Two off for Skibb as Tralee CBS open with a victory
FEISTY AFFAIR: Frank Hurley of Skibbereen Community School saw red. Pic: Jim Coughlan.
This tempestuous contest ended with Tralee eight-point winners and Skibbereen with two sendings-off.
During a second-half full of flashpoints and less than friendly gatherings in various patches of the field, it was inevitable that referee Denis Hickey would have to reach for the red card at some point.
The first dismissal arrived on 41 minutes. Skibbereen corner-forward Daniel Cleary, having been booked just minutes earlier, found himself at the centre of a second incident. Hickey promptly flashed red.
The west Cork students were four in arrears at the time. The gap, albeit slowly, went in only one direction thereafter. The result was long gone from them when midfielder Frank Hurley picked up a second yellow in injury-time.
The defeat immediately puts Skibb under pressure in the pursuit of knockout places from Group 4. Victory next time out against Hamilton High School Bandon, who won their opener against Bishopstown, is imperative.
Skibb, to their credit, had come from absolutely nowhere during a three-minute period either side of half-time to deliver the small crowd a contest. Up to then, the story had been of Tralee CBS and their tormenting of the opposition.
The Green were five in front as early as the 11th minute. Added to these early points from Jerh Brosnan (free), Jake Foley (0-2), Fionnán Ryan, and Pat Brosnan was really stout defending from their defensive colleagues. When Skibbereen half-back Kevin O’Driscoll found a path to goal, he had the ball taken off his toe.
Luke Shorten opened Skibb’s account on 12 minutes. They lacked, though, for the same spread as their opponents.
A snappy three-in-a-row propelled Tralee CBS 0-9 to 0-2 clear on 23 minutes. Within this was a third point from play from outstanding midfielder Jake Foley. Last year’s Kerry minor was also fouled for a converted free. He ended with 0-5.
On 26 minutes, Tralee’s advantage stretched out to nine. 1-9 to 0-3. Ronan Carroll and his left foot provided the green flag finish.
Tralee were comfortable. Skibb, meanwhile, could find no traction at the other end. And then, out of nothing and in the space of three minutes at the end of the half, we had a game.
Sean Connolly and Shorten kicked back-to-back points. Connolly followed with an injury-time goal. The interval scoreline read 1-9 to 1-5. Shorten’s third point within a minute of the restart reduced the deficit to one score.
Three was as close as they would come. Hugh Lenihan and Foley gave Tralee the beginning of their second wind either side of Cleary's dismissal to leave five in it, 1-12 to 1-7.
They never really looked like being caught from there. A four-in-a-row to finish from Máirtín McKivergan, Carroll, Luke Rochford, and Foley (free) provided an eight-point winning margin reflective of their overall control.
Having failed to reach the quarter-finals 12 months ago, the Tralee class of 2023/24 have already commenced work on rectifying such.
J Foley (0-5, 0-1 free); R Carroll (1-2); J Brosnan (0-3, 0-3 frees); M McKivergan (0-1 free), F Ryan (0-2 each); H Lenihan, L Rochford, P Brosnan (0-1 each).
S Connolly (1-2, 0-1 free); L Shorten (0-4); F Coombes, D Cleary, M Crowley (0-1 each).
O O’Halloran (Ardfert); S Barrett (Na Gaeil), E O’Flaherty (Ardfert), E Moriarty (Ballymacelligott); M Lenihan (Churchill), O O’Sullivan (Na Gaeil), T Deregee (Austin Stacks); F Ryan (Austin Stacks), J Foley (Kerins O’Rahilly’s); H Lenihan (Churchill), R Carroll (Austin Stacks), P Brosnan (Moyvane); J Brosnan (Moyvane), M McKivergan (Ballymacelligott), L Rochford (Ballyduff).
: K Best (Ardfert) for H Lenihan (39); S Óg Brosnan (Austin Stacks) for Barrett (43); D Corridon (Ardfert) for J Brosnan (45); L Óg O’Connor (Ardfert) for Ryan (52).
: D Heaton Jones (O’Donovan Rossa); C Maloney (Castlehaven), W O’Donovan (Castlehaven), D Limrick (Castlehaven); K O’Driscoll (Ilen Rovers), D Hourihane (O’Donovan Rossa), J Goulding (O’Donovan Rossa); F Coombes (O’Donovan Rossa), F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa); J Buckley (Castlehaven), S Connolly (Ilen Rovers), M Crowley (Castlehaven); A Fahy (Ilen Rovers), L Shorten (Tadhg MacCartaigh), D Cleary (Castlehaven).
: C O’Brien (O’Donovan Rossa) for Fahy (50); S Hodnett (O’Donovan Rossa) for Coombes (53).
Referee: D Hickey
