They will have to do it all over again down in the Kingdom after today’s Kerry county senior club final ended all square at 0-9 apiece.
The game was a thrilling affair in Fitzgerald Stadium as Kerry colleagues on both sides did their best to lift the Bishop Moynihan Cup.
James O’Donoghue and Jonathan Lyne were on the starting 15 for the Killarney side, while South Kerry included Bryan Sheehan and Killian Young as well as former Kerry star Declan O’Sullivan in their match-day squad.
The Killarney side led at the break by 0-7 to 0-4, with Brian Sheehan grabbing four points from the boot for the men from the Iveragh peninsula.
South Kerry began the second half by levelling up the scores at 0-7 each before manager John Sugrue was banished to the sideline.
John Sugrue sent off , yes the manager John Sugrue. Controversial point from C Keane trail by a point
— South Kerry Board (@SouthKerryBoard) November 8, 2015
Banished to the side line pic.twitter.com/Poszuldgjw
— South Kerry Board (@SouthKerryBoard) November 8, 2015
The sides traded scores until two minutes of additional time flashed up on the sideline.
However, South Kerry looked to have won the game as time ran out when Greg Gibson scored a point to see his side lead 0-9 to 0-8.
Garvey's Senior Final #KerryGAA
31mins 2nd half @SouthKerryBoard:0-9(9) @legionGAA:0-8(8).
Greg Gibson— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) November 8, 2015
But referee Seamus Mulvihill played on and Legion scored an equalising point after 63:53 through Jamie O’Sullivan.
Garvey's Senior Final #KerryGAA
33mins 2nd half @SouthKerryBoard:0-9(9) @legionGAA:0-9(9).
Jamie O'Sullivan— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) November 8, 2015
As soon as his score went over there was ugly scenes however as players and mentors from both sides got involved in what was described by Radio Kerry’s commentary as a ‘punch-up’ while co-commentator Weeshie Fogarty said that it was a scene of ‘all hell breaking loose’.
Eventually, referee Mulvihill was given a Garda escort to leave the field with the replay fixed for either the 21 or 22 November.
Looks like South Kerry were robbed by a referee who played 4 extra minutes instead of the 2 indicated to secure a draw for Legion #KerryGaa
— Tommy Naughton (@Tknocka_) November 8, 2015
Jamie O'Sullivan point for Legion levels Kerry final against South Kerry, 0-9 each at FT. Ref plays 2 mins more added time than indicated.
— Colm Keys (@KeysColm) November 8, 2015
#GAA #KERRY The GAA will have to introduce the hooter. Ugly end to @KillarneyLegion v @SouthKerryBoard pity.
— Mike O'Halloran (@StageandSport) November 8, 2015
@LegionGAA what the ref did was a disgrace. He denied South Kerry the win. Those lads fought back from the brink of defeat for nothing.
— Seán O'Sullivan (@sean_osull00) November 8, 2015
Wonderful listening on Radio Kerry, it must be said. Not every day you hear a post-match brawl being described live. #KerryGAA #KerrySFC
— hill16bhoy (@hill16bhoy) November 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/aghadoe11/status/663392176492122112
The Kerry county board initially confimred that the replay would be next Saturday which would have affected five players on the South Kerry side who were due to line out for St Mary’s in a Munster club intermediate clash.
It would have also meant that Legion or Dingle would have had less than 24 hours to prepare to face Nemo Rangers in a Munster senior club encounter.
However the county board confirmed on their website that the fixture headache appears to have been temporarily solved for next weekend at least.
