Dingle advance to Senior Club Football Final after a six-goal thriller with Kenmare Shamrocks
In a repeat of last year’s final, Dingle and Kenmare Shamrocks faced off at Páirc an Ághasaigh in what turned out to be a cracker of a game. Dingle advance by the narrowest of margins 3–12 (21) to 3–11 (20).
A large crowd greeted the teams as they took the field with sizeable travelling support hoping to go one better than 2023 runners-up. They were in for a treat, especially the neutrals.
Both teams had made the semi-final with some fine form. Kenmare Shamrocks played with a strong south-westerly blowing in over Burnham in the first half but went in at half-time trailing 0–08 to 0–06.
Seán O’Shea’s movement both on and off the ball was a joy to watch, creating space around him for his teammates along with finishing the evening with a personal tally of 0-07 (0–05f).
Dingle’s Cathal Bambury, and Kerry duo Paul and Dylan Geaney were combining well to account for most of Dingle’s first half scores.
The next generation of footballers providing the half-time entertainment were making their way back to the sidelines as the teams emerged for the second half. One noticeable change was that the strong first half breeze had all but disappeared. All to play for!
FOUR goals in FOUR minutes! Very difficult to describe this extraordinary sequence of play other than to say it was like table-tennis played on a Gaelic football pitch. Two heavyweight boxers deciding to have a go at each other?
Dingle were on top after this incredible sequence, but by the bare minimum of 2 points. Kenmare Shamrocks moved up a gear noticeably, led by an exceptional Seán O’Shea. A Paul O’Connor penalty along with a couple of quick-fire points saw them take a 4-point lead over the hosts.
Still time for a comeback though. Dingle seemed to go route one with the long ball to Paul Geaney, and the introduction of his cousin Conor adding impetus to the West Kerry men’s attack.
With time running out on the clock, Paul Geaney collected a long ball and somehow wove his way through the Kenmare Shamrocks’ defence to set up what turned out to be the decisive score from the onrushing Darragh ‘Dan’ O’Sullivan. Heartbreak for Kenmare Shamrocks.
There was still time for another score for Kenmare Shamrocks. An equaliser or even a winner. Not to be though as a fingertip interception by Cathal Bambury denied them being through on goal in the dying seconds.
Dingle advance to the 2024 Kerry Petroleum Senior Football Club Championship final on the narrowest of margins. It could just as easily have been Kenmare Shamrocks.
The match can be watched back on Clubber.ie
Dingle scorers
Cathal Bambury 1-02, Dylan Geaney 1-02, Conor Geaney 0–04 (0–01m) Paul Geaney 0–03 (0-01f), Darragh O’Sullivan 1–00, Billy O’Connor 0–01.
Kenmare Shamrocks scorers
Seán O’Shea 0-07 (0-05f), Darragh O’Connor 1–01, Paul O’Connor 1–01 (1–00 pen), Stephen O’Brien 1–00, Tom Murnane 0–02.
