Late Murphy point does the trick for Rathmore

Kerry's Paul Murphy under pressure from Ciaran Thompson, Hugh McFadden and Paul Brennan of Donegal.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.

Paul Murphy pointed 35 seconds from the hooter to propel Rathmore to an unforgettable 1-14 to 0-16 Kerry Club SFC quarter-final win over Austin Stacks.

The Kerry corner back’s last-ditch intervention in the second installment of Saturday’s quarter-final double header at Fitzgerald Stadium means that Rathmore are through to a third successive club championship semi-final and remain on course for a first final appearance in 14 years.

Murphy, who nonchalantly popped over the winner as he raided down the right channel, also provided the assist for the game’s only goal, netted early on by Alan Dineen.

It could have been a different story for Stacks, had not Joe O’Connor’s goal effort rebounded off a post or Ryan O’Driscoll and Cian Purcell seen their attempts save by Rathmore goalkeeper William Casey.

Prior to Rathmore finding that late winner, it had looked like it was going to be a second helping of extra time in Killarney. The first quarter-final was also a thriller, with Milltown/Castlemaine beating county league winners Kenmare AET to move into the last four.

Kenmare led by the minimum four minutes into the second period of extra time but unanswered points from Gavin Horan, Sean Hogan, Brendan Casey and Diarmuid Quirke handed Milltown/Castlemaine a historic 0-23 to 0-20 victory and a semi-final date with Rathmore. They are bidding to reach the final for only the second time ever.