Thar an Trasnán: Saturday, June 27th 2026 - Men’s Senior Football Championship

Aidan McAnespies vs Kerry Boston

Saturday, June 27th 2026, 3:30PM

Aidan McAnespies 2-14 | Kerry Boston 0-17

The Macs opened the scoring with a point from Rory Brolly after Darragh Lyne took a solo-and-go opportunity in the Kerry half-forward line and drove forward. Mark Barry followed shortly afterwards with another point for the Macs. McAnespies wing-back Caolan Donnelly was then forced off through injury and replaced by Owen Ward.

Kerry worked the ball up the field and patiently built their attack, with Dylan Murtagh getting Kerry’s first point of the day. After a Macs shot dropped short, Kerry regained possession and worked the ball back up the field before Matthew Flaherty pointed to level the game at two points apiece after four minutes.

The Macs patiently attacked again and Darragh Lyne pointed off his left to put his side back in front. Jake Flynn added another point to extend the lead to two. Joe Cooper linked up with Cormac Dillon, who split the posts with a 2-pointer for Kerry to level the game once again at four points apiece after 11 minutes.

Darragh Lyne broke through the Kerry defence and laid it off to Nicky Sherlock, who pointed to put the Macs back in front. Kerry replied instantly with a point from Matthew Flaherty to leave the sides level once again at five points each.

Kerry got through on goal, but after Andrew Moynihan was dispossessed right in front of goal, Dylan Murtagh’s effort was well saved by Macs goalkeeper Peter O’Connell. Shortly after, Niall Carolan broke through the Macs defence, but his shot was also denied by O’Connell and went out for a 45. Kerry’s goalkeeper stepped up to take it, but his effort drifted to the right and wide. It remained five points apiece after 17 minutes.

The Macs patiently attacked again and Nicky Sherlock pointed to edge them back in front. Kerry replied through a 2-pointer from Cormac Dillon, putting Kerry ahead for the first time, 0-7 to 0-6 after 20 minutes.

A 2-point attempt from Dillon dropped short and struck Peter O’Connell’s hands before hitting the crossbar and the post and coming back into play. The Macs attacked again, but Adam Fanning’s effort drifted to the right and wide. Kerry quickly worked the ball back up the field and were awarded a free, which Dillon converted to extend Kerry’s lead to two, 0-8 to 0-6 after 26 minutes.

Nicky Sherlock gathered the breaking ball from a kickout and drove forward to point for the Macs, reducing the deficit to one. The Macs attacked again and Mark Barry’s effort was initially blocked by Kevin Lahiff, but Adam Fanning reacted quickest to the loose ball and pointed to level the game at eight points apiece. Mark Barry added another point just before the break to put the Macs back in front.

Half-time:

Aidan McAnespies 0-9 | Kerry Boston 0-8

The Macs opened the scoring in the second half with a 2-pointer from Adam Fanning. Matthew Flaherty responded with another point for Kerry to make it 0-11 to 0-9 three minutes into the half. Cormac Dillon then converted a free to leave just a point between the sides.

Kevin Lahiff collected the ball from Matthew Flaherty around the halfway line, drove forward and fisted it over the bar to level the game once again at 11 points apiece.

The Macs replied through a point from Nicky Sherlock after Conall Devlin kicked a pass inside. Kerry had a goal chance shortly afterwards, but the Macs defended well to keep them out.

The Macs then turned over a Kerry attack and broke forward. The play found Stephen Ward, who laid it off to Rory Brolly, and Brolly made no mistake in finding the back of the net to put the Macs four points ahead at 1-12 to 0-11. Kerry responded with another point from Matthew Flaherty.

The Macs turned over another Kerry attack and worked the ball forward. Mark Barry played a pass along the ground to Stephen Ward, who soloed through and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper for the Macs’ second goal, extending the lead to 2-12 to 0-12 after 18 minutes of the second half.

Mikey Kerr converted a 45 for Kerry before they were awarded a free just outside the arc. Kerr stepped up and converted the 2-pointer to leave the scoreboard reading 2-12 to 0-15 with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

The Macs added another point through Mark Barry. Kerry continued to push for a goal, but their efforts were denied by strong defending from Conall Devlin and Peter O’Connell. Gearóid Stones added a point for the Macs to make it 2-14 to 0-15.

Kevin Lahiff fisted over a point for Kerry two minutes into injury time before Andrew Moynihan’s late effort on goal was blocked and deflected over the bar just before the final whistle.

The referee blew the full-time whistle shortly afterwards as the Macs secured another important championship victory.

Full-time:

Aidan McAnespies 2-14 | Kerry Boston 0-17

Teams & Scorers:

Aidan McAnespies: