Munster Club FC Semi-finals St Senan's, Kilkee 1-14 An Ghealtacht 2-7: St Senan's of Kilkee reached the final of the Munster championship when they had a deserved win over Kerry side An Ghaeltacht at Cooraclare yesterday.
The west Clare side face Cork champions Nemo Rangers in the decider on December 11th.
Kilkee last reached this stage of the competition in 2003 but were unsuccessful, going down by two points to An Ghaeltacht. So revenge played a big factor in motivating the Clare men for yesterday's game.
The final scoreline was rather flattering to the Kerry representatives, who found it difficult to cope with Kilkee's fast and fluid running game. Their goals, one in each half, could be described as being of the soft variety.
Kilkee corner back Ger Crotty unfortunately found the back of his own net when the ball deflected off him after goalkeeper Derek Garvey blocked a Dara Ó Cinnéide shot.
In the second half Cathal Ó Dubhda capitalised on a defensive error and got a toe to a Rob Mac Gearailt delivery. His quick thinking saw him thread the ball between two defenders.
The Clare side's 0-7 to 1-3 lead at half-time should have been bigger but the own goal and a tally of seven wides ensured An Ghaeltacht were still in contention. The men from Kerry did come close to scoring a goal in the 12th minute, but Ronan Ó Flatharta's shot hit the crossbar after deceiving Garvey.
A six-minute spell between the 44th and 50th minutes saw Kilkee shoot a goal and four points to no reply. It was a quick and calculated response to An Ghaeltacht's second goal.
Denis Russell (two), Derek de Loughery and Christy Kirwin had points and when David Russell goaled from a Gearóid Lynch pass there was no way back for the Kerry side.
Three late scores from Aodán Mac Gearailt, a Dara Ó Cinnéide 45 and an effort by substitute Tomás Ó Muircheartaigh helped to reduce the final deficit. But over the hour a palpable desire and hunger lifted Kilkee.
ST SENAN'S, KILKEE: D Garvey; M Galvin, D Kelly, G Crotty; C Kirwin (0-2), David Russell (1-0), T Galvin; D de Loughery (0-1), K Larkin; N O'Shea, B Harte (0-2), J Larkin; G Keane (0-2), Denis Russell (0-3, one free), M O'Shea (0-4). Subs: G Lynch for G Keane (23 mins), M Keane for B Harte (59 mins).
AN GHAELTACHT: T Mac An tSaoir; M Ó Sé, D Mac Gearailt, M Mac Gearailt (0-1); B Breathnach (0-1), R Mac Gearailt, E Ó Beaglaoich; Daragh Ó Sé, E Mac Gearailt; C Cruadhlaoich, R Ó Flatharta, C Ó Dubhda; T Ó Conchuir, D Ó Cinnéide (0-3, two frees, one 45), A Mac Gearailt (0-1). Subs: SM Ó Conchuir for E Mac Gearailt (45 mins), F Ó Sé for C Cruadhlaoich (47 mins), T Ó Muircheartaigh (0-1) for T Ó Conchuir (50 mins), Daithi Ó Sé for C Ó Dubhda (1-0) (55 mins). Own-goal: G Crotty (Kilkee).
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).
