We played Inter Kenmare in Kenmare on Saturday 15th in our third last league game. Kenmare have a young team who make it difficult for any visitors and it was no different here. Park had a dream start when a neat pass from James Rusk put Robin McCarthy through to score with just 50 seconds on the clock yet the next 20 minutes were to be all Inter. Immediately on top in midfield Inter refused to allow Park settle on their lead and when a chance presented itself, following some sloppy work by the Park defence in the seventh minute, they duly took it, to even matters up. Sustained pressure from the Kenmare boys over the next 10 minutes yielded no more than a succession of corners which were met time and again by a now wide awake Park defence. Sean Carmody aided ably by Kevin Browne, who was starting his first match in some time, was really beginning to dominate the Kenmare attack and slowly but surely the Park boys found their feet. On 20 minutes Michael Slattery was fouled thirty yards out. He dusted himself off, drove his free hard into the wind and following a cruel bounce in front of the keeper it ended up in the Kenmare net. That settled the Park boys a little and six minutes later it was 3-1 to Park. Michael O’Gara’s fine corner landed in the centre of the Kenmare box. Sean Carmody met the ball with an overhead kick and this landed at the feet of Adam Ward who finished to the net at the second attempt. The last real action of the first half was a Michael Slattery free kick which he put wide two minutes from the half time whistle. Park started the second half well. A few half chances went a begging from Michael O’Gara and Niall Sertuxta but then came the goal of the day. Picking up a throw ten yards outside the left corner of the Inter box, Niall Sertuxta took one touch and unleashed an unstoppable bullet of a shot to the top left hand corner of the Kenmare net. 4-1 to Park and effectively the game was over. Kenmare’s long ball game was being dealt with very effectively by the aforementioned duo of Carmody and Browne while Niall Sertuxta was having a fine second half. Thomas Burke, Josh Wadding, Ruairi O’Kelly and Conor Higgins came in to close out the game and did their jobs very well. Indeed O’Kelly and Higgins combined to create a late chance for Park which was scrambled clear by the Inter boys. Final score, Inter Kenmare 1, Park 4.
That result puts us on top of the league but our main rivals have games in hand which should put them ahead. However it’s points on the board that count so let’s see what our final two games bring. Thanks a million to the parents who made the long drive to get our players there and provided support. We train again next Friday night and now have great momentum heading into our final two league games and the cup quarter final.
Panel on Saturday was Aaron Ward, Kevin Browne, Matt Lukco, Sean Carmody, John Ward, Michael O’Gara, Niall Sertuxta, James Rusk, Adam Ward, Michael Slattery, Robin McCarthy, Ruairi O’Kelly, Conor Higgins, Thomas Burke and Josh Wadding. Dylan Casey missed the game due to family commitments. Great to see Donagh McMahon at the game and hopefully he along with Shane and Gearoid will be back in action soon.
Report by P.Carmody
