Long wait for O'Rahilly's ends

Kerins O'Rahilly's ... 0-14 Kilcummin ... 0-5 Kerins O'Rahilly's became Kerry football champions yesterday ending a 45-year wait when they crushed Kilcummin's hopes of annexing a first title at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

With Kerry senior panellist Barry O'Shea outstanding at full back for O'Rahilly's and Declan Quill a constant threat in the corner, it was never going to be Kilcummin's day and it will be interesting to see if either player nails down a permanent place on Páidí Ó Sé's starting line-up as victory also carries the honour of the Kerry captaincy.

O'Rahilly's were the dominant side throughout with their half-back line, particularly Gareth Walsh and Philip O'Connor, along with the hard-working Timmy O'Sullivan at midfield matching the spoiling tactics of Kilcummin who over-elaborated the short game. When Kilcummin did get ball into their lively full-forward line the O'Rahilly's full back line, led by O'Shea, was magnificent.

It was all O'Rahilly's early on and after kicking a number of wides their man of the match Ger O'Brien opened the scoring in the sixth minute and when Quill followed with two more points, one from a free, Kilcummin looked in big trouble.

O'Rahilly's finished the half in style with O'Brien kicking a massive point after a poor kick-out by Kilcummin and when John O'Connor and Quill pointed from the sideline O'Rahilly's led 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.

The second half proved even more emphatic for O'Rahilly's as their strength and experience told and Kilcummin could not raise their game despite the efforts of Kevin Bruton, Tommy Brosnan, and their county star, Michael McCarthy.

Kilcummin could get no change from the O'Rahilly's defence and they managed just two points in the second half, both frees by Fleming. The fact that not one of their forwards scored other than Fleming and their only point from play came from centre back McCarthy tells its own story.

O'Rahilly's, meanwhile, put Kilcummin to the sword with Michael Quirke and O'Sullivan assuming control at midfield and when Ger Molloy kicked two early points from play to be followed by a superb effort from O'Sullivan the writing was on the wall for the Killarney side.

That burst effectively decided the game and in the final 15 minutes O'Rahilly's cruised to victory. It was left to O'Brien to embellish a great display with two further points while Quill added a couple of frees.

O'Rahilly's will play Nemo Rangers in the semi-final of the Munster club championship.

KERINS O'RAHILLY'S: D Sweeney; K Savage, B O'Shea, M O'Shea; P O'Connor, G Walsh, J Kelly; M Quirke, T O'Sullivan (0-1); G O'Brien (0-4), A Daly, G Molloy (0-2); A Murphy (0-1), D Quill (0-4, three free), J O'Connor (0-2). Subs: O Molloy for A Daly, M Nix for J Kelly, M Fitzgerald for J O'Connor.

KILCUMMIN: C Dohertry; K Bruton, K O'Donoghue, T Brosnan; T Cooper, N Mangan, TJ Fleming (0-3, frees); M McCarthy (0-1), E O'Donoghue (0-1); R O'Connor, P McCarthy, S O'Leary; B Brosnan, DJ Fleming, M O'Connor. Subs: P O'Donoghue for M O'Connor S B O'Doherty for B Brosnan.

Referee: P Lyons (Laune Rangers),