February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Stamford 3-14
Kerry 1-12
Stamford held the early lead, opening with one free each from Dermot Gallagher and Fergal O?Neill. After Eugene McGrath got Kerry on the board, O?Neill?s quick 50 sent Keith Hennessey in for a third Stamford point.
Kerry shuffled their lineup right from the start, looking for favorable matchups. Bingo O?Driscoll was shifted from his usual full forward spot to the 40 with No. 11 McGrath operating on the wing and the moves seemed to work with both players performing well. Along with Dave McCarthy and speedster Kevin Lynch, Kerry?s forward group look likely to give their markers a rough day of it.
When O?Driscoll and McGrath pointed, the match was level at 0-3 after only 10 minutes. But Stamford responded well with a good Darren Doherty point and got a bit of good fortune when Eric Bradley?s high shot caromed off the upright directly into the waiting arms of Sean O?Brien. O?Brien knew just what to do with his opportunity and Stamford were up 1-4 to 0-3.
Then Kerry played their best football of the match. Lynch scored a great point from out near the corner flag, which Gallagher matched for Stamford. But Kerry banged over three on the trot, to get within a point, 1-5 to 0-7. O?Driscoll drove over back to back frees and Lynch scored off a great move involving Kenneth Dillon and Willie O?Donnell.
With 24 minutes gone in the opening half, the match seemed to have turned Kerry?s way.
Stamford, however, weren?t convinced. Wingback Michael Murphy broke up a Kerry attack, getting the ball on to Ronan Mooney. Mooney raced through for a great point, igniting Stamford?s good run. Points from Bradley, which sailed just above the crossbar, O?Neill and Gallagher preceded a last minute O?Brien goal sent the suburbanites into halftime ahead by 2-9 to 0-7.
It looked bleak for the Kingdom when Bradley and Gallagher pointed for Stamford on the restart, but Kerry didn?t hang their heads. O?Driscoll and Lynch led the charge, with Lynch outjumping Jason Killeen, who stands about a half foot taller, to set himself up for a big Kerry goal. O?Driscoll seemed to be everywhere, but Kerry missed a huge chance when Stamford keeper Kieran Potter denied O?Donnell from point-blank range.
There was still plenty of time for Kerry to come back, but Stamford dug in their heels.
Eric Bradley and Fergal O?Neill were going back to help the Stamford backs and Ronan Mooney was belting away at midfield, while Kevin Newell, Pay Coyne, and Murphy were there time and again with saving tackles.
Kerry have a talented lineup, perhaps more gifted man to man than Stamford. The Connecticut side, however, add up to even more than the sum of their considerable parts. That is what makes them such a formidable opponent, and sends them into the 2003 Senior Football A final.
Man of the Match: Dermot Gallagher
Stamford: Kieran Potter, Pat Coyne, Jason Killeen, Justin O?Halloran, Michael Murphy, Kevin Newell, Richie Purcell, Darren Doherty (0-1), Ronan Mooney (0-1), Stephen Owens, Fergal O?Neill (0-2, 1 free), Sean O?Brien (2-0), Dermot Gallagher (1-6, 4 frees), Eric Bradley (0-3), Keith Hennessey (0-1). Sub: Sean Collins.
Kerry: Kieran Traynor, Sam Finn, Derek Riney, Paul Dillon, Paddy O?Connor, Barry Dillon, Collie Fearon, Kenneth Dillon, Michael O?Shea, Willie O?Donnell, Eugene McGrath (0-2), Kevin Lynch (1-3), Dave McCarthy, Bingo O?Driscoll (0-7, 5 frees), Dave McSweeney. Subs: Cathal O?Shea, Ed O?Sullivan, Dave Heasman, Kieran Brosnan.