Asdee 0-11 Rathmore “B” 3-12. 

Even though a ten point win might suggest that the East Kerrymen had it all their own way, but nothing could be further from the truth, as they had to battle hard against a dogged Asdee side before securing victory at Walsh Park on Saturday evening last.  However, on saying that, Rathmore were full value for their victory as their sheer strength and pace along with their goal-scoring power was always a problem for the home side, whereas Asdee were always struggling to put scores on the board and kicked a total of 12 wides over the hour. The game got off to a blistering start as play ebbed and flowed until the sixth minute when
John Hickey, the Rathmore midfielder, kicked a fine point.  Four minutes later, the impressive Paul O’Carroll had the sides level.  Then we had drama at both ends; firstly it took a super save by James Kelly in the home goals to deprive what looked like a certain Rathmore goal and not to be outdone, the Rathmore custodian Kenneth O Keeffe did likewise, but when the ball spilled, Mike Breen put his effort over.  Then in the 15th minute, a high delivery into the Asdee goalmouth, saw the ball go into the net off a defender.   Points were exchanged as the game changed from end to end and, in the 29th minute, only a point separated the sides, Rathmore 1-5 Asdee 0-7.  However, the pacy Rathmore men were always that little step ahead and, in the 30th minute, full forward John O’Keeffe struck for a well taken goal.  John Hickey closed the first half scoring at Rathmore 2-6 Asdee 0-7.

On the change over, the home side got stuck in and, after kicking two terrible wides, full back Martin Collins came up field to split the uprights, followed by another by Paul O’Carroll with four minutes gone, cutting the deficit down to just three points.  Then after seven minutes, corner forward Mark T Reen put the East Kerrymen back in the driving seat, when he nipped in for goal number three.  Kieran Kelly and Paul O’Carroll and substitute Denis McCarthy and Tadhg O Mahony exchanged points leaving it 3-8 to 0-11 after 24 minutes.
At this stage, Rathmore used up their bench as in fairness they were always a step ahead, as we approached the final minutes of the game.  Both substitutes, Denis McCarthy and Donal Moynihan, along with John O’Keeffe without reply closed the scoring, so after another victory Rathmore keep their promotion hopes very much alive.

Teams:  Asdee:   James Kelly, Con Carmody, Martin Collins 0-1, Brian Coughlan, Sean Keane, Michael Tydings, Conor Keane, John Doran, Kieran Kelly 0-2, Mike Breen 0-1, Eoin Kennedy,
Jack Keane 0-1, Cyril Dineen 0-1, Eoin Tydings, Paul O Carroll 0-5.   Subs, Eoin O Carroll  for Michael Tydings, Dinny Dalton for Jack Keane, Michael Walsh for Brian Coughlan, Keith McNamara for Eoin O Carroll.

Rathmore “B”:  Kenneth O’Keeffe, Donal Og Kelliher, Michael O Mahony, Tadhg Moynihan,
Cillian O Connor 0-1, Padraig O Mahony, Brian O Leary, T. J. Friel, Brian Moynihan 0-1, John Hickey 0-3, Tadhg O Mahony 0-1, Dean Fitzgerald 0-1, Sean O Riordan, Padraig Cronin,