KILLARNEY Legion suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the third round of the Kerry Senior Football Championship at Austin Stack Park, Tralee this afternoon when they fell to underdogs West Kerry, in a cruel manner, in an extra time shootout.
With bang-in-form Conor Keane, in particular, and James O’Donoghue showing extremely well in the first half, Legion led 0-9 to 0-8 at the break, with five of their points coming from the outstanding Keane and O’Donoghue knocking over two, although Eanna Ó Conchuir and Dara Ó Sé were also finding the range for the divisional side.
West Kerry had two quick points after the restart but they were cancelled out by Keane before O’Donoghue edged Alan O’Neill and Sean O’Sullivan’s side ahead once again.
A West Kerry goal – from Dara Ó Sé – rocked Legion 20 minutes into the second half and gave the boys from the west a two-points advantage, soon increased to three by Padraig Ó Sé. But two quick points from Jamie O’Sullivan and a free from James O’Donoghue squared matters.
The fiercely competitive Jamie O’Sullivan looked to have won it for the Killarney side with a super last minute point but Legion lost possession and Seán Micheál Ó Conchúir forced the game into extra time with the scoreboard reading 0-16 to 1-13.
Shaun Keane and Conor Culloty had two quick points for Legion in the first period of overtime but Seán Micheál Ó Conchúir and Declan O’Sullivan levelled it at the break. Three unanswered points in the second period sealed a tired looking Legion’s fate and caused one of the big upsets of the championship.
Legion are progressing well int he county league – albeit in Division 2 – but they haven’t been firing on all cylinders in the championship this season with a 10-points defeat to Austin Stacks last time out.
Meanwhile, despite a dreadfully slugging start, a tally of 1-5 from Jack Sherwood of Firies and a goal each from Fossa duo Fintan Coffey and David Clifford fired East Kerry into the Kerry SFC quarter-finals via a dramatic 3-23 to 4-17 over St Brendans in a pulsating encounter at Austin Stack Park on Saturday evening.
This was an absolute thriller and, incredibly, East Kerry fought back from being 10 points down in the first half to level it with a last minute goal from Coffey.
And, in true Roy of the Rovers fashion, young David Clifford was sprung from the bench in the second period of extra time and you can guess the rest. All he required was one touch and he finished it to the net to win it for East Kerry.
Sherwood, Glenflesk duo Dara Roche and Jeff O’Donoghue and Spa’s Evan Cronin were all in fine scoring form and this sensational win – coming from being so far adrift – will give East Kerry great confidence entering the final stages of the championship.
They are many people’s favourites to push Dr Crokes all the way and on this performance, it was easy to see why.
In the other two games of the weekend South Kerry beat Dingle 1-13 to 0-10 while Kenmare Shamrocks overcame Feale Rangers 0-17 to 0-12.
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