Luckless Drom give Kerry champions massive scare

GAA: AIB Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final

Na Gaeil 1-10

Drom & Inch 0-9

Report: Michael Dundon in Templetuohy

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jamie Moloney (Drom & Inch)

SCORERS – Na Gaeil: Darragh Carmody 1-6 (0-4 frees); Dan Goggin 0-2; Jack Bourke, Eoin O’Neill 0-1 each.

Drom & Inch: Jimmy Mullen 0-5 frees; Podge Campion 0-2; Jamie Moloney, David Collins 0-1 each.

Drom & Inch’s Munster odyssey came to an agonising halt on Sunday when in the semi-final of the Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship they came up just short against their Kerry rivals, Na Gaeil of Tralee, after an absorbing contest that with a rub of the green could easily have gone the way of the Tipp champions.

Few gave Drom & Inch any chance against a Kerry side that won their county championship with some style but, on the day, the Mid lads, playing composed yet aggressive football, gave as good as they got, and but for a defensive lapse which led to the Kerry goal, and two goal chances that yielded nothing for Drom, a major upset would have occurred.

Fine margins can decide tight games, and this was the case here. The Kerry side’s goal in the 53rd minute came off a defensive misunderstanding at a Drom kick-out and put six points between the sides (1-10 to 0-7). Fortune certainly favoured Na Gaeil who, three minutes earlier, had goalie Devon Burns to thank for a top-drawer save, sticking out his leg to deny Jack Lillis what seemed a certain goal that would have brought Drom level.

And in the 58th minute Jack Lillis was on the end of a sweetly executed Drom move but was stretching vainly to apply the vital finishing touch.

These were the three incidents which ultimately determined the outcome of a tightly fought affair between two very evenly matched teams, and it was Drom & Inch who were left to wonder what might have happened had either of their goal chances been realised.

It all made for a hugely entertaining game with Drom & Inch, after a slow start, settling down to more than hold their own. It was 0-4 to 0-2 in Na Gaeil’s favour at the first water break, but Drom were growing in confidence and had the better of the second quarter, drawing level 0-5 each after 23 minutes only to fall behind to a Darragh Carmody free for Na Gaeil just before half-time (0-6 to 0-5).

Na Gaeil were a man short for ten minutes of that second period, Fergal Barry being black-carded and with the full complement for the second half were expected to raise their game.

Instead Drom dominated possession and with points from Jimmy Mullen and Podge Campion were leading 0-7 to 0-5 approaching the second water break. The visitors put in a strong finish with two points in two minutes to be in front, 0-8 to 0-7 going into the last quarter.

They extended their advantage to three points before Jack Lillis was denied a goal in the 50th minute and then notched the only goal of the game three minutes later to put them in a commanding position (1-10 to 0-7).

Drom were not beaten. They pushed forward, had the second goal chance, and then had points from David Collins and Jimmy Mullen as the game went into injury time.

Na Gaeil had their backs to the wall and were emptying their subs bench to break the Drom momentum. It paid off as, despite relentless Drom pressure, the Kerry side hung on for a victory that was not at all as comfortable as the four-point margin might suggest.

Disappointing as the result was for Drom & Inch, they can hold their heads high and take great pride in what they achieved against opposition with ambitions for Munster and national honours. The Mid lads won a county title and regained senior status this year, and on this form will be very comfortable in the higher grade.

They had many outstanding performances, not least that of Seamus Callanan who policed former Aussies Rules star Stefan Okunbor out of the game. Jamie Moloney’s surging runs were always a problem for the Kerry lads while Robbie Long, Michael Purcell, and Podge Campion were always leading by example.

Na Gaeil’s best was Dan Goggin but Andrew Barry, Oisin Maunsell, Darragh Carmody and goalie Devon Burns also had big games.

TEAMS - Na Gaeil: Devon Burns (7); Kieran Dineen (6), Niall O’Mahoney (6), Damien Bourke (6); Fergal Barry (6), Andrew Barry (7), Oisin Maunsell (7); Jack Barry (6), Stefan Okunbor (6); James O’Connor (6), Dan Goggin (8), Darragh Reen (6); Jack Bourke (6), Jack Sheehan (6), Darragh Carmody (7).

Subs: Kieran O’Donovan (6) for Reen (36); Dara Devine (5) for Sheehan (42), Eoin O’Neill (6) for O’Connor (49); Ruairi O’Sullivan for F Barry (53); Diarmuid O’Connor for Bourke (58).

Drom & Inch: Shane Hassett (6); Michael Purcell (7), Fintan Purcell (6), Colm Kinane (6); Kevin Hassett (6), Emmett Moloney (6), Robbie Long (7); John Ryan (6), Jamie Moloney (9); Seamus Callanan (8), Stephen Nolan (6), John Campion (6); Jimmy Mullen (6), David Butler (6), Podge Campion (7).

Subs: David Collins (6) for Nolan (37); Jack Lillis (6) for Ryan (47); Michael Campion (6) for K Hassett (47); Darragh Kennedy (NR) for J Moloney (60+2); Jamie Bergin (NR) for P Campion (60+4).

Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare).