IN a game that never rose above mediocrity East Kerry made it three county championships in a row when they defeated a gallant Feale Rangers at rainswept Austin Stack Park.
The elements contrived to make good football almost impossible, but that does not explain why the fare was so sub-standard. Feale Rangers, trailing 0-3 to 0-5 at half-time were on fire at the start of the second half and a Noel Kennelly point and a fisted goal from Jack Corridan had Rangers 1-4 to 05 ahead. But two quick points from Paud O'Donoghue soon had East Kerry on level terms. Feale Rangers moved clear again with Stephen Stack in inspirational form and Paul Galvin and Noel Kennelly added two points but incredibly they failed to score again.
East Kerry grew in confidence as the rain came down and Seamus Moynihan lifted his side with some outstanding defending.
EAST KERRY: D O'Keeffe; A Morris, T O'Sullivan, M O'Donoghue; C McCarthy, S Moynihan, D Moynihan; D Daly (0-2), C O'Connor; M D Cahill (0-1), S Og O'Laoire, L Murphy (0-2); P O'Donoghue (0- 5), J Crowley, J Murphy. Subs: D Sullivan for A Morris; M Cronin for C O'Connor.
FEALE RANGERS: J Somers; T Dillon, E Fitzmaurice, J Stack; L Keane, S Stack, E Breen; M Kearney, B Whelan; E Galvin, N Kennelly (0-2), T Kennelly (0-2); P Galvin (0-1), A Dunne, B Scanlan (0-1). Subs: J Corridan (1-0) for T Dillon; D Galvin for A Dunne; P Somers for M Kearney. Referee: Tommy Gilligan (Valentia)
