The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Narrow defeat against Churchill in opening away League match
ON Sunday, March 11, the Valentia Young Islanders senior footballers opened their playing season with a visit to Churchill outside Tralee to compete in a first round County League Division Five encounter. For a number of players and supporters it was a first visit to such a venue. Interestingly, as pointed out by muinteoir scoile, John Daly, the village of Chapeltown exists nearby, a name in common with our own village in the centre of the island.
This first competitive encounter was also eagerly awaited as it was to be the first game of the newly appointed manager Michael A O’Connell. Michael A, for many years now domiciled in Dromid, is originally from Knightstown, Valentia, and carries plenty impressive credentials as a player with the Young Islanders, South Kerry and the Kerry juniors. His father, the late Bernie O’Connell, served as chairman of the South Kerry Board and also as a selector of numerous teams and was passionate about Kerry and Valentia football affairs. Michael A brings the same drive and infectious will to win and so it should make for a very interesting year. He would dearly have loved to set the tone on a winning note but, unfortunately, the islanders were defeated on a score of 1-17 to 1-14.
Valentia, to their pleasant surprise, had Brendan O’Sullivan available for this encounter as he was not included in the Kerry senior football panel to play Dublin on the same day in the league at Croke Park.
Brendan, who made a huge impact on this game, had the opening score with a point after 20 seconds, but Churchill’s Michael O’Brien replied with a point to be followed by a goal by midfielder Cillian Fitzgerald. With the islanders trailing by 1-3 to 0-3, Valentia’s Andy Quigley had a clear-cut shot for goal going narrowly wide. Churchill led at half-time on a score of 1-8 to 0-7. Scorers for Valentia were Brendan O’Sullivan(four points, 0-2 from frees), John Shanahan (0-1 free),Rory Keating (0-1) and Ger “The Plumber” O’Shea (0-1). The Churchill scorers were Cillian Fitzgerald(1-2), Michael O’Brien (0-3, 0-2 from frees),Oisín O’Brien (a pointed free) and Pa McCarthy (0-2).
As he did in the first half Brendan O’Sullivan opened the second half scoring with a pointed free from a difficult angle. Churchill led by 1-11 to 0-11 when Andy Quigley hit the crossbar with a sizzling shot. Valentia trailed by 1-13 to 0-13 when Ger ‘The Plumber’ O’Shea, after good work by John Shanahan and Brendan O’Sullivan had the ball in the net to equalise matters.
Michael A O’Connell was now frantically with crutch in hand (from a recent hip operation) urging and rallying his men to greater effort and later Ger ‘The Plumber’ had a shot for goal blocked. Churchill won on a score of 1-17 to 0-14 with the second-half scores for Valentia coming from Brendan O’Sullivan (0-3 ,0-2 from frees), John Shanahan (0-1) and Andy Quigley (3points,2from frees). Churchill’s scorers were Michael O’Brien (0-3, 0-2 from frees), Cillian Fitzgeral 0-3, 0-1 from a free) Ivan Parker(0-2, 0-1 frees) and JJ Prior (0-1).
Brendan O’Sullivan, who was full of running and industry from start, to finish gave a man of the match performance complemented by a score of seven points. It’s always gratifying to observe the county players turn out with their clubs, which in times past has become all too rare.
The appearance of the county player gives added value for money to supporters, and kids get a wonderful chance to observe their heroes. As youngsters we all loved to see the county player at club level. This opportunity for the youth to see the county player at club level is getting all too rare. Clearly, O’Sullivan is benefiting from Kerry training, but also the match practice gained by him and other county players with their clubs can only be of benefit for them as well as club and county.
Valentia: Junior Murphy; David Hussey; John Curran; Ciarán O’Donoghue; John Lynch; Paul O’Sullivan; Senan Lynch; Brendan O’Sullivan; Jim Lynch;Rory Keating; Concubhair Guiney; Andy Quigley; John Shanahan; Stephen Sheehan; Paul O’Connor. Subs used: Ger ‘The Plumber’ O’Shea and Brian Falvey. Referee: Tim Falvey (Annascaul).