PADRAIG ÓG Ó Sé, son of the late Páidí, was the star of the show as An Ghaeltacht lifted the Kerry intermediate football title yesterday.
The centre-back was presented with the man of the match award by county board chairman Tim Murphy after the West Kerry club defeated Templenoe by 1-12 to 0-14 in Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
Marc Ó Sé (the side’s player-manager), Brian Ó Beaghlaoich and young Kingdom prospect Éanna Ó Conchúir featured for the victors, who led by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break after a goal from Sean M Ó Conchúir.
2012 Kerry minor Dara Ó Sé, who was part of the county’s junior panel last year, kicked five points, while Templenoe dangerman Killian Spillane posted 0-6 for the losing side.
An Ghaeltacht goalkeeper Tomás Mac an tSaoir, who is inter-county standard, made three vital saves during the game to deny Templenoe goals.
Mac an tSaoir told Radio Kerry afterwards: “Halfway through the second-half we were two or three points up, but a message came in from the sideline that they were going to come at us with everything. And by God they did.
“They started running the ball a little bit more which I thought was a clever move by then. They ran it more and got into scoring positions. In the first-half they were kicking it in and they weren’t getting much joy.”
Templenoe, the 2016 All-Ireland junior champions, rallied late on with a score from Morley bringing his side back on level terms in stoppage-time.
Then up popped half-forward PJ Mac Láimh to fist over the winner – and his third point- in the 63rd minute for An Ghaeltacht.
“In the last minute of the game there, it comes down to what we were practising really,” added Mac an tSaoir.
“It comes from the management. They’ve been preaching all along – last two minutes of the game to settle and get up the field in scoreable positions. I’m delighted for PJ, he really deserves that. That’ll bring him on so much now.
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