Rathmore and Na Gaeil complete Kerry SFC semi-final line-up

Rathmore and Na Gaeil defeated Austin Stacks and Dingle respectively tonight to progress to the Kerry SFC semi-finals.

In a brilliantly entertaining double-header played out in difficult conditions at windy Austin Stack Park in Tralee, local side Na Gaeil recorded a historic 1-15 to 0-17 victory over Dingle, from whom county star Paul Geaney registered 0-12 after coming on as a substitute.

Diarmuid O’Connor top-scored for Na Gaeil with 1-2, while Dara Devine was on target four times. The winners led by 1-10 to 0-2 at half time and just about held off Dingle’s Geaney-inspired revival.

Austin Stacks looked to be on course for victory with 50 minutes played in the second instalment, with Paddy Lane and Cian Purcell having mined a combined 1-11, but Rathmore outscored them by 1-4 to 0-1 in the last ten minutes to claim a thrilling 2-12 to 1-13 success, Paul Murphy and Shane Ryan nailing the decisive points for the East Kerry men.

Brien Friel clinically delivered the first Rathmore major in the 45th minute and Kerry U20 forward Ciaran Collins set up a grandstand finale when equalising on 56 minutes by drilling a penalty past Michael Tansley.

Tonight’s winners join holders Dr Crokes and Kenmare in the last four of the race for the Michael O’Connor Cup.