The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Crucial win for Traynor Cup team
UMBRO OSCAR TRAYNOR CUP Kerry DL 1 Desmond League 0
KERRY’S chances of progressing to the knock out stages of the Oscar Traynor Cup got a significant boost at Mounthwak Park on Sunday after a hard earned win over the Desmond League.
It was a game they needed to win and they certainly made extremely hard work of it and if they had taken their chances they would be out of sight by half time.
The man of the match was the Desmond League goalie Sean Lynch who brought of a series of wonderful saves to deny Kerry certain goals.
Kerry were by far the better side on the day with Gary Keane and Joe Sheehy superb at midfield Wayne Sparling Adam O’Rourke and Sean Brosnan keeping the visitors defence busy but when it came to the final third of the pitch their finishing was appalling.
The visitors were playing a high line at the back and Kerry breached it on several occasions but they could only manage one goal and could have easily scored 5 or 6 goals had they finishing been up to scratch.
It was cat and mouse for the opening 15 minutes but Kerry should have gone ahead in the 17th minute when Aidan O’Callaghan headed down a Gary Keane free kick to Danny Roche but his shot from 10 yards was brilliantly saved by the Desmond League keeper Sean Lynch.
The Desmond League then made a penetrating attack with Sean O’Shea releasing Declan Nash just outside the box and just as he was about to pull the trigger he was denied by a superb tackle by Con Barrett.
They had a reasonable chance to score in the 26th minute when Seoirse Joyce set up Declan Nash and he was denied by a great foot save by David Hennessy in the Kerry goals.
Kerry got the goal their endeavour merited in the 28th minute when the Desmond League goalie came way of his line to try and clear a high ball but he sliced his clearance and Adam O’Rourke was on to the ball in a flash and showed great vision to spot the run of Wayne Sparling and he rounded the keeper and rolled the ball from 30 yards into an unguarded net.
They should have doubled their lead 5 minutes later when Con Barrett found Danny Roche and from 8 yards he was denied by a wonderful save by the Desmond league keeper.
Just coming up to half time Sean Brosnan played Wayne Sparling in one on one with the Desmond League keeper and after rounding him the amazingly rolled the ball wide.
Desmond League made a change at half time with Ger Garvey replacing Aaron Smith.
Then Con Barrett picked up an injury and was replaced by Tommy Feehan.
Gary Keane must have thought he was going to score in the 53rd minute with his shot looked destined for the net but it was taken off the line by sub Ger Garvey.
In a rare excursion into Kerry territory Desmond League had a chance in the 53rd minute but Gary Kelly was denied by a good save by David Hennessy.
Kerry then squandered two more great chances with Wayne Sparling and Sean Brosnan missing sitters in the 60th and 65th minutes.
Kerry hearts skipped a beat in the 72nd minute when Edward Gallagher let fly with a screamer from 30 yards and it was just inches wide.
Entering the concluding minutes Jason Hickson had two more great chances to score but he was denied on each occasion by the Desmond League keeper.
Kerry were getting a bit nervy near the end of the game as the Desmond League began to exert pressure for an equaliser and they can thank their goalie David Hennessy for coming to their rescue in the 90th minute with a fantastic double save to deny Declan Nash and Ger Garvey from the rebound.
It was a great all round performance by Kerry but they will have to sharpen up on their finishing if they are to go further in the competition.
This win now puts them in a good position going into the final game away to West Cork where a draw at worst would be good enough to see them through to the knock out stages of the competition. KERRY: David Hennessy (Mitchels Avenue), Jason Hickson (Dingle Bay Rovers), Aidan O’Callaghan (Castleisland), Con Barrett (The Park) (Tommy Feehan, 49 mins), Ryan Downey (The Park), Gary Keane (Killarney Celtic), Joe Sheehy (Dingle Bay Rovers), Adam O’Rourke (The Park) (Matt Keane, 70 mins), Danny Roche (Tralee Dynamos) (Ashley Kelliher, 50 mins), Wayne Sparling (Killarney Celtic), Sean Brosnan (Castleisland)