Conor Keane’s goal gives Legion the extra push
The sides were tied 0-9 apiece at the end of normal time, courtesy of a superb injury-time free from Legion full-forward David O’Sullivan.
The Killarney side may have been aided by the first-half breeze, but they were handicapped by the absence of the injured James O’Donoghue, and took 20 minutes to open their account with a fine point from Jonathan Lyne.
However, once they found their feet, two points each from David O’Sullivan and midfielder Jamie O’Sullivan gave them a four-point advantage at the interval, 0-5 to 0-1.
Mid Kerry’s sole scorer was corner-forward Liam Carey.
Some sort of reaction from the division was necessary and they began the second half on the front foot. In the first eight minutes after the interval, they shot five unanswered points to take a one-point lead, 0-6 to 0-5.
Legion looked to be in trouble but they dug deep and even though they lost Jonathan Lyne through a black card in the 49th minute they held Mid Kerry to just three points for the remainder of the half.
Mid Kerry lost influential Donnchadh Walsh through injury in the 52nd minute but the last10 minutes of the game belonged to sharp-shooters, Liam Carey of Mid Kerry and Legion’s David O’Sullivan.
The first period of extra time was dominated by Mid Kerry as they outscored Legion four points to one with corner-forward Gavan O’Grady pointing twice. When Darran O’Sullivan pointed for Mid Kerry in the first minute of the second period of extra time it looked as if Legion’s chance had gone.
However they refused to lie down and, mainly through the sharp-shooting of David O’Sullivan, they kept chipping away at Mid Kerry.
They had the deficit down to a single point when three minutes from the end corner forward Conor Keane was fed a ball about 50 metres out, he took responsibility, rode a number of tackles and, eventually crashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net giving Mid Kerry goalie Mike Moriarty no chance. It was a score worthy of victory.
D O’ Sullivan (0-7, 5 frees), C Keane (1-1), J O’ Sullivan (0-2), K Breen (0-2), J Lyne (0-1).
L Carey (0-6, 3f), G O’ Grady (0-3, 1 ‘45’), D O’Sullivan (0-2), J Hoare, B Murphy and D Healy (0-1 each)
B Kelly; P O’ Connor, D Sheehan, C Davies; D O’Sullivan, C Sheehan, J Lyne; S Keane, J O’Sullivan; B McGuire, K Slattery, D Sheehan; K Breen, D O’Sullivan, C Keane.
: M Moriarty (Beaufort); A Cahillane (Keel), N Breen (Beaufort), G Hartnett (do.); J Hoare (Glenbeigh/Glencar), F Griffin (do.), B Murphy (do.); C McGillycuddy (Glenbeigh/Glencar), T Ladden (Keel); G Sayers (Keel), D O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), G Evans (Keel); G O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar), D Walsh (Cromane), L Carey (Beaufort)
D Sayers (Austin Stacks).
