Two tasty ties remain in South Kerry championship first round

Dromid Pearses v Skellig Rangers Saturday, November 12 Dromid 3pm

HERE we have what many have billed as the tie of the first round.

This has all the hallmarks of a classic and extra time would be no surprise. Great family ties exist between the two parishes, but one can be sure no quarter will be given. On paper only a ‘45 would exist between them, it’s that close. Dromid have entered a post-Declan era in that they lost to retirement one of the county’s greatest players.

O’Sullivan’s sheer drive and will to win in the 2004 South Kerry final in rain swept Waterville was a sight to behold and will stand out as one of the all time great individual performances ever witnessed to lift the Jack Murphy Cup.

However, his loss has been offset to some degree by the return from Australia of Niall O’Shea who promptly slotted straight into the Kerry junior team. An all action forward player he will be ably assisted up front by the silky skills of Dylan Donoghue and there should be plenty of scores from these two and their supporting cast.

There is also Aidan ‘Shine’ O’Sullivan who may play around the middle and this family have epitomised down the years what championship football is about. Padraig and Kevin Sullivan will buttress the defence.

Skellig Rangers are on a historic quest. Ever since local man Michael Keating ascended to chairman of the South Kerry board we have seen Star Wars, the Bishop Moynihan Cup and a South Kerry senior final come to Portmagee. Surely, like Micko in Waterville, a statue is on the way!

Ten years ago under their iconic manager Paul Murphy they defied all the odds and lifted the Jack Murphy Cup. In the same season they later went on to All-Ireland junior club glory.

Paul is now back as a selector with Mike Brennan as manager and no stone has been left unturned in their quest for success. Indeed, players are descending on Portmagee from all corners of the globe (Dubai, New York, London and Australia) over the last few months in their efforts to secure a repeat.

Chris and Anthony O’Driscoll will provide formidable opposition in the middle of the field while in Ciaran Keating, Dara O’Sullivan and Michael Lovey they have match winners up front.

Evergreens Stephen O’Sullivan and Brian Hickey will conduct the orchestra while a resurgent Bernard Walsh will close the gaps pretty fast in defence. However, their ace in the hole may be their South Kerry Under 21 goalkeeper Podge O’Sullivan who really owns the ground out to the 20-metre line.

This one is too close to call; we may have to settle for extra time and a trip to Portmagee for the replay.

Valentia v Waterville Sunday, November 13 Valentia 12.30pm

VALENTIA play host to Waterville this year in another first round encounter.

Valentia with their proud footballing tradition are struggling this year with numbers but they are an extremely resilient foe in the championship. Who can forget their fairytale giant killing success story of 2005.

Kerry panellists Brendan O’Sullivan and Paul Sullivan will provide the backbone while John Daly.

Richard Quigley, John Shanahan to name, but a few will put it up to whoever crosses the bridge.

Their chairman John Sullivan has done a great job over the last few years keeping the show on the road.

Waterville, on the other hand, with ace forward Barry O’Dwyer and the Clifford brothers have been on the brink of a Jack Murphy win so many times over the last few years but just keep finding one too good.

Last year’s final in the St Stephen’s Day mud in Portmagee showed what a tough nut to crack Waterville can be. Six points each with 10 minutes to go against a St Marys side ranked as one of its all time best gave us all a glimpse of what could have been.

Waterville should progress, but as we have seen before, divisional placings have no bearing on the championship.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals November 19/20 Final Saturday, December 3 Con Keating Park at 3pm