County Championship

South played to their strength

November 4th, 2009
by Weeshie Fogarty

I strongly believed it was always going to go right down to the wire and that is exactly what happened in last Sunday's close, hard and exciting county final. Having seen all of South Kerry's championships matches this year one thing was very evident as they raced on to the pitch to face Dr Crokes and that was if push came to shove and the sides were locked together entering the closing minutes then the stronger, more physical South Kerry men would have that vital slight advantage.

Underfoot conditions were to prove vital. This was my belief, and it was copper-fastened for me on the previous day, Saturday, when I attended the Spa and Listowel Emmets county league game played in Spa. The home side had won the Intermediate championship the previous Sunday and were greatly fancied to secure the important points. It was a cold, wet afternoon, the pitch was heavy as a result of constant rain and conditions were extremely difficult.

Entering the last five minutes the sides were level and then we saw the stronger, more physical side Listowel, powered by the Kennelly brothers, win those vital fifty-fifty balls against their lighter opponents and hold out for a one-point victory. This was courtsey of a Noel Kennelly late goal. Spa have some beautiful players and will continue to improve under their excellent mentor Sean Moynihan but even their most avid supporters will tell you that a little bit more strength in the forward division would benefit them greatly as we begin winter football.

It was a similar story last Sunday. The game had really only sprung to life during those last pulsating closing fifteen minutes. Colm Cooper began to win more ball from his outstanding marker Killian Young and some superb points from Crokes wing forward Brian Looney and a pointed free from Daithi Casey had edged them ahead for the first time. They were dominating now, playing vintage Crokes football – linking up, keeping possession and coming at the South Kerry defence in waves of attack. Then we saw the game decided with five minutes remaining and it was the outstanding Bryan Sheehan who answered the call for John Galvin's men when the need was greatest.

An interception in the South Kerry half of the field saw them power forward and 'power' is the operative word here. Sheehan was at the end of the move, the St Mary's man shrugged two late tackles to kick a brilliant point with his left leg under the greatest pressure. The sides were level again. Sheehan's strength under those heavy, trying conditions had proved vital as the final hung in the balance.

You could literally feel the tension in the air as the gathering gloom of this wet November afternoon descended on Fitzgerald Stadium. A draw was now the most likely conclusion. However, it was another of South Kerry's inter-county men who stepped forward to decide the issue. And again it was experience, strength and composure that defined what would prove to be the winning point. Declan O'Sullivan pounced on a breaking ball around the Crokes square and he explained afterwards what transpired. "I tried to angle for a kick for a point but I was covered by defenders on my left and right leg so my only option was to attempt a fisted effort and thankfully it went over".

To the spectators it looked so simple, however very few players under such circumstances would have the composure to add up his options in that split second as defenders descended on him in an attempt to prevent a scoring opportunity.

Dr Crokes did have one last chance of saving the game. Substitute Fionn Fitzgerald floated a ball across the South Kerry square but as goalkeeper Richard White seemed to misjudge it Eoin Brosnan threw himself at it in one last attempt to finish to the net but the ball evaded his flying fist and shot wide. There were mutterings afterwards that Brosnan was fouled and a penalty should have resulted. However, from my position I believe the referee was correct in his decision.

While those two points previously described ultimately decided the issue it was the game's only goal which at the end of the day sent South Kerry on their winning way. Four minutes gone and Sneem's Ronan Hussey appeared to be pushed in the back as he prepared to shoot for goal in the small square. Referee Ger Lynch, who was well behind the play at that stage, signalled a penalty following some hesitation. Bryan Sheehan's kick had to be good as he was facing one of Kerry's best goalkeepers in Kieran Cremin. He placed his shot hard and low just inside the keeper's left hand post leaving no chance for error. The perfect penalty. The winners led at the short whistle 1-4 to 0-4.

Crokes lifted their performance greatly on the resumption and a marvelous point from their outstanding midfielder Johnny Buckley signalled their intentions. Corner back John Payne completely blotted out the treat of Ronan Hussey who had been one of South Kerry's chief scorers during their run to the final while Ambrose O'Donovan, Eoin Brosnan and Brian Looney, in particular, drove their men forward until they edged in front with ten minutes remaining.

And so it was, when the fat was well and truly in the fire, that we saw the extra bit of strength and experience come to the fore. Aidan "Dash" O'Sullivan, Brian Hickey, Stephen O'Sullivan and Killian Young really rose to the challenge. They crowded out the attacking Killarney men while inflecting on them their third final loss (to South Kerry) since 2005, each one by a single point. It's a heart breaking way for any club to be deprived of such a prestigious victory, however knowing the Crokes I have no doubt that they more than anyone will go away and Harry O'Neill and his sideline generals will learn well from this latest defeat.

For his tremendous last twenty minutes display Declan O'Sullivan would be my man of the match and without any hesitation my man of the whole championship is Bryan Sheehan. His point kicking from frees and play and his overall displays guided John Galvin's men to their latest success. His magnificent, impeccable free kicking in all those games will remain etched in the memory. So jokingly I put it to him, what happened when he kicked a '45' wide in the first half last Sunday? "I slipped as I kicked," was his cheerful reply.

Fogra: Come along to the Gleneagle Hotel Killarney next Saturday at 7.30 pm as that great Spa man Jimmy O'Sullivan Darcy launches his wonderful new 235-page history of Kerry football beautifully entitled ' Forged in Green and Gold'. It's a must for any Kerry follower.



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