By Sean Moriarty

Two Killarney men played a key role in London’s opening two wins in the Allianz National League Division 4 title race.

Two weeks ago they took a dramatic win over Carlow in the opening round of the league. It was the first time that London won its opening league game since defeating Kilkenny in the same fixture in 2011. They came from 10 points behind to win on a score-line of 2-11 to 1-13 result at Dr Cullen Park.

Their victory was all the impressive as the London team had not played as a unit for over nearly years. They were unable to contest the last two National Leagues and All-Ireland championships as they were not allowed to travel during the pandemic.

Last weekend they overcame Waterford on a score-line of 1-12 to 2-08. It was the first time ever that the exiles won back-to-back league matches.

Former Spa player Matthew Moynihan and Conor O’Neill from Dr Crokes are amongst a group of six Kerry players on the London panel.

Moynihan, who plays his club football for Tir Chonail Gaels in London, played in the fullback position while O’Neill came on as sub – ironically to replace fellow Kerry man Thomas Lenihan from Churchill in the corner back position.

“There was great support from families from all over Ireland who came to support the exiles. You could hear them in the stands, it was a great atmosphere,” Moynihan told the Killarney Advertiser after the Carlow game.

He has been living in London, where he works as an accountant for an construction firm, since 2017.

He first made the London panel in 2019 but their 2020 campaign came to a sudden end when the pandemic forced travel restrictions just two or three games into the season.

The other Kerry players on the London panel were Cathal O Luing (An Ghaeltacht), Bobby O’Regan (Ardfert) and Chris Farley (Dromid Pearses).