AFTER AN ENDING of stunning drama and a game of rich entertainment, Dingle found themselves crowned Munster senior club football champions.
Beaten on penalties by Castlehaven two years ago in heartbreaking fashion on a stormy afternoon in Limerick, they found redemption today when Conor Geaney banged over a left-foot two pointer free deep in injury-time in Thurles.
It capped a stunning revival by the West Kerry side as they came from seven points down entering the final quarter, to triumph against a St Finbarr’s side who were led by an extraordinary point-scoring display by Steven Sherlock as he notched 0-16.
The chain of events that led to the late Geaney free sparked debate. Ian Maguire was judged to have over-carried by referee Chris Maguire and then it was deemed that Dylan Quinn had impeded the free to be taken, resulting in play being moved forward 50 yards.
That paved the way for Geaney to size up his chance outside the two-point arc and he nailed the kick. St Finbarr’s goalkeeper Darragh Newman got the resultant kickout away to defender Sam Ryan but the final whistle soon blasted. Geaney was cast in the role of match-winner.
St Finbarr’s were left crestfallen. Defeat was rough justice after their efforts, particularly the output from their marquee attacking name. The opening period was defined by Sherlock’s dazzling shooting for St Finbarr’s. He registered a stunning tally of a dozen points, a return decorated by five two-pointers. Three of those were converted from frees and a pair of shots from play as his accuracy caused severe damage for the Dingle defence.
Early in the second half Sherlock notched a point from play, another brilliant two-pointer free, and a point from a free. The latter score stretched their advantage to seven, 0-19 to 1-11, but they could only muster one more point for the remainder of the game, Brian Hayes swivelling to shoot over in the 49th minute.
That drop in their attacking return contributed to the momentum of the game shifting decisively towards Dingle, yet St Finbarr’s still had right to feel aggrieved with the outcome at the finish.
Steven Sherlock and Conor Flannery. James Lawlor / INPHO
James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO
Dingle had started sharply with Paul, Conor, and Dylan Geaney all whipping over points from play inside the opening five minutes. The scores did not flow as regularly for the remainder of the half.
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They were grateful for Paul Geaney’s intervention in the 16th minute, cutting in from the left wing past Sam Ryan and drilling home a right-foot shot to the net. The Dingle captain smashed in a left-foot effort on the stroke of half-time but it cannoned off the bar to leave them 0-14 to 1-6 adrift at the break.
Tom O’Sullivan and Mark O’Connor had conjured up points for Dingle yet Sherlock’s marksmanship set him apart and he clipped over a glorious shot off his left before the break. With Ethan Twomey and William Buckley both hugely prominent, St Finbarr’s were in a deserved position of supremacy midway through.
They maintained that grip in the third quarter but Dingle then began to claw their way back into contention. If Paul Geaney kept them afloat in the first half and Conor Geaney was the hero with his assured late kick, it was Dylan Geaney who ignited their second-half comeback.
He clipped over the first two points of the half, nailed a pair of frees, and landed two glorious two-pointers in the 44th and 59th minutes. The latter shot cut the deficit to the minimum and with St Finbarr’s unable to move the scoreboard dial as they missed a series of chances and couldn’t manage the game effectively, Dingle’s hopes remained intact.
At the end they received their chance and grabbed it, rounding off a brilliant encounter.
Paul Geaney with his wife Siún Ó Sé and daughter Christine. James Lawlor / INPHO
James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO
More to follow…
Scorers for Dingle: Dylan Geaney 0-9 (2 2pt play, 0-2f), Paul Geaney 1-2, Conor Geaney 0-4 (1 2pt free, 0-1f), Tom O’Sullivan 0-2, Mark O’Connor 0-1.
Scorers for St Finbarr’s: Steven Sherlock 0-16 (4 2pt frees, 2 2pt play, 0-1f), Brian Hayes 0-2, John Wigginton Barrett 0-1, Luke Hannigan 0-1.
Dingle
1. Gavin H Curran
6. Conor Flannery, 7. Patrick O’Connor, 2. Brian O’Connor
3. Tom Leo O’Sullivan, 4. Tom O’Sullivan, 5. Aidan O’Connor
8. Mark O’Connor, 9. Billy O’Connor
15. Niall Geaney, 14. Matthew Flaherty, 10. Tadhg Browne
13. Conor Geaney, 11. Paul Geaney, 12. Dylan Geaney
Subs
20. Mikey Geaney for Paul Geaney (inj) (temp) (40)
18. Ned Ryan for Billy O’Connor (41)
11. Paul Geaney for Mikey Geaney (46)
Mikey Geaney for Browne (48)
21. Cathal Bambury for Flaherty (60)
St Finbarr’s
1. Darragh Newman
2. Billy Hennessy, 6. Alan O’Connor, 4. Sam Ryan
17. Enda Dennehy, 7. Ciarán Doolan, 12. Conor Dennehy
8. Ian Maguire, 9. Brian Hayes
14. Ethan Twomey, 13. John Wigginton-Barrett, 10. William Buckley
19. Luke Hannigan, 15. Rickey Barrett, 11. Steven Sherlock
Subs
23. Eoin McGreevy for Rickey Barrett (41)
25. Cillian Myers-Murray for Wigginton Barrett (54)
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Conor Geaney secures dramatic Munster title win for Dingle against St Finbarr's
Dingle (Kerry) 1-18 (1-3-12)
St Finbarr’s (Cork) 0-20 (0-6-8)
AFTER AN ENDING of stunning drama and a game of rich entertainment, Dingle found themselves crowned Munster senior club football champions.
Beaten on penalties by Castlehaven two years ago in heartbreaking fashion on a stormy afternoon in Limerick, they found redemption today when Conor Geaney banged over a left-foot two pointer free deep in injury-time in Thurles.
It capped a stunning revival by the West Kerry side as they came from seven points down entering the final quarter, to triumph against a St Finbarr’s side who were led by an extraordinary point-scoring display by Steven Sherlock as he notched 0-16.
The chain of events that led to the late Geaney free sparked debate. Ian Maguire was judged to have over-carried by referee Chris Maguire and then it was deemed that Dylan Quinn had impeded the free to be taken, resulting in play being moved forward 50 yards.
That paved the way for Geaney to size up his chance outside the two-point arc and he nailed the kick. St Finbarr’s goalkeeper Darragh Newman got the resultant kickout away to defender Sam Ryan but the final whistle soon blasted. Geaney was cast in the role of match-winner.
St Finbarr’s were left crestfallen. Defeat was rough justice after their efforts, particularly the output from their marquee attacking name. The opening period was defined by Sherlock’s dazzling shooting for St Finbarr’s. He registered a stunning tally of a dozen points, a return decorated by five two-pointers. Three of those were converted from frees and a pair of shots from play as his accuracy caused severe damage for the Dingle defence.
Early in the second half Sherlock notched a point from play, another brilliant two-pointer free, and a point from a free. The latter score stretched their advantage to seven, 0-19 to 1-11, but they could only muster one more point for the remainder of the game, Brian Hayes swivelling to shoot over in the 49th minute.
That drop in their attacking return contributed to the momentum of the game shifting decisively towards Dingle, yet St Finbarr’s still had right to feel aggrieved with the outcome at the finish.
Dingle had started sharply with Paul, Conor, and Dylan Geaney all whipping over points from play inside the opening five minutes. The scores did not flow as regularly for the remainder of the half.
They were grateful for Paul Geaney’s intervention in the 16th minute, cutting in from the left wing past Sam Ryan and drilling home a right-foot shot to the net. The Dingle captain smashed in a left-foot effort on the stroke of half-time but it cannoned off the bar to leave them 0-14 to 1-6 adrift at the break.
Tom O’Sullivan and Mark O’Connor had conjured up points for Dingle yet Sherlock’s marksmanship set him apart and he clipped over a glorious shot off his left before the break. With Ethan Twomey and William Buckley both hugely prominent, St Finbarr’s were in a deserved position of supremacy midway through.
They maintained that grip in the third quarter but Dingle then began to claw their way back into contention. If Paul Geaney kept them afloat in the first half and Conor Geaney was the hero with his assured late kick, it was Dylan Geaney who ignited their second-half comeback.
He clipped over the first two points of the half, nailed a pair of frees, and landed two glorious two-pointers in the 44th and 59th minutes. The latter shot cut the deficit to the minimum and with St Finbarr’s unable to move the scoreboard dial as they missed a series of chances and couldn’t manage the game effectively, Dingle’s hopes remained intact.
At the end they received their chance and grabbed it, rounding off a brilliant encounter.
More to follow…
Scorers for Dingle: Dylan Geaney 0-9 (2 2pt play, 0-2f), Paul Geaney 1-2, Conor Geaney 0-4 (1 2pt free, 0-1f), Tom O’Sullivan 0-2, Mark O’Connor 0-1.
Scorers for St Finbarr’s: Steven Sherlock 0-16 (4 2pt frees, 2 2pt play, 0-1f), Brian Hayes 0-2, John Wigginton Barrett 0-1, Luke Hannigan 0-1.
Dingle
1. Gavin H Curran
6. Conor Flannery, 7. Patrick O’Connor, 2. Brian O’Connor
3. Tom Leo O’Sullivan, 4. Tom O’Sullivan, 5. Aidan O’Connor
8. Mark O’Connor, 9. Billy O’Connor
15. Niall Geaney, 14. Matthew Flaherty, 10. Tadhg Browne
13. Conor Geaney, 11. Paul Geaney, 12. Dylan Geaney
Subs
St Finbarr’s
1. Darragh Newman
2. Billy Hennessy, 6. Alan O’Connor, 4. Sam Ryan
17. Enda Dennehy, 7. Ciarán Doolan, 12. Conor Dennehy
8. Ian Maguire, 9. Brian Hayes
14. Ethan Twomey, 13. John Wigginton-Barrett, 10. William Buckley
19. Luke Hannigan, 15. Rickey Barrett, 11. Steven Sherlock
Subs
Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare)
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club Dingle GAA Munster St Finbarr's thurles thriller