AUSTIN STACKS AND Mid Kerry sealed a safe passage to the Kerry SFC semi-finals with straightforward victories in Fitzgerald Stadium today.
Stacks enjoyed a comfortable 0-14 to 0-7 win over West Kerry. After a tight opening ten minutes, where Stacks led by a point, they stretched that lead into a 0-9 to 0-2 advantage by half-time with Shane O’Callaghan and Shane Carroll among the scorers for the Tralee side.
The result was never in doubt after the break and although they never added the goals that may have opened the floodgates, Stacks booked their place in the semi-finals pulling up. After defeats to Dr. Crokes in the 2013 and 2010 deciders, Kieran Donaghy’s side moved a step closer to taking home the Bishop Moynihan for the first time since 1994.
Another side who have suffered a final defeat to Dr Crokes in recent years are Mid Kerry, who sealed their progression with a convincing eight point win over Laune Rangers in the curtain-raiser.
Kerry star Darran O’Sullivan was on the mark for Mid-Kerry early on and they were aided by Gavan O’Grady’s penalty inside the opening five minutes. After 14 minutes the divisional side led by 1-7 to 0-2 but 37-year-old Mike Frank Russell helped Laune Rangers back to within four points (1-9 to 0-8) at half-time.
Mid Kerry held the upper hand for the majority of the second half, until Ryan Keane dispatched a penalty to give them hope. Almost immediately it was wiped out when Gary Sayers responded with a goal of his own and Mid Kerry put the icing on the win with a couple of injury time scores.
They join Shannon Rangers and Dingle in the last four. The semi-final draw will be made tomorrow.
Kerry SFC quarter-finals
Mid Kerry 2-14 Laune Rangers 1-9
Austin Stacks 0-14 West Kerry 0-7
Out with the old, in with the new. Great chance for Conor. Pretty much guarantees him the Munster no 9 shirt too.
O gara shud be out half for his territorial kicking alone
Where’s Leo??
Savin’ him for the Aussies
Eh…Leo? You can’t seriously be insinuating that he should start ahead of the mighty duo from Munster?
well at the very least he’s head and shoulders above Ryan on the bench!
Ryan can play both lock and blindside flank, where as Leo is exclusively a lock. Not to prejudice Leo, his record peaks for itself, but Ryan is a rising talent and the utility element is hard to ignore for any coach.
I don’t know what a blindside flank is! I’ve just leapt onto the rugby bandwagon! Come on you boys in green come on you boys in green come on you boys come on you boys in green! What’s a scrum half?
Ryan can cover both back row and lock, that’s why he’s there.
dont worry about the yanks………italy will be after our scalp big time, they owe us one from the six nations!!!
I would expect that once the Italy game comes around both teams will be probably Won 2 lost 1 with progression hanging on the outcome of it. don’t expect it to be pretty!
I’ve heard several pundits/experts say that Ferris should play in 2nd row with O Connell against Aussies, with Jennings,Heaslip & O Brien in the back row. Think it would be a good move which would add extra dynamism to the pack.
This looks very much like the team with one or two possible exceptions (Healy for Court) and maybe some tinkering with the backrow that is going to be used for the 1st two games at least.