Jack O’Connor doesn’t need any reminding of the qualities of one David Clifford, particularly if the tactics deployed are positive and play to his strength, but if the Kerry boss was in Fitzgerald Stadium for today’s Intermediate Championship last four double header, he will surely have pencilled the name Eoghan Hassett into his notebook right alongside the Fosssa magician.
While Clifford was just incredible in the first half, notching a hat-trick of goals and five points for his side to build up a six points interval lead, the second half belonged to Laune Rangers corner forward Hassett who kicked total of 10 points, five from play, over the course of the hour with seven of them coming in that second half.
Rangers did to Fossa what they did to Glenflesk the previous weekend with a massive second half effort to transform the game and they went on to clinch a 1-19 to 3-11 victory in a real thriller.
The wind played a factor in that second half, Fossa fumbled a significant amount of ball and were turned over too easily and Adrian Sheehan’s side seemed to tire as the game wore on but the real reason they lost was the outstanding performance of the dynamic Hassett – son of club stalwart Adrian and nephew of team manager Liam.
It earned the Killorglin side a place in the final where a less than convincing Austin Stacks await following their narrow 0-14 to 1-7 victory over Glenbeigh/Glencar who finished the game with 14 men after veteran Darran O’Sullivan received his marching orders.
If Jack O’Connor was scouting for talent in Fitzgerald Stadium this afternoon he would have observed a number of new players from the double header that are at least worth a closer look for the national league campaign.
Hassett, of course, is the obvious choice but impressive Glenbeigh/Glencar midfielder Liam Smith caught the eye, Laune Rangers’ trio Tom Whittleton, Fiachra Clifford and John Burke are very capable performers with a great work ethic while, for his consistent shot-stopping abilities alone, Fossa custodian Shane O’Sullivan is certainly worth a second glance if a back-up goalkeeping option is needed.
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