| Exiles’ 14-man assault
runs into Brick wall BY GRAHAM CLIFFORD
LONDON 1-11 KERRY 1-14
Division 2B
 London will
consider themselves unlucky after suffering a three-point defeat to Kerry
in the first round of the National Hurling League on Sunday. Down to 14
men for most of the second half the Exiles found it difficult to break
down a physically stronger Kingdom side.
The Nicky Rackard Cup holders started brightly but the dreadful conditions,
which deteriorated, led to a litany of frees. From the throw in London
Midfielder Mick O’Meara was on the receiving end of a wild pull
by a Kerry player with Sean Kelly converting the resulting free for the
Exiles.
Taking their time to settle Kerry opened through a Shane Brick free. The
star of the Kingdom side scored a total of 9 points in a game which won’t
be remembered for it’s free flowing hurling.
The Kerry forwards were proving too hot to handle for London early on.
The home side’s half-back line, famed for it’s strength in
last year’s Nicky Rackard campaign, was starting to show worrying
fracture lines.
The game ebbed and flowed in unspectacular fashion up until the 15th minute
when Kerry captain Michael Conway broke in along the byline and fired
past keeper O’Meara for the first goal of the game. An excellent
point from the wing by the goalscorer Conway, and another by Kieran Dineen,
put Kerry into a 1-05 to 0-04 lead after 20 minutes.
Approaching half-time though London had their best spell of the half.
Points from Kelly and from the fantastic Jim Ryan inspired the Exiles.
However, having drawn level at 0-09 to 1-6 the London goalkeeper Colm
O’Meara clearly felled Conway just outside the square. Brick scored
the resulting free and added another to give Kerry a half-time lead of
1-08 to 0-09.
The home side fancied their chances at the break but a dismissal minutes
later forced a serious rethink. Half-back John Dillon could not stop Shane
Brick heading straight for goal and wildly chopped at the prolific Kerryman
connecting with his hand. Dillon was given a straight red card, while
Brick converted from the free.
Facing an uphill battle London dug deep and forced a goal of their own
13 minutes into the half. A sideline cut falling on the left edge of the
box was centered by London’s Darragh Smith for Kevin McMullan of
Robert Emmets to get the final touch.
Keith Kennedy of Kilburn Gaels was introduced midway through the second
half and caused problems for Kerry.
However, the task ahead for London was insurmountable. Battling both
a resilient Kerry defence, as well as atrocious weather conditions, London
never really looked like snatching this dogfight in West London.
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