Intermediate Football - Kerry v Christopher's

Kerry  0-17 Christopher’s 1-12

Kevin Kilkelly sees a chance at a goal

Kerry joy in Ireland today and in Canton the Kerry men will also have been happy with their day’s work.  The kingdom shook off a persistent Christopher’s challenge to secure a 3 point win and the top placing in the Intermediate championship.  It was not until after the first water break that Kerry started to motor and with the teams level at half time, Kerry played some nice football to pick off the points and open up a lead that they maintained throughout the remainder of the second half.  Christopher’s struggled to get any kind of rhythm going and will be playing the Blues in a semi-final in a couple of weeks time not matter the results for the final round of games.

Christopher’s got off to the better start with a goal and 2 points to a single Kerry point after 10 minutes.  The penalty came after Rian O’Sullivan had got Kerry off the mark with a first point for the Kingdom to make it a 2 points to one score line.  Mark McSweeney at corner forward was fouled in the penalty area as the ball was played quickly downfield from the kick out, and Kevin Kilkelly dispatched the kick into the bottom corner.  It was Kilkelly and Alan Kennedy who accounted for Christopher’s scores, Kilkelly with a point to add to the goal, and Kennedy with three points.  Kerry took some time to gain a foothold in the game and there were some well taken scores once they did, with plenty of interpassing from the half forward line.  There could have been a goal when Rian O’Sullivan was sent through, however, Bill Crookston was equal to the shot and kept the ball out.  Kerry’s scores came from O’Sullivan, Jack Casey and Gearoid DIllane.

Padraig Doyle and Bill Crookston Challenge
for the Ball.

Kerry came out strong following the water break.  The forward line started to motor and some quick exchanges saw the scores go over the bar.  Dillane, O’Sullivan, Farrell, and Casey each pointed before Kilkelly and Kennedy provided some relief for Christopher’s.  At the break it was level thanks to 2 O’Sullivan points, Kerry 0-9 Christopher’s 1-6 at the half.

Kerry held an advantage following the restart.  O’Sullivan at half forward had found his groove and popped over 2 nice points before Kilkelly answered for Christopher’s.  Then it was Declan O’Sullivan finding the space between the posts, and Jack Farrell as Kerry opened up a 3 point lead that they would maintain for the remainder of the game.  Christopher’s made some changes looking to reignite the forward line but still struggled to change the tone of the game and overcome the gap between the sides.  Luke Tunney and Kennedy pointed, while it was Jack Farrell for Kerry to make it a 2 point game heading into the final 15 minutes. 

Farrell and O’Sullivan points were answered by Tunny and Kennedy, but with the clock running down a goal was what was really required by Christopher’s.  In the Canton heat, with energy levels sapped from both teams, it looked increasingly unlikely that we would be in for an explosive finish.  The teams traded points to see it out, and it is Kerry the top seed and straight into the final.

Kerry:  Sean Bohan, Alex Clark, Noel Hatton, Shane O’Connor, James Farrell, Connor Stark, Declan O’Sullivan, Darragh , Jack Casey, Jack Farrell, Rian O’Sullivan, Gearoid Dillane, Padraig Doyle.  Christopher’s:  William Crookston, Jake Kelly, Martin Coppinger, Andrew Inmon, Patrick Kelly, Luke Tunney, Diarmaid Baker, Conor McGuinness, Denis Dempsey, Killian Kilkelly, James Horgan, Mark McSweeney, Alan Kennedy.

By Rory O'Donnell