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Kerry on course for crown

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Sligo really had to win this senior football "B" game if they were to hold on to any remaining interest in this year’s campaign. Kerry, on the other hand, set out to keep their impressive run of victories intact in order to capture their first Div. 2 championship in more than 30 years and, in beating Sligo Sunday at Gaelic Park, they remain on course for the championship.

Played in a very humid atmosphere on Sunday, the game, unfortunately, was littered with ugly incidents, one of which almost boiled over into a full-scale melee.

However, besides the occasional temper fraying, there were other talking points. Colm Wilson of Kerry did much to chip away at an intimidating Sligo back line and in scoring a goal and 5 points, he finished top scorer in the game, taking each well and scoring a great goal after some good play in the Kerry midfield involving Gerry McElligott and Mike Carmody.

Peadar Reynolds, the Sligo forward, had other intentions rather than just letting Wilson keep the scoring all to himself. Reynolds quickly began to rack points, grabbing two early on, and another four throughout the game.

The match was even most of the way through, with neither side really grabbing the lead and keeping it. Further Sligo points suggested that they were on course for an upset versus the in-form Kerry team. But for some good goalkeeping from Sligo’s John Connolly, Wilson may have scored a lot more, putting the game out of reach for Sligo.

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The killer goal came late in the second half when some good passing among the Kerry midfield set up Mike Carmody to score against Sligo, giving Connolly no chance at saving his goal-bound effort. It was a plucky Sligo performance, but Kerry’s strength in depth and willingness to plow on when the going got tough proved to be too much for Sligo. Kerry manager Paddy Kearney will be pleased with this result as he drives his charges toward the championship.

Kerry scorers: Wilson 1-5, Carmody 1-0, Tom Mannion 0-2, G. McElligott 0-1, Timmy Foley 0-1.

Sligo: Reynolds 0-6, Fitzgerald 0-2, Ron Cosgrove 0-1, Niall Coogan 0-1, Mark Doyle 0-1.

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