Kerry SHC: St Brendan's edge Crotta in gripping contest
Kerry SHC Group 1: St Brendan's 1-23 Crotta O'Neill's 3-15
St Brendan's withstood a late Crotta O'Neill's rally to grab a vital win after a keenly contested and gripping Kerry SHC contest played at the Austin Stack Park.
Shane Nolan could have snatched a late equaliser as he appeared to be fouled but the referee was not impressed. On the counter attack, Liam Óg O'Connor scored the insurance point as Pat O'Driscoll's troops celebrated a win that has them in pole position in the group.
St Brendan's had the strong wind in the opening half and raced into 0-6 to 0-1 lead inside ten minutes thanks to three points from Fionan Egan, two from frees, and a brace from the excellent Seanie Brosnan, along with a Seamus O'Halloran special.
But Crotta O'Neills struck for their first goal in the 10th minute when Jordan Conway caught a high centre, and turned his marker before drilling the sliotar low past Darren Delaney.
Egan, playing with his dad John on Father's Day, converted another free but Barry Mahony was winning good ball at midfield along with Nolan who was playing around the middle third.
Crotta struck for a second goal in the 14th minute after Darren Delaney saved Seanie McElligott's initial attempt only for an unmarked Conway to finish to to the net. Crotta now led 2-2 to 0-7 but Liam Óg O'Connor leveled with a superb point.
St Brendan's, with Brosnan and Garry O'Riordan hurling well at midfield, were still in charge as Nathan O'Driscoll and Egan from frees moved 0-12 to 2-2 in front with just seven minutes to half-time.
Points from Nolan and Mahony closed the gap but it was Brosnan with a rasper of a goal in the 25th minute which saw St Brendan's lead 1-13 to 2-6 at the interval.
Crotta, thanks to a Nolan penalty and a free from the same player, were level within three minutes but St Brendan's were always able to respond.
O'Driscoll with three second half points and O'Riordan with two always had St Brendan's in front but Nolan was keeping Crotta in the game as they led 1-19 to 3-11 with ten mintues to go.
Barry Mahony then reduced the deficit to a point in the 52nd minute but three unanswered points from Egan (two frees) and O'Driscoll saw St Brendan's lead by four but Nolan (two frees) and a sublime Evan O'Sullivan scores was not enough as St Brendan's held on to win and now face Ballyduff in their final game to top group.
Scorers for St Brendan's: F Egan (0-8, 6fs, 1x65'), S Brosnan (1-2), N O'Driscoll (0-4), L Og O'Connor (0-3), G O'Riordan and S O'Halloran (0-2 each), E O'Flaherty and J Egan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Crotta O'Neills: S Nolan (1-10, 1-0 pen, 8fs, 1x'65), J Conway (2-0), B Mahony and E O'Sullivan (0-2 each), S McElligott (0-1).
CROTTA O'NEILL'S: D Sayers; D Nolan, B Keane, O Heaton; D Nolan, S Weir, Darragh O'Donoghue; B Mahony, T McKenna; S McElligott, R Mahony, E O'Sullivan; S Nolan, Declan O'Donoghue.
Subs: P Quille for Declan O'Donoghue (40), J McKenna for T McKenna ( 46).
ST BRENDAN'S: D Delaney; M Davis, E Leen, B Daly; G Raggett, D Griffin, D Dineen; G O'Riordan, S Brosnan; S O'Halloran, N O'Driscoll, E O'Flaherty; J Egan, L Óg O'Connor, F Egan
Subs: H Lenihan for M Davis ( h/t) Referee: J O'Halloran (Limerick)
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