FOSSA National School were crowned Kerry Primary Schools Division One champions for an historic first time when they defeated St Oliver’s National School, Ballycasheen in a thrilling encounter, after extra time and under floodlights, at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
Despite playing against a strong breeze, St Oliver’s dominated the first half with their centre forward, Alex Hennigan, proving to be a threat every time he was in possession. Ballycasheen led 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval.
Patrick Lyons kicked a point immediately after the resumption to leave the minimum between the teams but after that St Oliver’s hit a purple streak with four unanswered points.. Fossa reduced the margin to four with another Patrick Lyons free and the game took a dramatic turn when Fossa’s centre half forward, Darren Ryan, scored a brilliant goal, booting the ball low and hard to the Oliver’s net leaving a point between them entering added time.
Fossa won the next kick out and Ryan O’Leary scored a wonderful equalising score from out on the wing and against the breeze. The tension was palpable as both sides tried to manufacture a late winner but the referee soon blew the final whistle to signal extra time.
The excitement was at fever pitch as both sides faced into extra time with Fossa making the brighter start to go ahead by two points, courtesy of Patrick Lyons and Ryan O’Leary. St Oliver’s showed tremendous fighting spirit with two points against the wind to level the scores again at half-time.
Fossa faced an uphill battle in the last period of extra time as they faced a stiffening breeze but they showed tremendous resilience and fighting spirit in the final few minutes. Ryan O’Leary scored a great goal within two minutes of the re-start to put Fossa into the lead for the first time. They scored two additional points to ensure that the trophy would be brought back to Fossa for the first time in the school’s history.
Cian Doyle, who was the proud captain, lifted the trophy amid joyous scenes from the ecstatic Fossa supporters.
Eddie Moroney was a very assured goalkeeper and brought off a crucial save in extra time. The full back line of Finn Kennelly, Robert Brooks, and Marc Long was tenacious and the half back line of Peadar Kelliher, Cian Doyle and Sam Buckley gradually became more dominant as the game progressed.
Charlie Keating and Séan Dineen were strong and uncompromising at midfield. Unfortunately Séan, who bravely left his hospital bed earlier in the day, was forced to leave the field through injury in the first half but Alicia Burke proved to be a very able replacement.
Fossa’s half forward line of Ryan O’Leary, Darren Ryan and Sophie Dennehy were excellent and the inside line of Patrick Lyons, Rocco Sheehan and Harry Kelly showed tirelessly as targets for the duration of the game.
Fossa’s substitutes, Matthew O’Connor, Tom Cahillane, Darragh O’Brien, Ted O’Gorman, Maksym Brice Leon, Luke Murphy, Abigail Murphy, Amy Coffey and Cian Myers, played a significant part in helping Fossa to win seven successive games which granted them the ultimate honour of becoming county champions.
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