COUNTY LEAGUE: LEGION 0-7 DINGLE 0-8
Our seniors opened their County League campaign in Derreen on Sunday afternoon and unfortunately it was the visitors who walked away with the spoils, despite playing the majority of the game a man down.
Dingle started much the brighter and took the lead through Paul Geaney’s thirty-five metre free in the opening minutes. He repeated the trick soon after, this time popping over a handy one following a foul on the lively Tomás Mac a’ tSithigh. Legion spurned an opportunity to strike back just moments later when Tom Moriarty was unfortunate to see his shot fly wide. The home team did manage to pull one back in the 13th minute when Conor Keane pointed a free and he almost fired Legion into the lead just moments later, his improvised outside-of-the-boot effort cannoning back off the upright.
Paul Geaney re-established Dingle’s two-point lead midway through the first half, evading his man with a dummy solo before firing over a marvelous point with his left foot. Tom Moriarty replied with a fine score of his own to reduce the deficit to one again, but this was as close as Legion would get to their opponents until the 60th minute. Paul Devane, who was in superb form down Dingle’s left wing, pointed from distance and the lead was back to two.
With nineteen minutes on the clock, Dingle were reduced to fourteen men when Jamie O’Sullivan took an elbow to the face. This should have been a big psychological boost for Legion but surprisingly it was Dingle who powered on and finished the half the stronger, two lovely scores by Paul Geaney and Tomás Mac a’ tSithigh extending their lead to four. Legion 0-2, Dingle 0-6 at the break.
Things could have gotten a whole lot wore just a couple of minutes into the second period when the referee awarded Dingle a penalty, but Conor Geaney struck his low effort wide of the post. Conor Keane and Paul Geaney exchanged pointed frees and Dingle led by seven points to three with just a quarter of the game to go. As the game went on, tensions began to rise and another unfortunate incident saw Dingle reduced to thirteen men on the 45 minute mark.
Now playing with a two man advantage, it seemed as though momentum was swinging in Legion’s favour. Billy McGuire kicked an excellent score and Jamie O’Sullivan gathered well before swinging over a well-struck point to cut the lead to just two with ten minutes to go. Legion midfielder Jack O’Neill was shown a black card in the 23rdminute and Paul Geaney, ever the deadeye in front of the posts, kicked his fifth point of the day from the resulting free. Legion pulled one back through first half substitute David O’Sullivan, who capped a fine showing with a typically accurate kick at goal. Dingle were up two with five minutes to go when Tom Moriarty picked up his second yellow and the game’s third red card following an altercation with Mikey Geaney on the sideline.
Legion piled on the pressure in the final few minutes but Dingle were dogged and intelligent in defence. As the game went into added time Derek Twomey, who had earlier replaced the black-carded O’Neill, found a pocket of space to bring Legion to within one, but thirteen-man Dingle dug in their heels and hung on for an impressive away win.
Legion scorers: Conor Keane (0-2, 0-2f ), Billy McGuire (0-1), Tom Moriarty (0-1), Derek Twomey (0-1), David O’Sullivan (0-1), Jamie O’Sullivan (0-1).
Legion: Brian Kelly, Podge O’Connor, Danny Sheahan, Cathal Sheahan, Chris Davies, Jonathan Lyne, Alan Moriarty, Shaun Keane. Jack O’Neill, Denis Sheahan, Jamie O’Sullivan, Donal Lyne, Conor Keane, Billy McGuire, Tom Moriarty.
LADIES
Congratulations to Tara Murphy who played the full game at corner back as the Kerry U-14 girls beat Cork on Saturday.
Unfortunately the minors came up short against the same opposition but well done to the Legion contingent ofElizabeth Mohan, Isabelle Corridan and Rebecca Murphy.
And finally great news on the senior front as our ladies put in a great performance to win their first match of the season against Annascaul/Castlegregory. They ran out 2-06 to 0-4 winners in their Division 4 Championship opener.
MINORS
Well done to the minors who bounced back from last week’s defeat to Beaufort to beat Rathmore on a 2-11 to 1-11 scoreline.
SEM
St Brendan’s College have qualified for the Hogan Cup final after another resounding victory, this time defeating St Benildus College (Dublin) on a 4-15 to 0-9 scoreline in Nenagh. All four Legion representatives played their part: Cian Gammell started corner back, Peter McCarthy played wing forward and kicked two points, and both Finbarr Murphy and Michael Pierce came off the bench. The opposition is yet to be confirmed but the final will take place in Croke Park on April 2nd.
ACADEMY
The Academy continues this Saturday, March 26th at 10.30am. The Academy caters for boys and girls aged 4-10 and, as always, new members are more than welcome. If you’d like to register a child you can do so at the pitch this Saturday.
REGISTRATION
Another reminder that registration is still open. It’s very important that we get everyone signed up as quickly as possible. If you have any questions please contact a club officer.
LOTTO SELLERS
The club are currently seeking new lotto sellers in an effort to raise much needed funds to run the club. We’re looking for as many people as possible to sell just five tickets a week. Each ticket costs €2 but if you add up a year of selling just five tickets a week, you would be generating over €500 for the club. We’re looking for parents, players and supporters to row in behind us in this venture as every euro raised goes towards improving the club’s facilities. If interested please contact Seánie Culloty on 087 2225325.
LOTTO
Lotto results for March 20th: The winning numbers were 7, 8, 11 and 13. There were five match threes: John Crehan, Kay Murphy, Colin, Breeda Kelliher and Ben O’Sullivan. The jackpot for next week (Monday, March 28th) is €4000.
CLOTHES COLLECTION
Another reminder that we’ll be collecting unwanted clothes throughout the year. The next collection is on Saturday, April 16th before twelve noon. All unwanted clothes, bags, belts, shoes, blankets, towels, curtains etc. will be accepted, as will old phones and laptops. Bags can be dropped to the clubhouse during training times. Please spread the word.
PARADE
A huge thank you to all of the participants in our St Patrick’s Day parade entry. Special thanks to Stella and her organisers, the character actors, the coaches and the parents and well done to all of our young Legionnaires who were brilliant on the day.