Oscar Traynor Cup; Kerry DL 1-0 Limerick Desmond League

Sunday 27th November
Oscar Traynor Cup
Kerry DL 1-0 Limerick Desmond League

By Tommy Naughton

Kerry moved into second place in the group with a win at home against the Desmond League on Sunday at Mounthawk Park Tralee. In truth the score line doesn’t reflect this very entertaining encounter where a score line of 8-3 would have been easily justified.

Kerry dominated the early exchanges of the game with and had the first chance when a Gary Keane free was headed back across the goal by Aidan O’Callaghan into the path of Danny Roche but somehow Sean Lynch in the Limerick goal manage to get a foot to the ball to turn it around the post. Although Kerry were dominating the possession stakes they had to be alert from a dangerous Limerick side on the break and it took a last ditch tackle from Con Barret in side the penalty area to deny Declan Nash from hitting the target after fifteen minutes. Con Barret then picked out Adam O’Rourke whose quick turn and goal bound shot in the box was blocked by the sliding Sean O’Shea. Limerick then had their best chance of the half when a long ball from the back put Declan Nash trough on goal and with on David Hennessey to beat the Kerry keeper pulled off a great save at his near post to keep the game level.

However for the remainder of the half it was all Kerry with some superb movement off the ball created numerous goal chances and in the 28 minute they took the lead. A ball over the top to Wayne Sparling from Adam O’Rourke saw the Desmond League keeper come out of the box to clear but he sliced his clearance into the feet of Sparling who rolled the ball into an empty net from 30 yards out. Kerry should have double their lead before the break but found Sean Lynch in great form in the Desmond League goal who first denied Adam O’Rourke from close range before going full stretch to tip over a Joe Sheehy strike from distance. Lynch then denied Danny Roche again from close range before Wayne Sparling finally beat the keeper with the final attack of the half only to see the ball roll inches past the far post.

Kerry started the second half and had to reshuffle the pack losing Con Barrett and Danny Roche to injuries and were replaced by Matt Keane and Ashley Kelliher in the opening four minutes four the half. Again Kerry were creating great chances and after another great move Gary Keane played a one two with Wayne Sparling only to see Keanes effort half blocked by Sean Lynch and Ger Garvey was on hand to clear the ball of the line . The clearance was quickly picked up by Joe Sheehy who picked out the unmarked Wayne Sparling at the pack post but his effort hit the side netting.

It was beginning to look like one of those games where you dominate the game and chances but pay for by conceding when you don’t put away the opposition and it took a great save from David Hennessey to deny Gary Kelly on the hour mark. Kerry then created three great chances but again Lynch could not be beaten first denying Sparling then Sean Brosnan twice from close range .

As the game entered the final minutes Limerick poured more men forward in search of the equaliser and had two efforts from close range just going wide of the target from Declan Nash and Edward Gallagher. In the final minute Jason Hickson then went close for Kerry after beating the offside trap but again Lynch saved before Limerick quickly broke down field where Declan Nash was played in with only Hennessey to beat who make a terrific block from twelve yards out and then reacted quickly to dive to his right to deny Gallagher from the rebound for a fantastic double save .

Kerry saw out the remaining few minutes easily to secure the win and will be delighted with the performance but know they will need to kill off teams when they create as many chances as they did during this game . Next up is a trip to West Cork in January where a win will guarantee a place in the knock out stages of the competition.

Kerry ; David Hennessey(Mitchels Avenue), Jason Hickson(Dingle Bay Rovers),Ryan Downey(St Brendans Park), Aidan O’Callaghan(Castleisland AFC), Con Barrett(St Brendans Park), Sean Brosnan(Castleisland AFC), Gary Keane Capt(Killarney Celtic), Joe Sheehy(Dingle Bay Rovers), Wayne Sparling(Killarney Celtic), Adam O’Rourke(St Brendans Park), Danny Roche(Tralee Dynamos). Subs; Matt Keane(Killarney Celtic) for Barrett 47 mins, Ashley Kelliher(Listowel Celtic) for Danny Roche 49 mins, Tommy Feehan(Castleisland AFC) for O’Callaghan 91 mins. Unused subs, Shane Greensmyth(Strand Road), Danny Feehan(Castleisland), Richie Kelliher(Strand Road), Killian Moran(Strand Road).

Desmond League; Sean Lynch, Martin Madden, Thomas Quilligan, Cathal Cummane, Sean O’Shea, Seoirse Joyce, Gary Kelly, Dylan Corrigan, Keith Harnett, Declan Nash, Aaron Smith. Subs, Ger Garvey for Smith 45 mins, Edward Gallaher for Kelly 72 mins .

Officials ;
Referee , Adrian Quirke .
Assistants , Thomas Sheehy , Tom O’Sullivan .