Killarney Legion 0-14, Templenoe 0-14:
The match ended as a draw, but both teams could make arguments to say they deserved the victory in a very exciting match played in Direen, Killarney for Round 9 of the County Senior Football League. After a wet morning, the day had dried up very nicely, but there was a very strong breeze which favoured Templenoe in the opening half.
Templenoe were short of a number of first team regulars again, played very well in the first half with the aid of a strong breeze. They comfortably had the better of the exchanges around midfield, and were intent on leaving the ball do the work, with a series of long passes kicked into the full forward line.
Templenoe kicked the first two points of the match through a Stephen O’Sullivan free and Sean Sheehan from play. These scores were cancelled out by two points from the home team from Billy McGuire and Pat McCarthy. Pat Spillane pointed to restore Templenoe’s lead and following a series of wides by both teams, Danny Cahalane kicked a great point from a tight angle. Legion's Midfielder, Jamie O'Sullivan made his presence felt by kicking a point from play, before good work by Danny Cahalane and Pat Spillane put Kieran McCarthy through to kick a point. The score on the fifteen minute mark was Legion 0-03, Templenoe 0-05.
Templenoe enjoyed a good patch of play for the next ten minutes and kicked points from Teddy Doyle, Stephen O’Sullivan and Danny Cahalane. Legion had pulled players behind the ball and struggled to get the ball up the field, but a good five minutes by Jamie O’Sullivan towards the end of the half, saw him kick three great points to reduce the deficit. The half time score was Legion 0-06, Templenoe 0-08.
Teddy Doyle kicked the first point of the second half which was cancelled out by a David O’Sullivan score for Legion. A Pat Spillane score extended the visitors lead, but a five minute purple patch featuring three points by Legion saw both teams level on a score of Legion 0-10, Templenoe 0-10 at the 40th minute. The Legion scorers were their corner forwards David O’Sullivan (2) and Peter McCarthy.
Teddy Doyle kicked a great long range free from the ground, but the match had started to ramp up in intensity. Denis Sheehan received a black card for Legion, and not long afterwards, Patrick Clifford received a Red to leave Templenoe playing with fourteen men for the remainder of the match. Legion seized the initiative, and kicked the next three scores as they seemed to be pulling away. Templenoe kept trying and after missing a very good goal chance, they pulled back a point through a Stephen O’Sullivan free. This was on the 60th minute and Legion were reduced to fourteen men at this stage which handed the initiative back to the visitors. Another great scorer by Teddy Doyle levelled matters, and soon after a great individual run by Pat Spillane saw Templenoe take the lead.
Templenoe had one final attack foiled, and Legion quickly moved the ball up the field to equalize with a score form wing forward Kevin Breen. This was the 65th minute and there was time for no more, leaving both teams level on a score of Legion 0-14, Templenoe 0-14
Legion Scorers: Jamie O’Sullivan 0-04, David O’Sullivan 0-03, Peter McCarthy 0-03, Kevin Breen 0-02, Billy McGuire 0-01, Shaun Keane 0-01, Derek Twomey 0-01
Legion Team: KJ Griffin, Ciaran Lyne, Danny Sheehan, Andy O’Sullivan, Donal Lyne, Darragh O’Doherty, Alan Moriarty, Jamie O’Sullivan, Shaun Keane, Kevin Breen, Billy McGuire, Denis Sheehan, Peter McCarthy, Conor Culloty, David O’Sullivan.
Templenoe Scorers: Teddy Doyle 0-04, Stephen O’Sullivan 0-03, Pat Spillane 0-03, Danny Cahalane 0-02, Sean Sheehan 0-01, Kieran McCarthy 0-01
Templenoe Team: Anthony Sheehan, Mike Hallissey, Kieran O’Neill, Shane Cremin, Kieran McCarthy, John Spillane, Joseph Sheehan, Sean Sheehan, Josh Holland, Martin Reilly, Teddy Doyle, Danny Cahalane, Stephen O’Sullivan, Adrian Spillane, Pat Spillane.
Subs: Patrick Clifford
