The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Lispole toppers as Novice title goes west
COUNTY NFC FINAL
Lios Póil 1-17 Tuosist 2-9 LIOS Póil has escaped its novice nightmare.
Its players arrived in Listry as favourites, but unease swirled in the stand even before the start; their supporters couldn’t be distracted from fears of a fourth novice final defeat since 2012.
Unfortunately for Tuosist, the Lios Póil players never looked hampered by tender memories. They sprung at this final like a greyhound stalking a hare, and while their shooting wasn’t precise early on, it improved as the game developed and they eventually registered an impressive 1-17.
There was incident from the throw-in. Tuosist midfielder Flor O’Sullivan landed awkwardly after soaring for the game’s first possession and, when a call went up to help him from the field, Tousist’s plan sustained an immediate crack.
Mike Fitzgerald kicked Lios Póil ahead with a typically industrious point, and a Brian Rayel strike from 40 metres doubled the lead, drawing a gravelly roar from Lios Póil’s supporters.
They took charge, but were plagued by inaccuracy, as their shots faded like paper planes in mid-flight. Cathal O’Sullivan eventually landed their third score, before Colm Brosnan re- sponded with Tuosist’s first point right before the quarter-hour mark.
Lios Póil retorted clinically, as wing-back Colm Galvin finished a tee-to-goal play with his first point of the match, an attack that ushered in a less-forgiving brand of Lios Póil play.
Another long-range point from the archer-like Brian Rayel nullified a Liam O’Shea score, before Declan O’Sullivan’s battering of Tuosist began with two straight points to put Lios Póil ahead by six.
Tuosist finally settled to their task before the break with three points in three hectic minutes, but as unpleasant memories returned to Lios Póil minds and a bitter shower pelted everyone in Listry, Declan O’Sullivan asserted his captaincy.
As if to wave two fingers at the weather, the brilliant forward lobbed a leader’s point over from the right wing to cool Lios Póil anxiety and leave the halftime score at 0-9 to 0-5.
A Stephen O’Sullivan free for Tuosist early in the second half dropped agonisingly short, and deprived of the perfect start, their frustration was compounded by Lios Póil’s forwards, who kicked two quick points to push the score to 0-11 to 0-5.
Declan O’Sullivan kicked his fifth point to push Lios Póil further ahead, and after Daniel O’Shea had delivered Tuosist’s first point of the half, the West Kerry team went about ensuring the cup would finally be theirs.
Lios Póil countered with a point, before the pivotal sequence of the game unfolded. Declan O’Sullivan collected the ball 20 metres out, and after zigzagging through Tuosist’s resistance like a salmon battling a current, he knocked the ball past Stephen O’Sullivan to put Lios Póil ahead by 11.
A ferocious shot on goal by Dan Hawker almost splintered the upright as Tuosist bit back with points from Colm Brosnan and Thomas Harrington, but Lios Póil tagged on a few more scores to put the cord on the bag.
Tuosist still had venom. Darragh Ó Siochrú was moving towards goal in added time when he dropped possession, but with the knack of a sean-nós dancer he adjusted his footing and booted the ball on the half-volley to the netting.
Minutes later, Tuosist hit the cordage again when Seán Daly rose to thump the ball beyond Conor Hanafin, but this was, at long last, Lios Póil’s day. LIOS PÓIL: Conor Ó hAiniféin, Darren Ó Cearbhaill, Eamon Ó Beaglaoí, Rónán Ó Grifín, Colm Ó Gealbháin (0-1), Garreth Ó Núnáin, Donnacha Ó hUiginn, Mícheal Mac Gearailt (0-1), Nollaig Ó hUiginn, Deaglán Ó Súilleabháin (1-7, 0-2f), Ciarán Ó Súilleabháin, Tomás Ó Caomhánaigh (0-1), Aaron Ó Muircheartaigh, Brian Ó Raoil (0-3), Cathal Ó Súilleabháin (0-2f) Subs: Breandán Ó Deargáin, Maitiú Séan Ó Grifín, Adrian Ó Raoill (0-1), Seán Ó Nuanáin, Aindréas Ó Loibhéad, Damien Ó Súilleabháin (0-1) TUOSIST: Stephen O’Sullivan (0-1, 1f), Conor Harrington, Morgan O’Sullivan, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Daniel O’Shea (0-1), Liam O’Shea (0-1), Dan Hawker, Flor O’Sullivan, Peter O’Shea, Darragh Ó Siochrú (1-2), Michael Healy, Colm Brosnan (0-3), Aaron Morris, Kieran O’Donoghue, Mike Tim O’Sullivan Subs: Thomas Harrington (0-1), Mike Pat O’Sullivan, Sean Daly (1-0) REFEREE: Tom Moriarty (Legion)