The Saints came away from Kerry with a point after leading 1-2 in added time, the hosts scored a free kick in the 91st minute to equalise, the visitors then scored what they thought was the winner in the 92nd only to have it ruled by the home sides linesman.
Kerry started the stronger of the two sides but never really tested the Saints keeper, up the other end Biggs and Macnamara started to combine well and cause the home team defence problems. The first goal came after 25 minutes, Brendan Hackett threaded a through ball to the on running Biggs who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the back of the empty net 0-1.
Five minutes later Hackett sent Will Goodwin away down the right wing, he cut the ball back and that man Biggs was there again to make 0-2 with a good finish at the near post.
A lack of concentration saw Kerry pull a goal back within 60 seconds, a cross from the left was met with a good header from the impressive Mumford making the score 1-2.
Biggs had a chance to make it 1-3 but shot straight at the keeper, the last ten minutes of the half was a pretty uneventful affair. Ht 1-2.
The second half saw the visitors take control of the game, Finn and Hackett were on top in the middle of the park and the defence dealt with any attack with ease, in fact the Saints keeper had one save to make in the second period.
The impressive Macnamara twice jinked his way through but put his efforts wide, substitute Kev Jones cut in from the left and shot but his effort flew out off the post with the keeper well beat.
With the 90 minutes up the referee indicated 3 minutes added time. In the 91st minute Kerry were awarded a free kick near the half way line, a defender pumped a long ball into the box which flew past everyone up into the top left hand corner of the goal to make it 2-2.
The Saints didn’t drop their heads and from the kick off defender Chris Preece rode a couple of tackles, played a one two with Jones on the edge of the box, Preece then went around the last defender before shooting at goal, the home keeper blocked it, the ball bounced up on the line, a home defender in panic sliced it into his own net, while everyone was celebrating the home club linesman raised his flag for offside and the goal was disallowed. Ft 2-2.
2 goal Jack Biggs on the right.
We weren’t great first half but defended well and took our chances when they came, the three lads up front know they have to do the business with only two places available, it’s one position we are very strong as shown today with last seasons top scorer Kevin Jones having to make do with a place on the bench. The second half we were the dominant side and had enough chances to win it. Our back four were excellent especially in that second half, reducing Kerry to one header on goal which was excellently saved.
The last two minutes were bizarre, first the ball flies into the net in the top stanchion like it had been strategically placed there, then we get a good goal disallowed.
I asked the referee at half time if he could keep an eye on the home linesman because I felt he was raising his flag whenever the home bench shouted “OFFSIDE”, now we all know this happens a lot in local football, the ref said he had noticed and had overruled him on a couple of times, I said thank you and left it at that, by the way I thought the ref had a good game.
Now that goal in the 92nd minute that was given offside, Chris Preece played a ball into Kev Jones who had a defender behind him, Jones played it back, Preece then ran past another defender, so at this point nobody can be offside and no flag came up, Preece then shot, the keeper saves, one of the Kerry players slices it into his own net, none of their team ask for offside, well why would they, we all start jumping up and down celebrating then the lino puts his flag up for offside.
Just so you all know i’m not bitter!
My man of the match once again goes to Chris Preece who was excellent throughout the 90 minutes.