South Kerry and Fitzie end the wait

By South Kerry 1-13 Laune Rangers 2-5

The division’s first success in 22 years earned Maurice Fitzgerald the one medal that he had failed to garner over the course of his distinguished career and it was all the more appropriate that he should be the one to lift the trophy.

Dejected Laune Rangers players, clearly handicapped by the loss of Liam Hassett, could hardly begrudge him the honour. Other than Laune Rangers missing a goal in the last minute of normal time - when team captain Mike Frank Russell finished off a disappointing game by kicking wide from close range - the destination of the title looked inevitable after Ronan O’Connor hit the net for South Kerry at the three-quarters stage.