SENIOR CO. LEAGUE DIVISION 1 - ROUND 8 - 15/7/2017 2017-07-23 17:07:00

Kerins O Rahillys 3-14   Castleisland Desmonds  0-13

Three goals at vital junctures in this game were enough to give Strand Road vital league points against a dogged Desmonds side, played at the Caherina grounds this evening in ideal conditions for football.  Rahillys got off to a tonic start, when they won possession at mid field and a move involving Ryan Carroll, Padraig Griffin and Rory Molloy saw corner forward Daniel Nix billow the net from close range after 30 seconds . Tom Hoare followed with another point and Desmonds had their first score with a Stephen Bartlett
point leaving the score at K.O.Rahillys 1-2 to Desmonds 0-1 after five minutes.  Desmonds came back into the game and points from Cian Hickey, O’Connor, Thomas Hickey and Stephen Bartlett left the bare minimum between the sides at the 12th minute 1-2 to Desmonds 0-4.  Both sides traded points with Patrick Griffin, Tom Hoare, Ryan Carroll and two well taken points from Rory Molloy left the half time score at Kerins O Rahillys 1-7 to Desmonds 0-8.  Desmonds points came from Barry Lynch, Cian
Hickey, O’Connor, Thomas Hickey and Stephen Bartlett getting their eighth point, to leave two points between the sides at the short whistle .

Thomas Hickey had the first point of the second half, to reduce the gap to the bare
minimum and Ryan Carroll replied with a Strand Road point.   A great run through saw Kieran Brennan reply for Desmonds, but Rahillys aided by a strong breeze took over and with a Man of the Match performance by Danny O’Sullivan, corner back, they hit a  purple patch and a well taken goal by Karl Mullins and points by Tom Hoare, Rory Molloy and Ryan Carroll and Mullins, they led by 2-12 to Desmonds 0-10 at the 40th minute.   Stephen Bartlett did reply for Desmonds with two  points and Thomas Hickey put over from close range, but a great goal by Donagh O’Brien sealed the issue and
they were convincing winners at the final whistle.