TUOSIST

COUNTY JUNIOR SEMI FINAL: Tuosist 2-06 Castlegregory 1-10 Tuosist senior footballers had no joy when they lost out by a single point deep into injury time to Castlegregory in their County Junior Football Semi Final played at Legion last Saturday evening. Playing with the aid of the wind, Tuosist got of to a great start in the opening minute when Liam O’Shea was brought down in the box and the same player slotted home from the penalty spot. Two minutes later Peter O’Shea increased our lead with a fine point from play. For the next ten minutes our defence held firm and indeed it was the sixteenth minute before Brian Hoare got Castle’s opening score with a point from play. Castle then added three further points courtesy of Maurice Slattery (2) and Liam Maunsell. Both sides were guilty of then spurning some good scoreing opportunities especially from free kicks, before Liam O’Shea added two further points on the twenty two and twenty seven minutes. A minute later Michael Scanlon added another point for Castle before Aaron Morris and Castle’s Alan Fitzgerald traded points to leave Tuosist one point to the good, 1-04 to 0-06 at half time. Castlegregory’s Anton Kelliher opened the scoreing in the second half with a pointed free inside the first minute to square the match. Ten minutes later Castle were awarded a penalty when Daniel O’Shea was deemed to have tripped Tim Moriarty inside the box. O’Shea was black carded however Anton Kelliher failed to capitalise when he hit the post. Three minutes later Moriarty pointed from play to put Castle ahead for the first time in the match. Colm Brosnan again equalised from a converted free in the forty fourth minute, before Jimmy O’Grady rattled the ball to the back of our net. Four minutes later the situation looked dire when Garry Harrington received a second yellow and we were down to fourteen. Tuosist to their credit regrouped and Liam O’Shea added another point in the fifty fifth minute. Maurice Slattery replied with a point on fifty nine minutes and it looked all over for us. The lads to their credit did not cave in and were rewarded for their efforts two minutes into injury time when Peter O’Shea was brought down in the box and Liam O’Shea cool as you like again put the ball past the Castle’s keeper David O Dowd to tie up the match and it looked like we were heading for extra time. Not so play continued and eight minutes over time Castle were awarded a scoreable free which was missed however and it now looked like we were definatley set for extra time. Not so, Stephen O’Sullivan kicked out the ball and play continued. Then nine and a half minutes into injury time Castle were awarded another free and this time Jimmy O’Grady made no mistake. Tuosist had one final attack and Colm Brosnan did have the opportunity to equalise from a free kick, however the ball tapered to the left of the Castle post and wide. Thereafter referee Tom Moriarty blew the final whistle to leave the final score read C’gregory 1-13, Tuosist 2-06. Bitter disappointment all round for our lads in an epic encounter and one can look back on what might have been if the game had of gone to extra time and we would have had fifteen back on the field. While favourites Castlegregory certainly dominated possession in this match our lads to their credit never gave up and despite finding themselves a man down for the final fifteen minutes were still searching for the equaliser right up to the last kick. The loss of key players through injury has cost us dearly over the past two seasons.

Last year Liam O’Shea missed out on the promotion game against Duagh and Flor O’Sullivan went off injured in the first minute of our Novice Final against Lispole. This time around the loss of Darragh Sughrue for this match was a cruel blow for the team and management, especially going in as underdogs to a team that had been in the running for promotion to division three this season.This didn’t deter our lads however and they should take heart from such a heroic display, in particular some of our veteran players namely Liam O’Shea who was outstanding at corner forward, Flor O’Sullivan in the middle and Morgan O’Sullivan at full back who had a man of the match performance. However it was not our day and we wish Castlgregory all the best in the final. Tuosist : Stephen O’Sullivan, James O’Brien,Morgan O’Sullivan, Ryan Fitzpatrick , Daniel O’Shea (c), Conor Harrington, Daniel Hawker, Flor O’Sullivan, Peter O’Shea (0-01), Colm Brosnan (0-01 free) Thomas Harrington, Mike Tim O’Sullivan, Aaron Morris (0-01), Gary Harrington, Liam O’Shea (2-03). Subs : Michael Pat O’Sullivan for black card, Micheal Healy for James O’Brien, Danny O’Shea - blood sub for Dan Hawker. Peter Healy and Brendan O’Shea. COUNTY U-16 PLATE The Kenmare District U-16 footballers had a good home win over South Kerry last Wednesday in the Plate competition and are next drawn to play Shannon Rangers in the semi final on 23rd September at a neutral venue. U-11 EASTERN LEAGUE Tuosist/Kilgarvan U-11 footballers traveled to Scartaglen last Sunday evening where they were defeated by the home side. Next game versus Fossa at home, time and date to be fixed. U-10 BEARA LEAGUE Tuosist U-10 footballers had a good away win away from home over Adrigole in the Beara League last week. MINOR FINAL Best of luck to the Kerry minor footballers and in particular local lads Donal O’Sullivan-Down and Garoid Fennessy in the All Ireland Final next Sunday in Crokes Park.