Killarney Legion advanced to the semi final of the East Kerry Junior Championship, the O Sullivan Cup, with a straightforward win over Firies in a quarter final played at a sunny and calm Direen this Sunday afternoon. Late addition to the starting line up Jamie O Sullivan, lining out instead of Conor Keane, was the home side’s scorer in chief accounting for eight of his side’s total. Although always in control a goal scored by Firies midfielder Darragh Brosnan could have made for a nervy finish but Peter McCarthy replied with the same for the winners as the game concluded on a 1-10 to 1-5 scoreline.
The first half had a tight and cagey opening with scores at a premium but two Jamie O Sullivan points, one from play and another from a placed ball, broke the deadlock. James Horgan, Firies most effective player, opened their account but the game was to hit a fallow period with Jamie O Sullivan again pointing in the 25 minute. Danny Sheahans burst had a goal written all over it but Padraig O Mahony came out of nowhere to pull off a full length block and the danger was cleared. Horgan had the visitors second point of the half but the last word of the half went to Shaun Keane who split the post with a nice kick off the left, leaving the half time score at 0-5 to 0-2.
Connell Murphy kicked the opening score of the second period but a big blow to Firies hopes came in the form of a black card to cornerback Padraig O Mahony. The defender had little complaint as his high tackle on Denis Sheahan merited the 10 minute sit down. Legion with the man advantage eventually broke clear with points from O Sullivan and Luke O Donoghue. John Power was introduced into the Firies attack and his height started to pay dividends as a more direct approach was adapted. He kicked a point to make 0-8 to 0-4 and then came that Firies goal as a long ball deceived everyone and ended up in the Legion net. With the gap down to a point a grandstand finish was on the cards but Legion upped the ante and Jamie O Sullivan converted two frees , won by some direct running. A three lead is often a perilous one but Peter McCarthy made sure of the win when he rounded the Firies defence to tap home into the Firies net. John Power added a consolation score as the scoreboard read 1-10 to 1-5 at the full time whistle.
Legion now qualify for the O Sullivan Cup semi final with a draw to determine their opponents. Rathmore and Kilcummin are already in the hat while the lineup will be completed by the winner of the Fossa vs Currow quarter final.
Team..Robert Osborne, Callum O Donoghue, Sean McCarthy, Darragh O Doherty, Callum O Grady, Peter O Sullivan, Alan Moriarty, Shaun Keane(0-1), Danny Sheahan, Peter McCarthy(1-0), Denis Sheahan, Stephen Flattery, Finbarr Murphy, Luke O Donoghue(0-1), Jamie O Sullivan(0-8).
Subs..Darragh Fleming for Callum O Grady, Jamie Alade for Luke O Donoghue, Gavin Moriarty, Tom Cronin, Dan Carroll for Stephen Flattery, Denis Sheahan and Callum O Donoghue .
Management..Donal O Donoghue, Mike Pigott, Michael Bernard O Donoghue, Conor McNiece, Mark O Leary.
