LISTOWEL EMMETS  1-10  BALLYDONOGHUE  1-14

The first two teams out of the hat were the first to face off in the 2020 Bernard O’ Callaghan Memorial North Kerry Senior Football Championship,sponsored by McMunn’s Bar and Restaurant, Ballybunion on Saturday evening last, 5^th Sept in Frank Sheehy Park, Listowel. A mouth-watering clash guaranteed to have drawn a big crowd but of course in the current climate, it was played behind closed gates.It was a historic occasion also in that it was the first time a game was streamed live and well done to all who facilitated this and all who availed of this were well rewarded.As soon as referee Seamus Mulvihill threw in the ball the game exploded to life and Jack Kennelly had the visitors ahead with a point from play with about 10 secs on the clock. He added another from a free in the 5^th min before Davy Keane settled the home side into the game with a point from play. Emmets were playing with great purpose at this point and after turning over possession in the middle third Mark Galvin went on a surging run before picking out Ger McCarthy with a super pass on the edge of the square.Ger went to ground under pressure but any claims for a penalty were waved away by the referee and Ballydonoghue cleared their lines.Emmets continued to probe and when Davy Keane placed Darragh Lynch with a peach of a pass bearing down on goals, he made no mistake, giving Darragh O’ Shea no chance in the Ballydonoghue goals.With the gauntlet well and truly down Ballydonoghue upped their efforts.A Paul Kennelly shot for a point came back off the post to be gathered by the Emmets defence but while working it out an intercepted pass was worked by Jim Cremin to Darragh Sheehy to Jack Kennelly who blasted to the corner of the Emmets net to regain the lead for his side.A fisted point from his brother Paul and a lovely score from Darragh Sheehy had Ballydonoghue in front 1-04 to 1-01 at the first water break.It was a great contest at this point and with very little time afforded to players on the ball it was intense stuff with all ball keenly contested. A foul on Davy Keane was converted from a very difficult position by Sam Tarrant on the 20^th min which Paul Kennelly cancelled out with a great score from play 3 mins later. Emmets dominated the remainder of the half. Cormac Mulvihill scored off his left from play, a surging run from Niall Collins led to a free converted by Sam Tarrant and on the stroke of half time a penetrating run from Ciaran Pierse set up Cormac Mulvihill to fist over his second point from play to leave the sides level on 1-05 a piece at the interval.Just prior to half-time Emmets were unfortunate to lose star defender Eddie Browne to injury and he was replaced by Daniel Sheehan while Brion O’ Seannachain was introduced at half-time for Kevin O’ Donnell for Ballydonoghue.

All to play for, rain started to drizzle down at the start of the second half.Sean Keane pointed after Tom McCarthy was fouled.The three Kennelly brothers combined for Paul to point from play.Sean Keane pointed another two frees in the 37^th and 40^th mins to give Emmets a 2pt lead 1-08 and 1-06. Jack Kennelly converted an outrageous free from the sideline and followed it with a point from play after a great run to level matters again.Emmets surged forward with Mark Galvin putting Ciaran Pierse through and his fisted effort for a point came back off the crossbar but it was Ballydonoghue who reacted first and cleared their lines to counterattack and win a free that Jack Kennelly again coaxed over with the outside of the right to leave the score at the second water break 1-09 to 1-08 in favour of Ballydonoghue. A length of the field move ended with Jack Foley scoring off his right, to be followed by another Paul Kennelly point from play to open a 3pt gap.Cormac Mulvihill off his right pointed but Ballydonoghue took over from this point and finished very strongly.Paul Kennelly kicked two fantastic points from a similar position of the pitch,one off his right and the other off his left and when Jack Foley pointed a minute later Ballydonoghue held a 5pt advantage with time running out. Sean Keane converted another free for Emmets before Seamus Mulvihill blew for full-time and Ballydonoghue joined Ballyduff and Brosna in the Quarter Final Draw on Sunday 13^th September.The final score on the night was Listowel Emmets 1-10  Ballydonoghue 1-14.  Listowel can be proud of their performance,great work ethic and all their players gave their all.They are a young side overall and they will have many good days,there is no doubt.Mention must be made of a breathtaking piece of fielding by Darragh Leahy in the second half who along with Tom McCarthy held sway in the midfield area until the final minutes. Ballydonoghue are a more seasoned team, highly regarded and rightly so. They seem to be improving as the year progresses and while all their players carried their weight it has to be said that Paul and Jack Kennelly were outstanding and some of the score taking was of the highest order.Along with Jack Foley these three players form an inside line bristling with talent,both feet in use by all three, and on an on day will eviscerate any defence. Robert Bunyan and John Kennedy did a great job on commentary/analysis and Seamus Mulvihill and his officials handled affairs very well.Thanks to Listowel Emmets for having their facility in such good shape and for turning the floodlights on as the light faded.Drone footage at the start of the streaming programme showed it in a great light and no doubt there will be further games in the near future.

LISTOWEL EMMETS; 1) Cathal Keane (Capt) 2) Eddie Browne 3) Mark Galvin 4) Tom Melvin 5) Ciaran Pierse 6) Niall Collins 7) Ger McCarthy 8) Thomas McCarthy 9) Darragh Leahy 10) Darragh Lynch (1-00) 11) Cormac Mulvihill (0-03) 12) Jamie McVeigh 13) Sam Tarrant (0-02f) 14) Sean Keane (0-04f) 15) David Keane (0-01) SUBS USED Daniel Sheehan, Neilo Keane, Maurice Whelan and Sheldon Neill. Shane Quinn, Fergal Wall, Niall Lynch, Bryan Sweeney, Jack Hartnett, Mark Foley, Darren Halpin.

BALLYDONOGHUE: 1) Darragh O’ Shea 2) Liam Guiney 3) Conor Kennelly 4) Brian Mason 5) Jack Gogarty 6) Jason Foley (Capt.) 7) Breandain O’ Neill 8) Jim Cremin 9) Michael Foley 10) Kevin O’ Donnell 11) Darragh Sheehy (0-01) 12) Jack Behan 13) Jack Foley (0-02) 14) Paul Kennelly (0-06) 15) Jack Kennelly (1-05) SUBS USED Brion O’ Seanachain Danny Powerand Stephen Foley. Darren O’ Connor, Michael Gogarty,Gearoid Kissane,Declan Behan,Colin O’ Mahony,Tadhg O’ Carroll,Padraig Lyons,John O’ Mahony,David Foley,John Enright,Martin O’ Mahony.

REFEREE: Seamus Mulvihill St. Senans.