Club Lotto
Monday 22nd May
SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE
A close shave in this Division 1 County league game played at a damp and muggy Milltown on Sunday. Ryan O’Grady’s late free kept the unbeaten run going but only after a struggle with a determined home side. The sides were level on no less than nine occasions with neither side ever establishing a healthy dominance. Ryan O Grady, Finbarr Murphy and Eoghan O Sullivan made it 0-5 a piece at half time, with Legion having played with the aid of a slight breeze. Podge O’Connor and Padraig Lucey responded to early second half points from Milltown and it was tit for tat for the remainder of the game. Ryan O’Grady and Cian Gammell nudged their side 0-10 to 0-9 ahead but two points from Milltown/ Castlemaine had them looking like winners. But in some late drama substitute Will Shine was upended in the vicinity of the large parallelogram and after a consultation between the match officials a close in free was awarded, which was duly converted, closely followed by the final whistle.
The Senior B team welcomed Firies to Direen at the same time but unfortunately they went down on a 1-15 to 1-9 scoreline. Next up is the visit of Kilcummin to Direen in Division 1 while the Division 6 team are heading to Strand Road. Both games are down for the June Bank Holiday weekend.
U21 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
We made a return to the County U21 Championship after a hiatus last Wednesday evening in Asdee. Drawn against the North Kerry combination it was always going to be a tough challenge but credit where it’s due the team put in a battling performance. Thanks to Diarmaid O Donoghue , Thomas Lyne and Daithi McGillycuddy who took the reins of the team with Senior team trainer Chris Flannery also assisting. The Club will be building for the future towards representation at the underage grades in the County Championships.
Final Score North Kerry 2-18 Killarney Legion 1-11.
JUVELINE BOYS
The second round in Phase 2 of the U13 County League saw both teams visit Killeen to face Na Gaeil. And glad to report that there was a very successful outcome in both games. The Green team were in the lead, just, at half time by 0-6 to 1-2. The home side stole in for an early second half goal but it had the effect of stinging our lads in gear. They responded really well, kicking some nice scores and emerging with a 1-12 to 2-4 win. The improvement in the White team continues to be seen as they put in a great shift, winning a little more comfortably than the Green, 3-15 to 3-6. John Mitchels lay in wait in the final round of games.
Our U15 Boys teams were in action at the business end of things in their respective County leagues. Having qualified for the Division 2 Final the White team headed to Listry to face a Na Gaeil team who they had earlier got the better of in the group stages. But as is often the case the tables were turned in the final as the Tralee side capitalised on a better start to run out 2-6 to 1-6 winners. No time to lick the wounds the East Kerry campaign kicks off this week with a road trip to Kenmare on Wednesday. The Green team qualified for their final with a high scoring semi final win over Keel /Listry. It’s rare that a team that scores 3-12 loses but a high scoring attack outgunned the opposition to reach the final.
The U17 B team are competing in Division 3 of the East Kerry league and they had a 6.13 to 2-8 win over their Kenmare counterparts. A feature of the game was the performance of 14 year old goalkeeper James Murphy and the finishing of Dara McCarthy, Eanna Kearney and Daire Murphy.
LADIES FOOTBALL
The U12s had a humdinger of a game against Laune Rangers last Tuesday evening. Not much in it at the final whistle they came out on top against a solid Killorglin outfit.
Both U14 Girls teams were in County League final duty on Sunday in Fossa. In the Division 4 final they faced neighbours Kilcummin and it was Kilcummin who were in front at half time, adjusting slightly better to the wet and slippery conditions. With the elements in their favour in the second half the girls hit a purple patch, taking the initiative in the game and running out 4-7 to 0-10 winners.
The Division 5 final pitted us against Kilcummins neighbours Currow and in a direct contrast to the opening game we made the better start , leading by three points at half time. But Currow took control early in the second half and it was their fireworks in this period that made the difference at the end. Thanks to referee John O’Neill who took charge of both games and all were in agreement that it was an excellent evening’s entertainment. Final Score Currow 5-7 Killarney Legion 3-6.
DEEPEST SYMPATHIES
This week we remember the late Claire Courtney whose grandsons David and Luke are active playing members in our Juvenile section. Claire was an avid match goer when the two lads were in action. And also Jim O Brien, son of the legendary Killarney publican Jimmy O Brien, who passed away unexpectedly last week. May both Claire and Jim Rest in Peace.