David Clifford turns creator for Fossa but still bags nine points 

Emmett O’Shea was the goal hero for Fossa, aided by the Kerry superstar

David Clifford scores a point for Fossa against Firies at Fossa, Killarney on Saturday evening. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Kerry IFC: Fossa 4-16 Firies 0-18

A brace of goals in the opening seven minutes of the second half allowed Fossa to coast into the quarter-finals of the Kerry county IFC following their second successive Group 1 victory at home to near neighbours Firies.

Operating again without injured playmaker Paudie Clifford, the winners were indebted to forward duo, David Clifford and Emmett O’Shea, who combined for a tally of 2-15 on the night. For a change, it wasn’t the Kingdom superstar who raised the green flags.

All eyes on no 13 David Clifford at Fossa, Killarney on Saturday evening. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Clifford, operating deeper than normal in the absence of his older sibling, created O’Shea’s goal in the 18th minute with a typical piece of artistry, showing his vision and unselfishness, for his partner-in-chief to rocket to the net in great style.

That score enabled Fossa to lead by two points at the break, 1-9 to 0-10, with the excellent Diarmuid O’Mahony, and the lively Stephen Palmer, contributing half of the Firies’ tally. The underdogs would have fancied their chances heading into the resumption.

However, any hopes they had of lowering the colours of their East Kerry rivals had ended by the 37th minute. O’Shea, fortuitously, registered his second green flag after a bad mistake by the Firies goalkeeper, and Ted O’Gorman, with a superb finish, kicked Fossa’s third goal.

By the 37th minute, Fossa were eight points to the good, 3-10 to 0-11, and, with Clifford finishing with 0-9, including a superlative two-pointer against the breeze, and O’Shea notching a total of 2-6, Firies simply couldn’t stop the rampant duo.

Fossa were able to run their bench (without needing to spring Paudie Clifford), and they applied the coup-de-grace in stoppage time when Matt Rennie slotted home their fourth goal. They travel to also qualified Kilcummin to decide top spot in the group next weekend.

Scorers for Fossa: E O’Shea 2-6 (2tp, 0-1f), D Clifford 0-9 (2tp, 2tpf), T O’Gorman 1-1, M Rennie 1-0.

Scorers for Firies: J Horgan 0-6 (0-4fs), D O’Mahony 0-4, S Palmer 0-3, Darragh Brosnan 0-2, J Flynn 0-2(tp), C Doe 0-1.

FOSSA: S O’Sullivan; D O’Connell, K O’Sullivan, S Buckley; T O’Gorman, E Talbot, P Sheehan; C O’Shea, M Rennie; K Buckley, D Ryan, R Colleran; D Clifford, E O’Shea, H Buckley.

Subs: B Myers for Colleran (37), F Coffey for K Buckley (51), M Dwyer for H Buckley (54), A O’Keeffe for Sheehan (55), D Butler for O’Gorman (60).

FIRIES: B McCarthy; C Palmer, Diarmuid Brosnan, B O’Leary; D O’Mahony, J Sherwood, N Donohue; Darragh Brosnan, J Flynn; T Clifford, P de Brún, TJ Palmer; S Palmer, M Daly, J Horgan.

Subs: C Doe for Daly (37), L Brosnan for TJ Palmer (41), C O’Mahony for Clifford (51), D Donohue for Darragh Brosnan (51), J Power for Sherwood (57).

Referee: S Joy (Laune Rangers).