O'Connor masterminds impressive victory

KERRY SFC SEMI-FINAL REPLAY - Kerins O'Rahilly's 0-12 South Kerry 0-11:ONE OF those end-of-empire occasions in Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday afternoon. South Kerry, looking to reach their fifth county final in a row, were banished by a fresh-faced Kerins O'Rahilly's outfit in a replayed game which had the quality if not the drama of the original instalment, writes Tom Humphries

And the birth of a new empire? Jack O'Connor, surely the sole name on the shortlist to succeed his own successor for the big job, moved from his place of instinctive exile out on the peninsula to mastermind the coming of age of a group of players who, if handled correctly, could be the spine of Kerry football in years to come.

But Kerry being Kerry the jury remains out. Anywhere else many of the side (eight under-21s, two of them minors) who broke through on Saturday would be stars already. Their achievement on Saturday was substantial however. Playing a side with seven senior All-Ireland medallists in the ranks they pushed back the rock when they looked to be buried.

The Tralee side have suffered from something of a malaise since Eoin Liston brought them to their last county title in 2002. Graced with some fine talents, they have never in the intervening years seemed to want it enough.

O'Connor's triumph on Saturday was tactical in that the funnelling back to create a four-man half-back line snuffled out the threat provide by his old confederate Declan O'Sullivan but it was also motivational.

South Kerry led by four points at half-time and were playing with the sort of slickness one would expect from townies. There was a feeling last weekend's drama would have to serve as the high point of the year for the younger team and that if it were so, it would be sufficient progress.

Kerins O'Rahilly's scored the first five points of the second half in a display of power and confidence. It started from the throw-in with a beautifully-taken score from Declan Quill and developed when Tommy Walsh linked perfectly with his brother Barry John to tag on another score.

Kerins O'Rahilly's were carrying the game to South Kerry now and there were many performances to admire. David Moran confirmed the trace impressions from the summer. He will be a fine player for Kerry. His brother, Brian, at centre back was a surprise though. Just resuming a career interrupted by travel and injury he looked to have the familial stamp of class and in his movement and style better resembles his father, Ogie. Barry John Walsh, another scion though significantly slighter than his brother, has a speed of movement and perceptiveness of vision which makes him exceptional for his age and while Quill's scoring was instrumental in bringing about victory, the movement of his brother Benny from wing back was eyecatching.

Add to that the phenomenal solidity of Mike Quirke and you have a picture of the platform O'Rahilly's are springing from. Quirke could have an international basketball career under way by now but warms the bench for Kerry each summer. On Saturday you could see why he persists in believing in himself. He provided the iconic moment of the afternoon pulling down Bryan Sheehan's long-range free as it sailed high and toward the status of being a last-second equaliser. His general work-rate, fetching and impeccable distribution were other highlights though.

South Kerry never quite came to grips with that aggression and guts which their conquerors brought to the table in the third quarter. The times when they clicked Kerins O'Rahilly's looked irresistible. They will play Nemo in the Munster championship next weekend and meet Mid Kerry a week later in the county final. They could lose both games and consider the season a success but on Saturday's evidence that wouldn't be in their nature.

KERINS O'RAHILLY'S:G Kissane; D O'Sullivan, M Ó Sé, G O'Grady; B Quill, B Moran, G Duffy; D Moran (0-2), M Quirke; J O'Connor (0-1), BJ Walsh (0-2), T O'Sullivan; D Quill (0-5, four frees), T Walsh (0-2), BJ Keane. Subs: P Madden for T O'Sullivan (47 mins).

SOUTH KERRY:L Sheehan; W O'Sullivan, S O'Sullivan, A O'Connell; E O'Neill, B Hickey, A O'Sullivan ( Filemore); J Sugrue, B Sheehan (0-4); Aidan O' Sullivan ( Skellig), Declan O'Sullivan (0-2), D O Dwyer (0-1); R Hussey (0-3), R O Connor (0-1), P O Donoghue. Subs: Denis O Sullivan for P O Donoghue (52 mins).

Referee:D Casey ( Scartaglin).