Experienced Coláiste na Sceilge too strong for Pres Milltown
Coláiste na Sceilge had too much for Presentation Milltown in Lewis Road grounds, Killarney. Pic: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
It may have taken them until well into the second half to show it, but Coláiste na Sceilge had too much for Presentation Milltown in Lewis Road grounds, Killarney.
The difference in age profile was apparent from the outset, with more than half of the Cahersiveen based team playing Senior football already for their clubs while, in contrast, none of the Milltown side have progressed past the U17 age grade yet.
Two Senior players in fact were on the South Kerry team in the recent County Senior Football Championship, and they carried the torch to their Milltown opponents throughout – Emmet Daly and Ian O’Sullivan accounted for 1-10 of their teams total.
Milltown had a pair of Kerry minors from 2023 on the field and they were the stand out pair for their side. Shane Clifford marshalled the defence and Gearóid Evans was a deep-lying centre forward, but too often they found it difficult to find their target man Darragh Clifford.
Michael Byrne scored first for Milltown in a low scoring first quarter where the Mid Kerry side were unable to put their early dominance on the scoreboard –Darragh Clifford put three efforts wide in the early stages, albeit from difficult angles.
Ian O’Sullivan pointed a free for Colaiste in the 9th minute, but Presentation were creating more chances – James Clifford, Darragh Clifford (free) and Gearóid Evans with well taken points to put their side ahead.
That lead was wiped out with the first goal of the game in the 17th minute. Quick hands by Emmet Daly found corner forward Conor O’Shea who made no mistake with a great finish.
Pointed frees by Emmet Daly and Ian O’Sullivan put Coláiste ahead for the first time, but Michael Lynch & Darragh Clifford (free) added another pair of excellent points from distance to level matters in time for the break.
Coláiste na Sceilge were a different side after the restart, and their pressure on the kickout left Milltown struggling to get the ball out of their half.
The pressure forced the referee’s whistle, and Ian O’Sullivan & Emmet Daly (3) kicked frees to give the South Kerry men a lead they would not relinquish.
A 44th-minute score by Ian O’Sullivan was their first point from play in the game. Milltown would add points by James Clifford, Gearóid Evans (free) and Darragh Clifford (free) but Coláiste’s more mature team was too strong for their opponents.
A counter-attack goal scored by Emmet Daly ended any chance of a comeback, while Daly and Micheál Scanlon added late points also.
E Daly (1-6, 4 frees), Ian O’Sullivan (0-4 frees), C O’Shea (1-0), M Scanlon (0-1).
D Clifford (0-3 frees), J Clifford (0-2), G Evans (0-2, 1 free), M Byrne (0-1), M Lynch (0-1).
D Murphy (Reenard), N O’Sullivan (St Michaels/Foilmore), P Mangan (Dromid), C Casey (St Michaels/Foilmore), M Scanlon (St Michaels/Foilmore), Aidan O’Sullivan (St Michaels/Foilmore), A Kelly (St Marys), M Lynch (Valentia), T O’Sullivan (St Marys), S Goggin (St Michaels/Foilmore), E Daly (Valentia), D Sugrue (St Michaels/Foilmore), Z Fayen (Sneem/Derrynane), I O’Sullivan (St Michaels/Foilmore), C O’Shea (Reenard).
F O’Sullivan (Reenard) for Sugrue (42), B O’Donoghue (St Marys) for O’Shea (51), D O’Donoghue for Goggin (54), T Clifford (Sneem/Derrynane) for Kelly (58), A Kelly (St Marys) for I O’Sullivan (60).
D Kingston (Beaufort), G Quirke (Milltown/Castlemaine), A Dinham (Milltown/Castlemaine), D Corcoran (Keel), M Lynch (Milltown/Castlemaine), S Clifford (Laune Rangers), R Donovan (Annascaul), O Spring (Milltown/Castlemaine), C O’Brien (Milltown/Castlemaine), J Clifford (Listry), G Evans (Keel), E McCarthy (Annascaul), A O’Sullivan (Firies), D Clifford (Laune Rangers), M Byrne (Keel).
R Carey (Listry) for O’Sullivan (46), K Coffey (Beaufort) for J Clifford (52).
Jonathan Griffin (Glenbeigh/Glencar).
