AND then there were eight.
Four potentially thrilling encounters in the quarter-finals of the Kerry Senior Football Championship have been lined up for next weekend and all four will be live-streamed for supporters who are prevented from attending the games due to Covid-19 public health regulations.
First up on Saturday will be Killarney Legion, fresh from their spirited weekend victory over Kerins O’Rahillys, who will play St Brendan’s Board in Austin Stack Park at 5.00pm.
That encounter will see Kerry regulars James O’Donoghue, Brian Kelly and Jonathan Lyne, as well as exciting young stars Cian Gammell, Darragh Lyne and Peter O’Sullivan, taking to the field against the divisional side which is built around a super midfield pairing of Jack Barry and Diarmuid O’Connor. Inspired by the free-scoring Ivan Parker, they accounted for a West Kerry divisional side on Saturday last while O’Donoghue, Conor Keane, Danny Sheahan, Podge O’Connor and Rob Leen impressed as Stephen Stack’s Legion proved too resourceful for David Moran and co.
Following the Legion v St Brendan’s tie, on the same evening and at the same venue at 7.15pm, champions East Kerry – who emphatically dismissed a weak challenge from Feale Rangers at the weekend – will take on St Kieran’s with David and Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan, Jack Sherwood and Liam Kearney leading the star-studded divisional side that is boosted this year by the Rathmore contingent, including Paul Murphy and Shane Ryan.
St Kieran’s, who surprised South Kerry at the weekend, will be looking to the likes of Thomas Hickey, Paul Walsh, Padraig Reidy, Luka Brosnan and James Walsh to inspire what would certainly be classed as a massive upset.
At 2.00pm on Sunday in Fitzgerald Stadium, meanwhile, last year’s beaten finalists and championship specialists Dr Crokes will engage with Templenoe who were thrilled to surprise Paul Geaney’s Dingle in the opening round back west on Saturday evening.
Killian Spillane, with a personal haul of 1-5, was in sparkling form and Tadgh Morley – who kept Paul Geaney scoreless – and Gavin Crowley were the standout players for Templenoe.
John Rice’s side triumphed on a 3-7 to 1-12 scoreline and it was a very historic outing for Templenoe who are in their debut season at senior championship level.
Dr Crokes will take great encouragement from their brilliant extra time victory over old rivals Austin Stacks in a thrilling encounter on Friday night, particularly as they were forced to line out without Gavin White, David Shaw and Jordan Kiely as well as long-term absentee Daithi Casey.
In their absence, Micheál Burns – very harshly dismissed late in the game – Cillian Fitzgerald, Michael Potts and Fionn Fitzgerald made their presence felt but it was the outstanding Tony Brosnan who stood out with a superb 2-10.
The game, which finished 3-19 to 2-17, was also memorable for an incredible performance from Brian Looney who battled on bravely and played brilliantly, despite sustaining three separate injuries during the course of the game, and he scored the all-important goal.
Also on Sunday, with a 4.00pm throw-in at Fitzgerald Stadium, Mid Kerry will do battle with Kenmare Shamrocks in a tie that has all the potential to be a humdinger.
A 1-7 haul from the very impressive Gavin O’Grady and 1-2 each from Fiachra Clifford and Liam Carey put a disappointing Kilcummin to the sword at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday and earned an impressive Mid Kerry, with Darran O’Sullivan to the fore and Peter Crowley strong as ever at the back, a deserved place in the last eight.
Kenmare Shamrocks, meanwhile, had four points to spare over Shane Enright’s Shannon Rangers at a picturesque Fr Breen Park thanks to good showings from Stephen O’Brien, the Crowleys and a five-point salvo from Paul O’Connor although there some cause for concern when the influential Seanie O’Shea left the field with a knock at half-time.
There will have to be a winner on the day in all quarter-final ties and extra time will be played if necessary.
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