October 11, 2015 at 12:43 am

REPORT/PHOTOS: Kerins O’Rahillys Undone By Legion’s Scoring Power

Gavin O’Connor reports on Kerins O’Rahillys exit from the Garvey’s SuperValu Kerry SFC at the hands of Killarney Legion on Saturday, plus loads of action photos below…

Legion 4-9 (21)

Kerins O’Rahilly’s 1-15 (18)

Tommy Walsh attempts to pass Danny Sheahan during Saturday’s match. Photo by Dermot Crean

HELPED by a hat-trick from James O’Donoghue, Legion knocked Kerins O’Rahilly’s out of the county championship in Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Despite a late rally by O’Rahilly’s where they scored four of the last five points, they couldn’t haul back Legion’s lead that had been stretched after O’Donoghue completed his hatrick from a spot kick with ten minutes left on the clock.

Strand Road who dominated midfield throughout will feel they left this one behind them, but when you have a ruthless forward like O’Donoghue at the top of his game, there is little that can be done to stop him.

Continued below…

The early signs were not good with James O’Donoghue having to make Gary Kissane work in goal, saving a point blank shot straight from the throw-in.

The game was only three minutes old when O’Donoghue got on to a lovely long pass from wing back, Darragh Doherty, to rattle in his first of the afternoon.

High flying action during Saturday’s game. Photo by Dermot Crean

Jack Savage replied with an exquisite point from 30 yards out which was followed by O’Rahillys penalty with seven minutes gone.

After Barry John Keane was tripped inside the penalty area, David Moran made no mistake, placing his shot to the right of the keeper.

Jamie O’Sullivan settled things for Legion with a point which was followed by the second Legion goal.

Giles O’Grady comes under pressure from Jonathan Lyne and Damien O’Sullivan. Photo by Dermot Crean

Conor Keane linked up for O’Donoghue’s second goal, the Kerry U21 threading a beautiful 30 yard pass to the Kerry star who skinned the Strand Road defence and caressed the ball past Kissane.

The game was real end to end stuff, with almost every attack being rewarded with a score. Tommy Walsh, who had caught a superb ball over his head in front of goal, was moved to midfield with Con Barrett taking up the full-forward spot.

O’Rahillys answered back with two points from Barry John Keane and Tommy Walsh, to leave the scores 1-4 to 2-2 in favour of Legion after the first quarter.

Kieran O’Mahony scores a point despite Chris Davies efforts. Photo by Dermot Crean

The game was only 18 minutes old when Legion hit the net for a third. Once again, Keane and O’Donoghue, who was now unmark able, combined for the score.

Strand Road plugged away and got the last two scores of the half, both frees from Jack Savage to leave the scores 3-4 (13) to 1-8 (11).

It was clear something had to be done about O’Donoghue and the O’Rahillys line decided to stick with Cormac Coffey on the 2014 player of the year.

Conor Keane slots home a Legion goal in the first half. Photo by Dermot Crean

Though Coffey lessened O’Donoghue’s influence in the second half, the Blues were robbed of his dynamism going forward.

The second half was not as helter-skelter as the first. With Legion being wiped out in midfield by Walsh and Moran, who made some magnificent fetches, the Killarney side were forced to take short kick-outs to build their attacks.

In fact, between the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, Legion went 17 minutes without troubling the score-board. With two Jack Savage frees inside the first seven minutes of the half, Strand Road drew level.

Con Barrett attempts to launch an attack hampered by Danny Sheahan’s efforts. Photo by Dermot Crean

Legion replied with two points of their own from Billy McGuire and Kevin Breen. Making an instant impact off the bench for the blues was Kieran O’Mahony who made it a one point game once more.

Following a converted free from James O’Donoghue, which had been brought forward thirty yards because of dissent, Legion hit what was the fatal blow.

After O’Donoghue was fouled going into the square by Cian Sayers, he was awarded a penalty which mercilessly finished to the net.

Barry John Keane manages to release the ball despite a Legion defender’s efforts. Photo by Dermot Crean

With nine minutes left and five points down, there was still time for O’Rahillys to pull this one out of the fire.

Tommy Walsh was now moved back around the square and almost instantaneously this began to bear fruit from his aerial dominance, with two scores coming off him, one of them his own.

Despite pulling the game back to within two points with two minutes left, Strand Road had left this one too late.

James O’Donoghue’s penalty sent Legion on their way to the semis. Photo by Dermot Crean

When Legion substitute, Padraig Lucey, hit the final point the game, O’Rahilly’s, were forced to hit and hope into Walsh, but alas no chance came from their efforts.

So, for a second week in a row a Tralee team has been knocked out of the county championship. Legion will go in to tomorrow evenings draw and with JOD on top form they could well go all the way.

Jonathan Lyne is chased by Cormac Coffey. Photo by Dermot Crean

More photos below…

Scorers

Legion: James O’Donoghue 3-1 (f1), Conor Keane 1-1, Billy McGuire 0-2, Tom Moriarty, Denis Sheahan, Padraig Lucey, David O’Sullivan and Jamie O’Sullivan a one point each

Kerins O’Rahilly: Jack Savage 0-9 (7f), David Moran 1-0 (penalty), Tommy Walsh 0-2, Barry John Keane, Kieran O’Mahony, John O’Connor and David McLoughlin one point each

Teams

Legion: Brian Kelly, Cathal Sheahan, Danny Sheahan, Podge O’Connor, Daragh Doherty, Damien O’Sullivan, Johnathan Lyne, Kevin Breen, James O’Donoghue, Billy McGuire, Tom Moriarty, David O’Sullivan, Conor Keane

Kerins O’Rahilly’s: Gary Kissane, Danny O’Sullivan, Shane Brosnan, Tommy Begley, John Ferguson, Ross O’Callaghan, Cian Sayers, David Moran, Con Barrett, Cormac Coffey, Barry John Keane, David McLoughlin, Jack Savage, Tommy Walsh, Greg O’Connell