Keane stars as dominant Kilcummin keep Clifford quiet and ease past Fossa

Fossa's David Clifford. Pic: Dan Linehan

Kerry IFC: Kilcummin 0-22 Fossa 0-10 

Kilcummin and Fossa were both through to the quarterfinals of this year’s IFC but there was the small matter of topping Group 1 and getting home advantage in the quarters when both sides met on Sunday.

But after an even and competitive first half, Kilcummin took over around the middle and former Kerry FC captain Matt Keane kicked six second-half points while Philip O’Leary and Paul O’Shea added a brace each to complete a deserved 12-point win that few would have predicted.

David Clifford cut a lonely figure in the second half along with Emmet O’Shea as they were starved of possession and had to live off scraps. 

Even the introduction of Paudie Clifford for his first taste of club championship action this season in the 36th minute failed to resurrect Fossa’s challenge, and although he kicked a point and saw his two-point effort late on drift wide, it mattered little.

The game was won at midfield, where Kilcummin dominated throughout, with Paul O’Shea, Kevin Gorman, Darragh O’Callaghan and James Nagle collecting breaking ball while Philip O’Leary and Matt Keane created havoc up front.

Fossa, with the aid of the wind in the opening half, led most of the way with David Clifford kicking a point inside a minute, but Philip O’Leary leveled soon afterwards. 

Kieran O’Sullivan and Emmet O’Shea (f) gave Fossa the lead. James Williams pulled one back for the home side. 

Then David Clifford kicked a superb two-pointer from play, and Ted O’Gorman, after a good run, soon had Fossa three clear. 

Philip O’Leary responded with a Kilcummin point but Fossa were on top and kicked three more before the break, with David Clifford adding another, but Kilcummin closed the gap with points from Kevin Gorman and Mark O’Shea to see Fossa lead 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

Once Brendan Keely leveled the contest with a '45, Kilcummin wiped Fossa out at midfield as Matt Keane took over, and by the 40th minute, Kilcummin pushed five clear thanks to four points from Keane, including a two-pointer. 

Paul O’Shea and Keelan O’Shea had minors as Fossa drifted out of the game.

Fossa could not win a break at midfield and whenever David Clifford got the ball, he was hounded by three or four defenders as the visitors only managed two second-half points from the Clifford brothers.

But with Keane everywhere, Kilcummin ran out comfortable winners to gain a home quarter-final while Fossa have work to do around the middle third.

Scorers for Kilcummin: M Keane (0-7, tp), P O’Leary (0-4), Mark O’Shea (0-3), P O’Shea (0-2), B Kealy (’45), K O’Shea, K Gorman, J Williams, S O’Leary and C Lynch (0-1 each). 

Scorers for Fossa: D Clifford (0-5, tp, 1f), T O’Gorman (0-2), K O’Sullivan, E O’Shea (1f) and P Clifford (0-1 each).

KILCUMMIN: B Kealy; D Stack, C O’Leary, D Moynihan; J Nagle, D O’Callaghan, K O’Shea; P O’Shea, K Gorman; C Foley, P O’Leary, J Williams; S O’Leary, Mark O’Shea, M Keane.

Subs: O O’Leary for K O’Shea (54), C Kelliher for J Nagle (55), C Lynch for Mark O’Shea (56), Mikey O’Shea for Cian Foley and S McSweeney for K Gorman (both 57).

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

Subs: B Myers for R Colleran (1 inj), P Clifford for D Ryan (36), F Coffey for K Buckley (45), D O’Keeffe for D O’Connell (52). 

Referee: P Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys)