DESPITE a 69-year famine, the burden of expectation should not weigh too heavily on Legion shoulders given the remarkable progress that has been made over the past two years. The rewards have been many: promotion from Division 2 of the county league, a big win against arch rivals Dr Crokes in last year’s SFC, a club championship final and a shot at this year’s county league title. And that’s only the base. A win tomorrow would be the icing on a multi-tiered cake.
PETER Keane has Legion playing a hugely attractive brand of attacking, fast-moving and effective football and they really have developed into a team of all the talents. Keane, Chris Flannery and Diarmuid Leen have them fine tuned and they are more than up for the challenge and anything South Kerry can throw at them.
FOR all their attacking pomp, the secret to Legion’s success is a very solid rearguard and every victory they have carved out in this year’s championship has been fashioned from the back. Jonathan Lyne is one of the best in the country, the all-action Podge O’Connor isn’t far behind him while Damien O’Sullivan is rock solid in the centre. And if they are out-smarted, there’s still the agile Brian Kelly to beat.
WHOEVER their opponents, Legion are more than capable of holding their own – and then some – at centre field. Just ask Mid Kerry, Feale Rangers, Kerins O’Rahillys or Rathmore who were all brushed aside on the road to tomorrow. The classy Shaun Keane is a Kerry senior in waiting and in the hard-running, attack-minded Jamie O’Sullivan, he has the perfect partner. Agile wing backs and a fleet-footed half forward line add to the potency around the middle.
ON their day, Legion are the most potent, cohesive and opportunist attacking unit in Kerry football. James O’Donoghue, even if double-marked, has all the necessary tools to win a match on his own and, in the very unlikely event of last year’s footballer of the year not firing, then the hugely impressive Conor Keane can do it for him. Add in the unerring accuracy of David O’Sullivan and the ability of the likes of Billy McGuire, Tom Moriarty and Kevin Breen to pop up for a score and you’ll get the picture.
