Daingean 1-18; St Finbarrs 0-20
Never write off a Kerry team. You would have been tempted to do so at half-time at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Sunday following St. Finbarr’s domination of the scoreboard which saw them turn over five points to the good.
And even down the final strait, the Dingle men were seven points behind and looking like also-rans.
But there is something in the Kerry DNA that defies ordinary logic.
Once they had brought the scoreline back to a three point differential, you felt they might have a goal in them to equalize the occasions and force extra time.
As it transpired they had something better. Even if it was deep into added time now and a two-point special had left a single white flag in the game, they got one last chance when the Cork side didn’t hand over the ball as the new rules require.
When the referee brought it forward to the 45-metre line, it meant Conor Geaney now had the chance not just to level matters but to snatch victory with a two-pointer, which he duly delivered for a first Munster title, much to the delight of the big Kingdom following and the sheer heartbreak of the Cork city side which for 62 of the 63 minutes looked odd-on favorites to advance to the All Ireland series.
The score became possible when Finbarr's sub Bill O'Connell was penalized for not retreating from a foul. The ball went forward 50m which still meant a lot of pressure on Geaney, who kicked it like it was an old fashioned 21-year-free.
If Kerry is rightly on a high this week with both their senior and intermediate representatives collecting provincial honors, save a thought for the Leesiders who must have felt sure they were home in this game more than once.
Centre-forward Stephen Sherlock kicked a magical 0-16 of their total and was rightly named player of the match. They were far ahead, seven in the second half, that it seemed a comeback was beyond their opponents.
The Dingle boys rose to the task and now after bridging a 77-year gap at local level, they are one game away from an All Ireland final appearance. First, though, they must beat Leinster champions Ballyboden St Enda’s early in the New Year.
The ‘Barrs led by five at the interval, 0-14 to 1-6 thanks largely to Sherlock who managed six orange flags in his day’s work.
Only for Paul Geaney’s goal in the 15th minute the Cork side would have been out of sight by the break.
The men in Blue were in charge, though, before the break and despite two Dylan Geaney scores on the resumption, the Cork men hit four in a row to lead by 0-18 to 1-8, they could have been forgiven for thinking their day’s work was done.
A Conor Geaney free began nibbling at the lead and that was followed immediately by a Dylan Geaney two-pointer.
Then the great Kerry star Tom O’Sullivan landed a big score before Brian Hayes got his side’s last point just before the clock struck 50.
Meanwhile the Kerry boys had got the bit between their teeth and Dylan kept us his good work to raise another white flag and then produced a Maurice Fitzgerald-like two pointer from a free to leave the minimum between them - 0-20 to 1-16.
The Barrs had a chance to get a score but a fisted effort went across the goal and then they lost possession when in the third and final minute of added time.
Ref Chris Maguire brought the free forward when some felt a Cork man had been fouled and should have got a shot on goal instead of being pulled for over-carrying. Cometh the hour came Conor Geaney to land a life-changing, immortalizing score for him as a football man down in the Kingdom.
Conor Geaney made no mistake with the free off a turnover inside their own half, and that was the difference.
Daingean Uí Chúis: G Curran; B O'Connor, T L O’Sullivan, T O’Sullivan (0-2); A O’Connor, C Flannery, P O’Connor; M O’Connor (0-1), B O’Connor; T Browne, P Geaney (1-2, 0-1f), D Geaney (0-9, 2 2pt, 0-2f); C Geaney (0-4, 0-2f, 1 2pt(f)), M Flaherty, N Geaney Subs: N Ryan for B O’Connor (40), M Geaney for Browne (48), C Bambury for Flaherty (59).
St Finbarr’s: D Newman; B Hennessy, LHannigan (0-1), S Ryan; E Dennehy, A O’Connor, C Doolan; I Maguire, B Hayes (0-2); W Buckley, S Sherlock (0-16, 6 2pts, 4 2pts frees), C Dennehy; J Wiggington Barrett (0-1), E Twomey, R Barrett Subs: E McGreevey for Barrett (40); C M Murray for Twomey (55); D Quinn for Wiggington Barrett (55).
Ref: C Maguire (Clare)
Sunday 7 December
Munster club SFC final
Daingean Uí Chúis (Kerry) 1-18 St. Finbarr's (Cork) 0-20, FBD
Ulster club IFC final
Glenullin (Derry) 3-15 Cuchulainns (Cavan) 0-19
Leinster club IHC final
Danesfort (Kilkenny) 2-15 Ratoath (Meath) 0-12
Leinster club JHC final
Davidstown Courtnacuddy (Wexford) 3-12 Clane (Kildare) 0-11
Saturday 6 December
Leinster club SHC final
St Martin's (Wex) 0-24 Ballyhale Shamrocks (K’kenny) 2-17
Leinster club SFC final
Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin) 2-18 Athy (Kildare) 1-14
Munster club IFC final
An Ghaeltacht (Kerry) 2-12 Aghabollogue (Cork) 1-8
Munster club JFC final
Ballymacelligot (Kerry) 3-12 Buttevant (Cork) 0-8, Mallow
