal was scored from the penalty spot after the Tipp full forward had been brought down in the square. Half time score was South Tipperary 1-05 Kerry 0-07.

Although, Kerry would have the aid of the wind in the second half they knew they still had it all to do. South Tipperary were awarded a free straight on the re-start which they converted to put 2 points between the sides. Once again Barry O’Mahony replied with a pointed free before South Tipperary once again put 2 points between the sides with just under 20 minutes remaining. From here on in it was all Kerry. First of all – outstanding centre back Gary Carey brought the difference back to the bare minimum with a long range strike before Barry O’Mahony put over 2 more points from play to give Kerry the lead. At this stage Kerry were on top all over the field and a good move saw Padraig O’Mahony finish to the net at the second attempt to give Kerry a 4 point lead, 1-11 to 1-07, with 8 minutes remaining. Dylan Dermody and Barry O’Mahony (2 ) finished off the scoring for Kerry and although they had to defend a late onslaught from South Tipperary - when the final whistle went, Kerry were deserving winners.

Team: 1. Adam O’Sullivan (Crotta O’Neill’s) 2. Evan Murphy (Causeway) 3. Gearoid O’Mahony (Causeway) 4. Diarmuid O’Connor (St. Brendan’s) 5. Chris Creedon (Kilgarvan) 6. Gary Carey (Causeway) 7. Shane O’Mahony (St. Brendan’s) 8. Brian McAuliffe (Lixnaw) 9. Jeaic McKenna (Crotta O’Neill’s) 10. James Lawlor (St. Brendan’s) 11. Barry O’Mahony (Crotta O’Neill’s) 12. Jack O’Sullivan (Ballyduff) 13. Padraig O’Mahony (St. Brendan’s) 14. Dylan Dermody (Dr. Croke’s) 15. Cormac Slattery (Ballyheigue).

Subs: Gerard Leen (Causeway), Adrian Nolan (St. Brendan’s), Gearoid Fennessy (Kilgarvan), John Quilter (Crotta O’Neill’s), Darragh Behan (Crotta O’Neill’s), Brian O’Connell (Crotta O’Neill’s), Chris Whyte (Ballyduff), Richard Flaherty (Kilmoyley), Eamon Shanahan (Crotta O’Neill’s), Lee Browne (Tralee Parnell’s), Johnny Downey (Tralee Parnell’s), Tim Kelliher (Tralee Parnell’s),

Other panel members on the weekend were: Conor O’ Keeffe (Lixnaw) injured and Philip Maunsell (Kilmoyley) injured.

Management: John Hennessy (Ballyduff), John Healy (Ballyheigue), Jerome O’Sullivan (Crotta O’Neill’s) and Eamon Fitzgerald (Causeway).