Legion squeak out victory over typically determined Kilcummin

COUNTY CLUB SFC GROUP 2 ROUND 1 Killarney Legion 0-15 Kilcummin 1-10

THIS was a local derby, with all the whirlwind fervour and drama that’s implied by the phrase, despite both sides missing key players.

Reigning East Kerry champions Legion were expected to see off their rivals reasonably comfortably, especially in the absence of Kevin McCarthy... this pairing is always highly entertaining, but never comfortable!

There is only one former Footballer of the Year playing in Kerry these days, and it was very easy to pick out James O’Donoghue. He snapped up the opening point after a sublime kick-pass by Pádraig Lucey.

Noel Duggan replied with a free after Seán O’Leary was fouled, but again Lucey set up O’Donoghue. Lucey’s kick-passes were simply beautiful to watch, inch-perfect from distance.

James combined with Conor Keane to set up Cian Gammell for a score – Peter Keane could do worse than a look at Gammell. Noel Duggan pulled one back after Paul O’Shea was fouled, but Billy McGuire and James O’Donoghue (a great score) made it 0-6 to 0-2 to Legion.

Paul O’Shea won another free for Noel Duggan. It was becoming very clear that Legion’s full back line was very vulnerable to high ball, and Daniel Moynihan’s skyscraper into Kevin O’Gorman yielded a superb goal.

A similar effort saw the same player make an even better fetch and tap over the mark. 1-4 to 0-6. James O’Donoghue was blocked as he was about to pull the trigger on goal – Legion created several goal chances in the game but couldn’t finish them.

Conor Keane kicked a free, but Kieran Murphy’s flicked knock-down to Paul O’Shea saw it cancelled out quickly. Legion strung a brilliant attacking move together but Brendan Kealy was quick out to clear his endangered lines and Noel Duggan’s free left Kilcummin ahead. Donal Lyne and Oscar O’Connor took a ten minute break for what the great Weeshie Fogarty always described as ‘schmozzling’ – no great harm in it.

Half-time Kilcummin 1-6 Killarney Legion 0-7.

Paul O’Shea put a goal between the teams early in the second half before James O’Donoghue and Billy McGuire trimmed the gap. Conor Keane had a goal chance but it was cleared off the line, but he teed you Tom Moriarty to hand-pass it over the bar – a good, direct decision, where Legion could sometimes be too elaborate up front.

Level pegging. Noel Duggan put Kilcummin back in front but Micheál Devlin, who had a superb second half, equalised and James O’Donoghue put over a free. There was some controversy when it looked like Legion had been denied a clear penalty by Seamus Mulvihill, but he correctly waved play on.

Micheál Devlin was fouled (an accidental but very hard collision with a player) and James O’Donoghue curled over a great kick. Paul O’Shea was just as accurate on the other side, though, and Danny Cronin coolly drew the teams level again.

With time running out Micheál Devlin did well to clear his lines. Finbarr Murphy had to battle hard to hold possession at the other end and did extremely well to get it out to Conor Keane, who simply turned with perfect technique and curled it over with his left leg.

Conor had been guilty of taking on too much earlier in the game but when it was most needed, he really came up trumps. From the kick-out, Tom Moriarty fired straight back over the bar, leaving Kilcummin needing a goal that wasn’t going to happen.

KILLARNEY Legion: Brian Kelly, Cian Gammell (0-1), Jonathan Lyne, Damien O’Sullivan, Kieran Slattery, Peter O’Sullivan, Kieran O’Donoghue, Darragh Lyne, Billy McGuire (0-2), Peter McCarthy, Padraig Lucey, Donal Lyne, Conor Keane (0-3, 2f), James O’Donoghue (0-6, 2f), Micheál Devlin (0-1) Subs: Tom Moriarty 0-2 for Peter McCarthy, 29, Jack O’Neill for Darragh Lyne, 36, Finbarr Murphy for Donal Lyne, 44, Jamie O’Sullivan for James O’Donoghue, 55

KILCUMMIN: Brendan Kealy, James Nagle, Kevin McSweeney, Oscar O’Connor, Donal Maher, Seán O’Leary (0-1), Dan Moynihan, Shane McSweeney, Kieran Murphy, Paul O’Riordan, Gary O’Leary, Eoin O’Donovan, Noel Duggan (0-4, 4f), Kevin Gorman (1-1), Paul O’Shea (0-3, 1f) Subs: Danny Cronin 0-1 for Kieran Murphy, 33, Matt Keane for Eoin O’Donovan, 45, Philip O’Leary for Noel Duggan, 52, Damien O’Leary for Paul O’Riordan, 56

REFEREE: Seamus Mulvihill (St Senans)