Listry and Fossa must replay Fr Galvin IFC final

THIS Fr Galvin Cup Final, sponsored by the Aquila Club, was a very entertaining end to end sporting game between two closely matched neighbouring teams. The game went to extra time and that failed to seperate the sides, putting the final to a replay -date and venue to be decided.

Listry got off to a dream start with a goal from the throw in, when Ronan Buckely took return pass and buried the ball to the back of the net 30 seconds into the game. It was tit for tat for the remainder of the quarter. With Fossa’s Paudie Clifford orchastrating scores and Tadgh O’Shea accurate with frees, Fossa narrowed the gap to the minimum with 4 Tadgh O’Shea points to 2 for Listry from the boot of Jimmy O’Leary - 1-2 to 0-4 on 15 minutes. Listry increased their lead with a lovely Ronan Buckley point from play and were denied a goal with a great block by Fossa goalkeeper, Tadgh Ahern. The resultant 45m free came off the post and was the start of a Fossa attack.

Paudie Clifford made a surging run forward and was awarded a free, ably converted by Tadgh O’Shea, from a difficult angle at 21m. A Paudie Clifford point on 26th minute, levelled the game 1-3 to 0-6. Fossa were in the ascendancy and took the lead with a Tadgh O’Shea pointed free, on the 28th minute. The sides traded points, Paudie Clifford (Fossa) and Anthony Sweeney (Listry), leaving the minimum between the side at the break: Fossa 0-8 Listry 1-4.

The game continued at pace in the second half. Listry levelled the game from the throw in, with a Ronan Buckely point from play. Fossa responded, but a great block by Listry’s Kieran Murphy denied what looked like a certain goal. Listry dominated the next five minutes. Gary O’Sullivan made a surging run forward and picked out Aaron Mc Carthy, who sent a rasper to the back corner of the Fossa net. A Peader Keane point from play saw Listry ahead 2-6 to 0-8 on 37 minutes.

Fossa then worked their way back. Three converted frees (Tadgh O’Shea(2), Domhnaill O’Sullivan), reduced the margin to a single point -2-6 to 0-11, on 41 minutes. Anthony Sweeney increased the gap to 2 with a Listry pointed free. However, a brace of Fossa points (Paudie Clifford and Tadgh O’Shea) had the sides level again on 50 minutes. Excitment was at fever pitch. Anthony Sweeney put Listry ahead with a long distance point from play, within a minute.

The game flowed from end to end. Listry’s Peadar Keane was next on the scoreboard with a point 2-9 to 0-13 with 5 minutes of normal time remaining. A massive Paudie Clifford pointed 45m free and a long distance Tadgh O’Shea point from play, saw the sides level at the end of normal time, sending the final to extra time, on a scoreline of Listry 2-9(15) Fossa (0-15).

On resumption, it was Fossa that scored from the throw in on the opening peroid of extra time, with a Paudie Clifford point from play. Listry equalised with a long distance point from Aaron Mc Carthy, 3 minutes later. Two Listry points without reply, saw the team 2 points ahead, Aaron Mc Carthy and Derry Ahern on target. Tadgh O’Shea reduced the gap to the minimum on the stroke of half time. The score at the break was Listry 2-12 Fossa 0-17.

The last period of extra time was filled with drama, with both sides setting up goal scoring chances, that were denied. Fossa equalised and went ahead, with two Tadgh O’Shea pointed frees. Aaron Mc Carthy equalised with a pointed free. Paudie Clifford put his side ahead with a well taken point. However, Anthony Sweeney, held his nerve and levelled the game with a vital free, with 2 minutes remaining. That proved to be thelast score of this hugly entertaining game and the sides will meet again to decide which team lifts the Fr Galvin Cup for 2018.

Johnny Brosnan presented the Man of the Match award, of a years membershi of the Aquila Club, to Fossa’s Tadgh O’Shea.

A minute’s silence was observed before the game and the Irish flag was flown at half mast in honour of the late Con Griffin and Weeshie Fogarty.

LISTRY: Tadhg Ahern, Danny Wrenn, Conor O’Sullivan, Sean O’Sullivan, Cain Bradley, Anthony Kennedy, Peadar Keane(0-2), Billy O’Brien, Stephen Brosnan, Ronan Buckley(1-2), Anthony Sweeney (0-5; 4f), Aaron McCarthy (1-2f), Derry Ahern (0-1), Jimmy O’Leary (0-2), Gary O’Sullivan. Subs: Kieran Murphy, Damian Clifford, Eoghan Darmody

FOSSA: Colin Myers, Derry O’Sullivan, Anthony Wharton, Anthony O’Keeffe, Kevin McCarthy, Mark Dennehy, Kevin O’Sullivan, Fintan Coffey, Paudie Clifford (0-6; 1 ‘45’), Matthew Rennie, Daniel O’Keeffe, Cian O’Shea, Tadgh O’Shea (013; 10f), Chris Myers, Domhnaill O’Sullivan (0-1).Subs: Daniel O’Connell, Maurice Prendeville, Michael O’Keeffe

REFEREE: Eddie Walsh (Rathmore)

Con Griffin RIP

Dr Crokes CLG and Fitzgerald Stadium Committee

We extend sympathy, on the passing away of Con Griffin, RIP, to his wife Cáit, family and many friends and to Dr Crokes CLG and Fitzgerald Stadium Committee.

Con’s service to the GAA was extensive over many decades. He served on East Kerry Coiste na nÓg in the 1980s and went on to serve on the County Coiste na nÓg, as registrar in 1990 to 1991 and as Joint Treasurer (with Liam Moriarty, Kerins O’Rahillys CLG) from 1992 to 1996. He also gave great help in organising programmes for Coiste na nÓg Chiarraí.

Con was always helpful to East Kerry GAA as a member of the Fitzgerald Stadium Committtee. He attended the East Kerry games played in Fitzgerald Stadium, enabling the use of the PA system and assisting in so many ways. He will be sadly missed. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.