KERRY SFC SEMI-FINALS:A SECOND minute goal by Darran O'Sullivan proved crucial as hot favourites Mid Kerry eventually saw off the challenge of a Séamus Moynihan-inspired East Kerry but only after extra time – 1-12 to 1-7.

The sides were level at half-time with former Mid Kerry medal winner Alfie Giles getting the East Kerry goal, but in a stop-start second half, Moynihan, who rolled back the years at 38 when he came on in the 24th minute, almost carried the day.

However it was a bitter-sweet win for Darran O’Sullivan who will now have to withdraw from the Irish International Rules team, as Mid Kerry’s request to bring the final forward a week fell on deaf ears.

Mid Kerry will meet Dr Crokes in the final after the champions edged out West Kerry by a point – 0-13 to 1-9 – in a cliff-hanger.

Crokes exploded into action with three points inside as many minutes with Colm Cooper scoring two, though he was being marked by Marc Ó Sé.

However West Kerry settled and thanks to a Jason Hickson goal, they trailed the Crokes by only a point at half time, 0-7 to 1-3.

Just like the previous week, it was Kieran O’Leary not Cooper who bailed Crokes out, kicking 0-4 from play as Crokes hung on to win by the minimum, though West Kerry missed two late chances to level, when Gene Farrell and Alan Fitzgerald failed to hit the target.

“Look our feeling is that we have had three weekends playing a row and the turnover of seven days is causing problems, said Crokes’ Harry O’Neill about the International Rules issue.

“We did it last year and it nearly cost us. I mean the county final has been fixed for October 30th and I know there has been a move to bring it forward to next weekend to accommodate Darran, but our first duty is to the Crokes club and to the players.”