Brian Kelly seeks atonement and historic triumph

He may have suffered disappointment at losing the Kerry No. 1 jersey during this year’s inter-county championship, but Killarney Legion goalkeeper Brian Kelly hopes to atone for that setback by helping his side lift the Kerry County SFC title for the first time since 1946 against South Kerry on Sunday.

Kelly has been playing to a very high standard during Legion’s rollercoaster journey in this year’s championship —conceding only three goals — as his club hopes to turn its considerable underage success over the last decade into senior glory against the experience of South Kerry.

“From a Kerry point of view, this year was frustrating for me,” says Kelly. “I got injured early in the season, Brendan (Kealy) has come in and done very well. But do you know what? This is the silver lining in the cloud at the end of the season. We’ve had a good championship run, I’m enjoying my football, I’ll take it game by game and keep trying to put up good performances and see where it gets me.”

The modest Kelly acknowledges the contribution of his defence has been key to his side’s success this season.

“We’re fairly tight at the back. I think this year two of the three goals conceded were penalties. Aside from that, the boys have kept them out fairly well – that’s testament to the backs really. I haven’t had to do a whole lot in some of the games which tells you something about our defence.

“I remember the first day out against Mid Kerry we really needed to shut up shop at the end. The boys did a great job. A couple of fellows that have come in have breathed new life into the team. Darragh Doherty has come in at the back and has been a revelation, a breath of fresh air at wing-back. It’s great to see a young fellow come through, 17 years of age, playing with a bit of abandon. He plays pressure-free which is great to see.”

Legion have been the story of the Kerry Championship this season, and at last look to be on the verge of something special at senior grade having walked the walk at U14, minor and U21 grade since 2006 with this James O’Donoghue-inspired generation of players. It appears 2015 is the year they have come of age.

“In many ways it looks like that,” says Kelly. “Down through the years we thought we’d have one good performance in us, followed by a poor performance, followed by a big performance again – that’s how our championship form (at senior) has been.

“We’re all very good friends. We’re a tight group. There are two teams making up the majority of the group. We’ve won some things coming up through the age grades but what you could say is that we’ve never really fulfilled our potential. This year is the culmination of a lot of hard work down through the years, so hopefully we can get over the final hurdle.

“We’ve had a tough run in the championship — Feale Rangers, Rathmore, Rahillys, Mid Kerry — all solid teams. I think this year we found a way to win those games. The big question is now is on the big day can we do it again? Hopefully we can.”

Have Legion discovered the gut for the battle? “I think this year we have shown more resolve than any other year. I suppose that comes with maturity. The ‘P’ word “potential” has been hanging over us over the last couple of years — that’s a monkey we want to get off our back. Hopefully this is the year.”

Whether Legion have the nous to outwit the canny men of South Kerry remains to seen, though some commentators in the Kingdom have installed the Killarney club as favourites.

“I don’t know can you say we are favourites. It’s new territory for this group of players and new territory for this club really because not many of us were around for the last final.”