Long-awaited win over Waterville
THE eagerly awaited first round South Kerry senior football championship game between the Valentia Young Islanders and Waterville Frank Caseys was played on Saturday, November 3.
It took place at O’Connor Park in Chapeltown, Valentia.It was played in an electric atmosphere to a large attendance in relatively dry but windy conditions.
Gerard O’Donoghue, Valentia’s esteemed bagpiper, set the tone by playing the National Anthem from the middle of the field.
Referee Billy O’Shea of Keel threw in the ball with Valentia playing with the wind into the village goal, looking resplendent in their new Divane’s Garage Castleisland-sponsored jerseys.
The usually reliable John Shanahan missed an easy free for the islanders in the very early stages. Waterville’s Jamie O’Sullivan opened the scoring with a point, which was replied to by a point from John Shanahan.
Full-forward Keith Moran then scored a Waterville goal, but Valentia’s midfielder Jim Lynch replied with two fine long-distance points, with Valentia’s Paul O’Connor very skilfully adding another.
Barry Dwyer pointed a Waterville free, but three points from Barry Lynch, Andy Quigley (a free) and Paul O’Connor left the score at 0-7 to 1-2 in favour of the Young Islanders.
Midfielder Gearóid O’Sullivan added a Waterville free, replied to by a John Shanahan free but, not to be outdone, Gearóid O’Sullivan pointed another free.
That left the score at 0-8 to 1-4 in favour of the Young Islanders. Valentia’s full forward, Stephen Sheehan, was proving a good target man inside, making life very difficult for the Waterville defence.
Having won another ball, he bulldozed towards goal, and the former London Kingdom Kerry Gaels man and popular proprietor of the Ring Lyne Bar was fouled in the square for a penalty.
However, John Shanahan’s effort was well saved by the Waterville goalie Patrick O’Dwyer, but referee Billy O’Shea of Keel ordered it to be re-taken as he deemed that Waterville players ran in while the penalty was taken.
Andy Quigley clinically and expertly goaled from the spot.
Barry Dwyer answered with a pointed Waterville free and Paul O’Connor replied with a Valentia point. It left the islanders with a lead of 1-9 to 1-5 at half time.
Barry Dwyer opened the second half scoring with a pointed free. John Shanahan added a free to leave Valentia ahead by 1-10 to 1-6. Barry Dwyer added two more pointed frees to narrow the gap to two points, but points by Andy Quigley and John Shanahan (a free) extended Valentia’s lead to four points once more, 1-12 to 1-8.
“Come on the island,’’ urged Valentia’s colourful and passionate manager, Michael A O’Connell. Barry Lynch at centre forward was showing huge work rate, running at the Waterville defence.
Paul O’ Sullivan was our best defender throughout and John Lynch was quietly efficient. When Valentia led by 1-11 to 1-8 in the closing stages Andy Quigley’s close-in free hit the post adding to the anxiety of the home following. Two more Barry Dwyer frees brought the scoring back to 1-12 to 1-10. Waterville had three wides, which really crucified them.
Then towards the end of the game, we had real drama. With Waterville trailing by two points, a rasping Waterville shot hit the underside of the crossbar and hopped back to play. Waterville’s Keith Moran kicked the rebound for goal, but it was heroically saved by Valentia’s John O’Connor. who very bravely dived from nowhere, the ball hiting him in the face. It was a reminder of a similar save by the late Páidí Ó Sé towards the end of the 1980 All-Ireland final versus Roscommon.
Valentia supporters’ hearts collectively missed a beat in those tense moments; a goal would have been a cruel blow. Waterville won a ‘45, but after the ensuing kick the final whistle blew, much to the relief of delirious Valentia Young Islanders fans.
It was long overdue as our last victory over Waterville in a South Kerry championship encounter was in the replayed final of 1993, which Valentia won on a score of 0-10 to 0-8. That team of 25 years ago will be commemorated at this year’s South Kerry final. Subsequently, Waterville won the last seven encounters versus Valentia (not finals) in 1994, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The London-based Valentia players Barry Lynch and John O’Connor were flown over for this match and have also come for training sessions. They are akin to Padraig Kearney, Mayo’s ‘Flying Doctor’, who was flown from New York in the ‘ 50s for league matches.
Goalie Richard Quigley is 52, John Daly is 47, Junior Murphy is 45, and John Shanahan is 41. We could be described as the Valentia ‘not-so-young islanders’, but full credit to these players for keeping the show of this proud club on the road.
The Ring Lyne was hopping with unbridled joy and euphoria afterwards. Its management and local, staunch GAA women ensured everyone was looked after with food aplenty in changing rooms and the bar. Our four visiting Kenmare friends, Arthur O’Sullivan, Donal McCarthy, James McCarthy and Jackie Tuohy were supplied with copious supplies as replenishment for their long journey home.
The Valentia v St Mary’s South Kerry Championship semi-final will take place next Sunday in Portmagee, commencing at 1.30.