The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Tralee strike back to take title
LEE STRAND COUNTY UNDER 16 PLATE FINAL Tralee 4-13 East Kerry 4-9
THEY tell an old story about Robert the Bruce, his army battered and beaten as England’s would-be king hid in a cave.
While there, he watched a spider make several attempts to climb up the wall and make a web. Time and again, the spider was defeated, but time and again, it kept trying .... until, eventually, it succeeded. Heeding the lesson of perseverance, Robert resolved to try again ....
There were no spiders in Farranfore last Sunday morning – the place was immaculate – but Tralee’s hopes of taking home silverware looked much worse than Robert’s of ever winning a throne.
They trailed by 3-8 to 1-6 at that point and East Kerry were ripping them apart all over the field. But, just like the Scottish king, Tralee refused to buckle, and ensured that the second half would be a different story.
Barry Keane had opened the game with two points before Michael Kelliher opened Tralee’s account with a free. Michéal Devlin and Barry Keane replied before outstanding midfielder Darragh Lyne burst through for a spectacular goal.
Darren Looney managed to keep going past several tackles to slot the ball home to make it 2-4 to 0-1. Darragh Fitzgerald pulled one back before a very impressive Michael Slattery got in on the right and blasted to the net to give Tralee hope.
Michéal Devlin responded with a third East Kerry goal after good work by Gary Vaughan and Barry Keane made it 3-5 to 1-2. Tralee were winning some ball at this stage, but hit four wides on the trot, whereas East Kerry only had three wides in the entire half. Barry Keane set up Darren looney for another point.
Tralee finished the half stronger, with Michael Kelliher, Sean Quilter, an impressive Daniel O’Rourke, and Gearoid Sheehan all scoring, with Cian O’Shea and Barry Keane on target for East Kerry.
Half-time: East Kerry 3-8 Tralee 1-6
The game looked all but over already. In fact, it might have been, but for a fantastic save by David Oba in the Tralee goal. Michael Kelliher almost snuck a goal at the other end, but Shane O’Sullivan managed to punch it away and Darragh Lyne cleared on the goal-line.
However, the Legion man had to hobble off injured and his loss was a big blow to East Kerry, while a resilient and determined Tralee were beginning to dominate proceedings.
It still took ten minutes for the first second half score to arrive, a neatly converted point by driving centre back Dylan Casey. Michael Slattery got in for his second goal and suddenly it was 3-8 to 2-7.
Barry Keane slotted an East Kerry free, but that was to be their last score until the final minutes and Sean Quilter cancelled it out immediately. Gearoid Sheehan, an instrumental playmaker all day, cut through a gap to fire a goal.
It had looked as if the ball might have gone out of play originally, but Tralee were absolutely correct to play to the whistle, and a ball kicked away in protest followed by a foul in play saw East Kerry lose a player to two quick yellows – referee Billy O’Shea was quite correct, and Tralee were able to profit from the new space available.
Sean Quilter with a free put them into the lead, man of the match Michael Slattery added another, and Alex O’Shea put a goal between them after a great defensive catch by Daniel O’Rourke. David Couchard struck a real hammer blow with Tralee’s fourth goal and Michael Slattery split the posts for their final point.
They had outscored East Kerry by 3-7 to 0-1 in the second half, and a well-taken late goal by Michael Linehan was mere consolation for East Kerry in the finish.
Chairman of Kerry Coiste na nÓg Tom Keane presented the Plate to Tralee District captain Dylan Casey after a really gripping finale.
Oh, Robert the Bruce? Inspired by that spider, he re-entered war with Edward II of England, and completely routed him at the battle of Bannockburn.