DARRAN O’SULLIVAN AND Gavan O’Grady both bagged goals as they powered their club Glenbeigh-Glencar into the AIB All-Ireland junior club football final today.
With plenty Kerry inter-county experience in recent years between them, the pair were always going to be key figures in the semi-final clash in Cusack Park, Ennis.
And they delivered by hitting the net as Glenbeigh-Glencar saw off Mayo’s Louisburgh by 4-14 to 0-13 to book a place in the Croke Park final on 18 February.
The contribution of Kieran Courtney was also vital for the winners as he hit 2-3 overall while O’Sullivan and O’Grade weighed in with 1-3 apiece.
The victory continues Kerry’s dominance at this level as Glenbeigh-Glencar will seek to be the third successive club from the county to be crowned champions after Templenoe and Brosna’s recent wins.
Seven Kerry clubs in all have lifted this All-Ireland title but Glenbeigh-Glencar looked to be in serious trouble as Louisburgh raced into an early 0-7 to 0-0 advantage with former Mayo senior Austin O’Malley to the fore.
But once Kerry senior O’Sullivan popped up with their opening point in the 9th minute, the Mid Kerry club never looked back with Caolim Teahan – a Kerry All-Ireland minor winner last year – particularly prominent.
They dominated the remainder of the first half with Courtney notching the first goal in the 18th minute after great work from O’Grady before he than bagged their second goal in the 24th minute.
At the break Glenbeigh-Glencar were ahead 2-8 to 0-10 and they put the game to bed in the second half with goals from O’Sullivan in the 39th minute and Courtney in the 46th minute.
Their opponents in the decider will be Tyrone’s Rock St Patrick’s, 1-18 to 2-6 winners in Armagh today over Edinburgh’s Dunedin Connolly’s.
They were in front 1-8 to 1-4 at half time today with Eamon Ward notching the Rock’s goal while Francis Molloy raised a green flag for the Scottish outfit.
Another goal arrived for Dunedin in the finale through Brian McAteer but the Tyrone outfit – who included All-Ireland senior winner Ciaran Gourley in their ranks – held out to progress.
It will be The Rock’s third attempt to land the All-Ireland title at this grade after losing the 2008 final to Cork’s Canovee and the 2015 semi-final to Kerry’s Brosna.
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