February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Stamford 1-14
Kerry 1-11
Stamford set the early pace with the key blow — a Keith Hennessey goal. Hennessey was on the end of an intricate Stamford move started by center back Kevin Newell and involving Eric Bradley and Ronan Mooney. Kerry got most of their scores from Bingo O’Driscoll frees, but Kerry were having a hard time earning possession in the first place.
Ronan Mooney was winning all sorts of possession in the middle of the pitch and he had good target men in center forward Fergal O’Neill and full forward Eric Bradley. The Stamford duo pulled the center of the Kerry defense apart, particularly in the first half, when the Connecticut crew opened a 1-9 to 0-5 advantage.
Bradley was especially impressive driving over three excellent points in the opening 30 minutes. Kerry supremo Paddy Kearny made several switches to try and turn the tide and eventually Kerry began to come to grips with Stamford.
David Heasman moved to full back and made life a bit tougher on Bradley, while Kenneth Dillon’s play seemed to pick up after Michael O’Shea joined him in the middle of the park.
Some quick thinking by Kenneth Dillon led to Kerry’s 39th minute goal, when he found Kevin Lynch with a quickly taken free. Lynch’s goal brought the Kingdom to within 1-10 to 1-7, but Connecticut responded well. A long Bradley free was followed by a Fergal O’Neill point and Stamford were back in the driver’s seat.
Once again Kerry fought back. Bingo hit another free and Eugene McGrath added a point with 11 minutes still to play. Former Mayo county full back Pat Coyne caught Kerry off guard with a quick free to Hennessey and Bradley pointed from Hennessey. O’Driscoll pointed with three minutes remaining, cutting the margin to one goal.
With the two sides scrambling to the finish line, Coyne added a vital Stamford point. Kerry kept coming back and substitute Miley O’Connell narrowed the gap to a goal with two minutes to play.
Kerry kept pressing right to the buzzer but Stamford hung on and stand atop the SFA standing at 5-1, while Kerry fall to 4-2.
Man of the Match: Eric Bradley.
Stamford: Kieran Potter, Justin O’Halloran, Jason Killeen, Aiden Kiely, Pay Coyne (0-1), Kevin Newell, Richie Purcell (0-1), Ronan Mooney, Darren Doherty, Stephen Owens, Fergal O’Neill (0-2), Sean O’Brien (0-1), Dermot Gallaghan (0-3), Eric Bradley (0-6, 2 frees), Keith Hennessey (1-0). Subs: Phil Wickham, John Finn.
Kerry: Kieran Traynor, Cathal O’Shea, Barry Dillon, Paul Dillon, Dave Heasman, Paddy O’Connor, Dave McCarthy, Kieran Brosnan, Kenneth Dillon, Michael O’Shea, Willie O’Donnell, Eugene McGrath (0-1), Ed O’Sullivan, Bingo O’Driscoll (0-8, 6 frees), Kevin Lynch (1-1). Subs: Miley O’Connell (0-1), Dave McSweeney.