Bernard O'Callaghan Senior Football Championship
sponsored by McMunn's Bar and Restaurant Ballybunion  
Report by Mairead O Sullivan

Quarter Final
Tarbert 0.17 v Ballyduff 2.12

This was the first Quarter Final of the 2018 Championship and what a game these two teams provided. There was no player left wanting and pride in the club shone through on the day.  With a very even affair and both teams taking control for their purple patch it came down to the final whistle to separate these two team. While the sun shone in Con Brosnan Park, it was game on from the throw in. Within the first minute there was a blood sub brought on for Ballyduff Mickey Boyle with an apparent boot to the face and a resulting bleeding nose, it was young Darragh Gouldings time to enter the arena.  It took until the 3rd minute of the game for the scoreboard to start ticking over with an awarded free converted by Tarbert Killian Langan.  As the played swayed from end to end the backs on both teams were not giving an inch and both sets of forwards had to be in sharp form.  It took until blood sub Darragh Goulding to convert an awarded free in the sixth minute for the sides to draw level at a point a piece. Tarberts Killian Lanagan again responded splitting the posts in quick reply. Ballyduff number 1 on the day Padraig Harrington kicked the ball out to his midfield who quickly laid it off to no other than Padraig Boyle looking up and kicking a long high ball into Sean Costello who duly punched the ball to the back of the Tarbert net to a roar from the stand first goal of the game to Ballyduff. Two minutes later Tarbert responded with a point from midfielder Mark Buckley to leave the narrowest of margins between the teams.  With the reintroduction of Mikey Boyle his first job on the pitch was to convert an awarded free in the 11th minute. But this was were Ballyduff took control of the game for their purple patch with two points between themselves and Tarbert. In the 14th minute an awarded penalty was duly convert by Padraig Boyle for the second and final goal of the game to bring five points between the sides.  With Ballyduff well on top at this stage at midfield possession resulted in two more points on the scoreboard a point a piece for Philip Lucid and Mikey Boyle with seven points between the teams and with the clock was ticking down,  Tarbert regrouped and grab this game by the collar, it was Killian Langan who lead the forwards adding two points from play in the 19th and 20th minutes, corner forward Andrew Doherty added  a point in the 24th minute and again Langan converted a 45 the game was now closed to 3 points, but it was all Tarbert now and the final score of the half game from Gerald O'Sullivan to cut the margin to 2 points in the 27th minute. But Ballyduff could now feel the urgency before the half time whistle to put a bit of distance between themselves and Tarbert, Mikey Boyle converted a free in the 29th minute and midfielder Jack O'Sullivan added a point before the whistle half time score Ballyduff 2.06 - Tarbert 0.09

Second half and Tarbert came out more determined than ever out scoring Ballyduff 8 points to 6 in the half. From the first throw in of the ball Andrew Doherty brought his A game to the pitch with Tarbart  coming in waves of  attack at the Ballyduff backs. With a half time change for  Tarbert bringing in Donal Leahy to the full forward line to replace Finbar Carrig, Tarbert changed their play from diagonal ball to long high ball into the full forward line which didn't seem to work with Ballyduff moving Sean Costello onto Leahy these two have become well known to each other.  It took until the 3rd minute of the second half for Killian Langan to convert a free bring to two points between the teams, but in quick reply Ballyduff midfielder Jack O'Sullivan added a point. Again the Shannon Siders were having none of it and Mark Buckley and Andrew Doherty both splitting the posts to the roar of the crowd who could feel that maybe Tarbert could lead for the first time in the game, it was now a one point game to Ballyduff.  But you don't hear that the Ballyduff boys are tough for nothing and the ever hardworking Johnny Regan split the posts in the 10th minute to take the pressure of his team for now. The play went up and down the pitch for the next 7 minutes with no quarter given and the tension in Con Brossan Park was raising to fever pitch level. And no better man to break the deadlock than Padraig Boyle of Ballyduff to a roar from the stands that was heard for miles around North Kerry, this was real Championship Fever, with Ballyduff three points adrift, it was Tarberts turn to have one of their warriors step up and again it was well known that the Wren name is steeped in Tarbert tradition so it was fitting that Danny Wren kicked over a point from his wingback position,  now the response from the stand would put hairs standing on the back of your neck.  Game on Ballyduff two points up. But Ballyduff Boyle brothers not for the first time dug deeper than deep and were quick in response, with Mikey Boyle pointing in the 20th minute. With three points between the teams Tarberts Mark Buckley and Killian Langan added to more to Tarberts tally with 9 minutes of normal time and Ballyduff a point up it was anyone's game.  But what Tarberts midfielder could do at one end Ballyduffs Paud Costello could do at the other again keeping Ballyduff two points up. But Andrew Doherty Tarbert fired the ball over the bar in the 28th minute of normal time. But again that wonder at corner forward Mikey Boyle tormented county man Shane Enright to pop the ball over the bar.  With full time up and four minutes off added time the crowd held their breath it was still up for grabs when two minutes into injury time Andrew Doherty fired the ball over to the applause of the Tarbert supporters. Two minutes left and a point up for Ballyduff possession was vital and that is just what Ballyduff held and played down the clock waiting patiently for their opening for attack, but right on the 4 minute mark of extra time Brendan Griffin blew the whistle Ballyduff are through to the Semi Finals of 2018 Full time score Ballyduff 2.12 v Tarbert 0.17

Teams: Ballyduff: Padraig Harrington Ben Tobin  Paul O' Carroll  Anthony O’ Carroll Capt  Sean Costelloe(1.0)

Cathal Kearney Daniel O'Carroll, Paud Costelloe(0.02), Jack O' Sullivan(0.01)  Chris Whyte, Padraig Boyle(1.1), Johnny Regan(0.01), Philip Lucid, Mikey Boyle(0.05, 0.02f), Patrick Moran sub Darragh Goulding (0.01f) for Mikey Boyle (Bloody Sub)

Tarbert: Jamie Diggins, Sean Carrig, Shane O'Connor, Daniel O'Connor, Shane Enright, Danny Wren(0.01) Micheal Normile (captain), Mark Buckley(0.03), Shea McDonnell, Kevin Enright, Ambrose Lanigan(0.01), Killian Langan(0.07, 0.02f 0.01 45), Andrew Doherty(0.04), Gerald O'Sullivan(0.01), Finbar Carrig

Referee: Brendan Griffin Clounmacon

Brendan Boyle Memorial Junior Cup

Sponsored by Moloney, McCarthy & Associates Accountants & Tax Advisors

Semi Finals

Beale B 2.07 v Ballylongford B 4.10

Kieran Corridan Memorial Intermediate Cup

Sponsored by South of Ireland Waste Disposal

Semi Finals

Moyvane B 0.07 – St Senans B 2.09

Desmonds 2.18 v Emmets 2.06

Fixtures: 

Draw for Bernard O Callaghan Memorial Senior Championship

Sponsored by McMunn's Bar and RestaurantBallybunion

Semi Finals draw will take place on Sunday 11^thNovember at half time of the Brosna v Ballydonoghue game in Duagh.  Ballyduff are the first team through to SemiFinals at time of print. Semi Finals will take place over two weekends Sunday18^th November and Sunday 25^th November both at 2.30pm. 

Bernard O'Callaghan Memorial Senior Championship

Sponsored by McMunn's Bar and Restaurant Ballybunion
Quarter Finals

Duagh v Finuge - Saturday 10th November @ 2.30pm E.T Venue: Beale

Desmonds v St Senans - Sunday 11th November @ 12 Noon E.T. Venue: Finuge

Brosna v Ballydonoghue - Sunday 11th November @ 2.30pm E.T. Venue: Duagh

Bob Stack Memorial U21ChampionshipSponsored byDennehy Veterinary Clinic Duagh Quarter FinalSaturday 17^th November @ 2.30pm E.T. Venue: Ballylongford Beale v Moyvane/Tarbert

 Brendan Boyle Memorial Junior Cup 

Jotty Holly Memorial MinorChampionship 

Sponsored by O’Connor’s Hardware & Farm Supplies Duagh

Division 2 

Neutral Venues

Extra time up to and including Semi Finals, Replay in the Final

SemiFinals

Saturday17^th November @ 2.30pm E.T Venues: T.B.C

Ballydonoghue v Ballyduff

Asdee/Ballylongfordv Knocknagoshel/Brosna/Duagh  

Coiste na nOg Final Call for 2018

Last Sunday saw the curtain come down on our competitions on the playing fields for 2018, when Coolard hosted a double-header consisting of The Tommy Madden U-13 N.K.C'ship Final and followed by the McElligott Oils, Asdee U-16 N.K.C'ship Div.2 Final.

On a beautiful day,a huge crowd turned out to support their teams and they were well entertained by four well coached,determined teams.The Tommy Madden Final was first up, a repeat of last year's Final with the holders Moyvane facing Ballyduff.Following the pre-match parade and singing of our National Anthem, referee Colman O' Flaherty, Emmets threw in the ball and both teams set about their task in a sporting manner.  Full time score Ballyduff 2-05  Moyvane  3-19. The Madden and O' Connor families are very generous in their sponsorship of this competition and presentations were made to the referee, Colman O' Flaherty who had a fine game and also to both team managers.The man of the match for Ballyduff was Killian Boyle while Danny Lyons was the man of the match for Moyvane, both whom received lovely trophies but the biggest cheer was reserved for winning Moyvane captain, Fionn Mulvihill, who accepted the trophy from Darragh O' Shea. Fionn went on to make an excellent speech and Moyvane celebrate a back to back, but as it said on the match programme, the real winner here is Our Lady's Children Hospital, Crumlin....well done to everyone involved with this great competition.

 McElligott Oils, Asdee U-16 Div.2 Championship Final,

St. Senans  5-15  v  Moyvane/Tarbert  3-08

Moyvane/Tarbert had a blistering start to this McElligott Oils, Asdee U-16 Div.2 Championship Final, when they had goaled twice in the first 5mins through the Swan brothers Aidan and team captain Kieran, to put his side 6pts ahead.St. Senans settled into the game and with Aodhan Behan starting to dominate around the middle,they had a very strong second quarter and the score at the small whistle read St. Senans 4-05  Moyvane/Tarbert 2-04.

St. Senans continued to control the second half with the aforementioned Behan,Tomas Dillon and team captain,Mikey Kelliher catching the eye. Moyvane/Tarbert fought valiantly to the end but this was to be St. Senans's day and they were worthy winners on a final scoreline of St. Senans 5-15  Moyvane/Tarbert 3-08. The trophy was presented to Mikey Kelliher by Sean Moriarty NKB to the delight of the St. Senans team and supporters.Well done to both teams and to match referee, Pat Shanahan, Duagh

The North Kerry Football Board would like to  thank Ballydonoghue CLG for the use of their grounds and for organizing parking for supporters.  We are also very grateful to our sponsors, The Madden and O' Connor Families and ,of course, McElligott Oil's Asdee.  Coiste na nOg will have an Awards night shortly, Clubs will be informed once details are finalised.