Legion find western voyage profitable after narrow victory

WHILE this senior championship game didn’t have the high octane intensity of last week’s drawn encounter, we were nevertheless treated to a riveting contest in Páirc an Ághasaigh last Sunday. With 23 of the games 25 scores coming from open play, the large attendance were highly entertained by some excellent open attacking football from two sides that were intent on winning the game by playing in a positive free flowing style.

The conditions were ideal for the brand of football on offer. Although there was a strong breeze, the beautiful sunny day and perfect sod benefited two very fit and pacey teams.

Both sides went about their business with gusto, and the game was level at three points apiece after just five minutes. The pick of the points was a superb punched effort from Dingle wing back Tom O’Sullivan after a strong run down the stand side of the field.

Legion struck for a pivotal goal two minutes later when Conor Culloty finished to the net following a good exchange of passes between Jack O’Neill and Finbarr Murphy.

The excellent Conor Keane added his first point of the contest a minute later to push the Killarney side four points ahead, 1-4 to 0-3. With just eight minutes gone on the clock, it was shaping up to be an epic encounter.

The partisan Dingle support urged their side on and they responded in kind with three points on the bounce, two from Conor Keane and the other from Tomas Sheehy. As the game ebbed and flowed both sides were guilty of some poor turnovers until Denis Sheehan pointed for Legion after a good solo run through the middle.

Although dominating possession, the Legion forwards were finding it difficult to penetrate the disciplined Dingle defence. Donal Lyne did find a way through and was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a goal-bound effort, but Billy McGuire was on hand to collect the rebound and put the ball over the bar.

James O’Donoghue then added another point and Legion now led by four points once more , 1-7 to 0-6. Dingle needed to respond once again and they did so with a Paul Geaney point after a long delivery from midfield, and a Conor Geaney pointed free. The half time whistle sounded soon afterwards and Legion went in to the dressing room two points ahead 1-7 to 0-8.

Dingle had the aid of the breeze in the second half but it was Dingle who attacked first and Paul Geaney was unlucky when his shot for a goal went just wide. The lively Tomas Sheehy did score a superb point in the 35th minute for Dingle, but with Legion now making use of the breeze and driving the ball long, points from Donal Lyne, a monster 50 metre free kick from James O’Donoghue and another Finbarr Murphy effort pushed them 1-10 to 0-9 ahead.

Dingle seemed unsure in possession and were struggling to put their passes together. The Legion defence were dealing quite comfortably with whatever was thrown at them with Danny Sheehan and Darragh O’Doherty especially prominent in the back line.

Then out of nowhere Dingle fashioned a goal that brought them right back into the game. Tom O’Sullivan, who had a very industrious outing throughout, set of on a pacey, aggressive run through the middle of the Legion defence.

O’Sullivan parted to Conor Geaney who spilled the ball, but his cousin Paul Geaney was on hand to finish soccer style to the back of Brian Kelly’s net. There was now just a single point in the game but Legion responded in style once more and Conor Keane hit a superb point with the outside of his right boot.

The game did go a little bit flat at this stage as both sides swapped some bad wides as fatigue appeared to take its toll. Dingle were desperately striving to get the scores to keep them in the game and Matthew Flaherty obliged in the 48th minute to leave the score at 1-11 to 1-10.

Three minutes later Paul Geaney put over to level the game and suddenly all the momentum appeared to have swung Dingle’s way. Conor Keane was not finished however and he pointed once again to put Legion one ahead with seven on the clock.

There was still time for Dingle to try and fashion an equaliser, but a couple of poor wides did not help their cause. In the dying moments tempers flared as both sides fought for victory, but it was Legion who managed to hold out for a one point win 1-12 to 1-11.