24 July 2022 – Underneath a scorching sun in Canton, Kerry Boston GFC and Christophers Boston met for the second time this Championship season. In a potential preview of the Intermediate Final, both sides set out looking to prove they were the side to beat.
The Christophers struck first, with some well worked play resulting in a quick two point lead just a few minutes in. As Kerry moved forward to create some chances of their own, several went wide and the Kingdom were unable to find any holes in the Christophers defense. As play turned over, the Christophers would break forward and draw several fouls, including a penalty, and convert all of their free chances.
Heading into the first water break at 15 minutes, Kerry looked to gain back some momentum and leaned heavily on forward Rian O’Sullivan and center back James Farrell to slow down the tempo in an attempt to control the game. Forwards Jack Casey and Gearoid Dillane successfully split the uprights to add to the Kerry tally, but when the whistle for the first break blew the Kerry men would be facing a steep deficit of 0-3 (3 points) to 1-4 (7 points).
When the sides reconvened after a much needed hydration intermission, it was the green and gold who came out firing. Both forward lines were able to generate space and begin throwing points over the bar, and only by the narrowest of margins did the Kingdom miss out on a goal to bring things level with about 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Kerry also began finding more success on the defensive side of the ball, as Noel Hattan and Alex Clark stifled several attacks from the Christophers. The tightened defense opened up the field for the Kingdom, with halfbacks Shane O’Connor and Connor Stark darting forward to jumpstart counter attack efforts that resulted in scores from Jack Farrell, Dillane, O’Sullivan and Stark. After finding themselves in a hole to start the match, Kerry would find themselves level with Christophers when the first half came to an end with both sides sitting at 9 points.
Coming out of the stop, Kerry would continue pushing forward the momentum they had gained in the first half. One reason for the change would be midfielder Declan O’Sullivan’s relentless attacking of kickouts, as the big man snagged several high balls and fed the ball into the Kerry attack. Declan O’Sullivan and Rian O’Sullivan would each find the mark, opening up the Kingdom’s first lead of the afternoon.
Christophers would not be content to let Kerry run away with the match, however, and some substitutions provided some necessary sparks to enable the sides to trade points for much of the second half, with Kerry maintaining the narrowest of margins heading into the second water break.
With 15 minutes left to play, both sides showed tremendous heart to push forward amid 100℉ (37℃) heat. Jack Farrell and Rian O’Sullivan continued to stamp their names in the Kerry scoresheet, but the lead never eclipsed four points and Christophers would narrow that to a single point on several occasions. Farrell’s final score of the day proved to be the decisive margin, and when the match reached its conclusion the scoreline read 0-17 (17 points) Kerry to 1-12 (15 points) Christophers.
The win secured Kerry a place in the Intermediate Final, but nothing in Championship football comes easy and Kerry still have a match against the Shannon Blues on Saturday, July 30 at 5:30pm. As the regular season draws near to an end, the Kingdom will look to close it out strong as they will see either the Christophers or the Blues in the Final on August 14.
Man of the Match: Rian O’Sullivan
Kerry Scoring
- Rian O’Sullivan (0-6, 6 points)
- Jack Farrell (0-4, 4 points)
- Gearoid Dillane (0-3, 3 points)
- Jack Casey (0-1, 1 point)
- Aaron Molloy (0-1, 1 point)
- Declan O’Sullivan (0-1, 1 point)
- Connor Stark (0-1, 1 point)
Kerry Boston GFC 