Waterville edge out close encounter with Sneem/Derrynane

image

South Kerry Senior Championship 2025 Quarter Final
Waterville 1:13
Sneem/Derrynane 1:11

By Maurice Coffey

The final Walsh’s Super Valu South Kerry senior ¼ final was played in Glorious Waterville on Sunday where the home side Waterville were up against Near Rivals Sneem/Derrynane . Waterville were first on the score board when Jamie O’Sullivan swung over a point Soon after Sneem/Derrynane responded when Tadhg O’Sullivan after a great run set up Ruari Burns to equalise Sneem/Derrynane were set up very defensive for the opening 15minutes , protecting their arc and happy to let Waterville have possession in the middle third of the field.

Advertisement

Waterville took control at this stage first Jack curran was fouled on a run and Barry O’Dwyer kicked over the resulting free. Then moments later, when after a poor kick out Barry O’Dwyer won the ball and passed in to Jack O’Shea he was Lucky not to be punished for picking the ball straight off the ground , He passed on to Barry who blasted to the net , Oran Clifford and Jack O’Shea extended the lead to leave Waterville ahead by 1-4 to 0-1 mid way through the half .

Sneem/Derrynane continued with their Zonal defence leaving Waterville keep ball before Oisin Breen was fouled on the run , Tom Clifford kicked over the free and followed this soon after with a point from play . Jack Riney kicked a great 2 point free from outside the arc after Tom Clifford was fouled ,Then Oisin Breen intercepted a side line kick by Waterville and soloed infield to fire over and leave the bare minimum between the teams at half time 1-4 to 0-6 in favour of Waterville ,Jack Curran pointed a free on the restart , but Waterville failed to score for the next 20 minutes .

Sneem/Derrynane dominated now but were lucky to score when after a push on the back of a Waterville player they broke up field and Ciaran O’Sullivan kicked over. Oisin Breen then fielded a great ball in mid field and after a passing movement between Zac Fayne and Jack Riney who flicked on to Ruari Burns and he lashed to the net to give his side the lead . the game became very passive for a while , no real attacking , only keep ball by both teams.

Advertisement

Two frees by Jack Riney and Oisin Breen had the visitors up by 4 points with 10 minutes on the clock . Waterville finished the stronger when first James Fitzgerald kicked over a 2 pointer just after coming on as a sub , then after good work Marcus Dreaper set up man of the match Eoin Murphy to kick over another 2 pointer and draw the sides level with 7 minutes left to play . Ciaran O’Sullivan who came more into the game in the second half then restored his sides lead before Jamie O’Sullivan responded with another Mighty 2 pointer to put Waterville back in Front . The game was in the melting pot now and when Waterville were awarded a free outside the arc veteran Barry O’Dwyer Calmly kicked over to leave 3 points between the sides .

Adam Corridan responded with a 45’ But Waterville held on to win . Ater a brilliant final 10 minutes in which they kicked four massive 2 pointers Waterville will look forward to their semi final next weekend while the visitors will w-onder on what happened in those final 10 minutes.

SCORERS / WATERVILLE – Barry O’Dwyer (1-3), 1/2p free, 1f, Jamie O’Sullivan (0-3) 1/2p, James Fitzgerald (0-2) 1/2p, Eoin Murphy (0-2) 1/2p Jack Curran, Jack O’Shea & Oran Clifford (0-1each)

Advertisement

SNEEM/DERRYNANE – Ruairi Burns 1-1, Jack Riney 0-3 , 1/2pf, Oisin Breen 0-2, 1f, Tom Clifford 0-2, 1f, Ciaran O’Sullivan 0-2,Adam Corridan 0-1 (45),
TEAMS /WATERVILLE Cillian O’Shea, Cillian Cronin (jc) Shane draper, Ronan Murphy , Cillian Clifford , Pearse O’Sullivan , Darragh O’Dwyer , Eoin Murphy , Andrew Walsh , Jack Curran (jc), Barry O’Dwyer , Jack O’Shea , Marcus Draper , Oran Clifford , Jamie O’Sullivan / SUBS – Fergal Cronin , Fionan Clifford , Dylan Huggard , James Fitzgerald , SNEEM/DERRYNANE – Shane McGillicuddy , Adam Corridan , Michael O’Sullivan, Brendan O’Sullivan , Denis O’Sullivan , Jim Clifford , Zak Fayen , Ciaran O’Sullivan , Fintan O’Sullivan, Tadhg O’Sullivan , Jack Riney , Cillian O’Sullivan , Ruairi Burns , Oisin Breen , Tom Clifford / SUBS – David Mc Gillicuddy , Darragh Murphy , REFEREE / Connie O’Connor ( Glenbeigh/ Glencar )