Maher to the fore as Duagh see off understrength Tousist

COUNTY JFC GROUP 3 ROUND 2 Duagh 1-18 Tuosist 1-4

AFTER a difficult 2017, things are looking up for Duagh in 2018. That said we probably shouldn’t read too much into their victory over an understrength Tuosist at the weekened. For very early in the match it was clear that Duagh were going to run out winners. The only question was one of margin.

And for a time it felt like Duagh were making heavy work of putting their rivals from the south to the sword. For early on the Mall established a platform in the middle of the park thanks to the efforts of Kerry star Anthony Maher and Feale Rangers player Maurice O’Connor.

An injury to O’Connor midway through the first half seemed to affect the home side for a time in the first half, but eventually they got to grips with the situation and, with Kieran Lucey coming on in O’Connor’s stead, maintained their advantage in the engine room.

Scores from Martin Scannell (two frees), Maher and a lively looking Daniel O’Donoghue saw Duagh get into their stride in the first half. A goal before the halftime break from Nigel O’Connor – Duagh took advantage of a short kick-out gone awry – put the hosts in a commanding position at the break – 1-9 to 0-2 in front.

A lot of attention, obviously, was focussed on Maher and his fitness with a view towards whether or not he will be in a position to reclaim a place on the Kerry panel after a couple of months of rehab. The game probably wasn’t of a high enough intensity to tell us everything we need to know about that, but we can report that the midfielder looked sharp, hungry and as stylish as ever.

Tousist, to their credit, battled hard in the second half and got their reward when they goaled from a quickly taken free by Stephen O’Sullivan in the 45th min- ute.

The result, however, was never in doubt for Duagh and they coasted home with further scores from Anthony Maher, Nigel O’Connor, Micheál Kirby, Martin Scannell, Kieran Quirke (back after a longterm injury).

A good start for John Halpin and his men.