Passing of Luke Silles puts any Kerry league wins and losses into perspective. This is real loss.

Tragic death of Ballymac minor footballer and Tralee CBS student leaves the parish and the greater Tralee community numbed with shock and sadness

The late, sadly lamented, Luke Silles from Ballymacelligott, Co Kerry

WINNING and losing football matches never seemed less important this weekend around Tralee once confirmation came Friday that 18-year-old Luke Silles had passed away in the wake of a terrible swimming accident at Fenit beach last Saturday. 

Luke was a Leaving Cert pupil at Tralee CBS and a promising minor footballer with Ballymacelligott but above all, he was a kind, good humoured young man that any parent would be proud to call their own. A cloud of sadness, a numbness still hangs over Ballymac and Tralee. His father, Tony is a senior selector with Ballymac and their county league game was postponed for the second week in a row, this time against Kerins O’Rahillys. 

With O’Rahillys not playing, Austin Stacks moved two points clear at the top, thanks to hard earned 1-17 to 2-11 win in Connolly Park over Glenflesk but it was far being straight forward, a fourth minute goal scored by Shane O’Callaghan ultimately proved the difference. Stacks raced 1-5 to 0-1 by the end of the opening quarter, with O’Callaghan adding another two points, with the Horan brothers Greg and Conor along with Ferdia O’Brien on the mark. Stacks added five more points thanks the same combo of the Horans, O’Callaghan and Ferdia O’Brien as they led 1-10 to 0-4 at half time with Roche brothers Darragh and Dylan barely keeping Glenflesk afloat.

When Ferdia O’Brien added two quick second half points, the East Kerry’s side plight looked hopeless. But an Emmett Finnan goal and a couple of Darragh Roche frees began to cut the gap. Ian Roche was also a factor for Glenflesk, who did not introduce their U21 players until late on, Six behind after 50 minutes, a two pointer from Tommy Bowler and a Jeff O’Donoghue goal left Glenflesk down by two and Stacks were now forced to dig in. Greg Horan then with a massive catch and point pushed Stacks three clear but Darragh Roche with a two pointer (he finished with 0-6) had the game in the melting pot.

But Stacks with their U-21’s on the field kicked the final two points from Daniel Kirby and Ryan O’Driscoll and Stacks escaped to victory.

Killarney Legion rescued one of the amazing draws of the season when finishing 0-13 apiece with Laune Rangers. Killorglin held a comfortable 0-13 to 0-7 lead in the 58th minute and looked home and hosed. But in the remaining two minutes and four added minutes, Ryan O’Grady kicked a pair of two pointers and Shaun Keane kicked another to earn a share of the spoils. Two Gearoid Hassett points and another from Eoin Clifford had Rangers 0-4 to 0-2 ahead at the end of the first quarter. John Tyther and two more from Hassett put Rangers 0-7 to 0-3 ahead with five minutes left in the half.

Legion responded with a Ryan O’Grady point, but points from Tyther and Daire Cleary saw Rangers retire 0-9 to 0-4 ahead and it looked game over. Despite points from O’Grady and Josh Bowler (2), Rangers thanks to points from Tyther, Eoin and Darragh Clifford led 0-13 to 0-7 but they were caught by a two point onslaught late on.

Dr Crokes slipped to defeat in somewhat controversial circumstances losing 1-16 to 0-16 to local rivals Kilcummin. Crokes were trailing by two late on when Jack O’Sullivan claimed a mark but was allegedly prevented from taking it and it was from two point land. The free went the other way and Kilcummin got the insurance point.

Paul O’Shea gave an exhibition of two points shooting as Kilcummin lead 0-6 to 0-4 early on. Mikey Casey, Billy Courtney, Cillian Fitzgerald and Cian McMahon replied for the Crokes. By half time Crokes, thanks to five unanswered points from Mikey Casey scoring three, led 0-9 to 0-6 at half time. It was nip and tuck for the second half with Crokes leading 0-14 to 0-12 in the 58th minute but Chris O’Leary crashed the ball to the Crokes net to give Kilcummin a lead they never lost.

Spa defeated Glenbeigh/Glencar who look doomed for the drop on just one point but Spa proved too strong winning 2-12 to 0-14. The two goals proved decisive and both were scored in the first half by David Spillane and Ciaran Spillane.