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Legion got their Club Championship campaign off to a flying start as they defeated Kenmare Shamrocks in the Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. Jamie O’Sullivan was the undoubted star of the show as he put on an exhibition of kicking, especially in the first half when he registered an impressive 1-9. The majority were from placed balls but they certainly weren’t handy frees; he even managed one with his weaker left foot.

The Killarney side took full advantage of the wind in the first half and led by seven, 1-13 to 2-3, at the break. Kenmare started the second half strongly, however, and by the midway point in the period they had cut the deficit to a single point. Jack O’Neill netted a crucial goal in the 46^th minute to re-establish Legion’s dominance and a couple of more frees from O’Sullivan helped them over the line.

It was a massive result for Legion who were without the services of the injured James O’Donoghue and Shaun Keane. They showed savage intensity in defending from the front and forced a lot of mistakes from their opponents, and their back six is looking very strong as well. James O’Sullivan’s side will now surely fancy their chances of advancing to the next phase of the competition.

Their next opponents, Rathmore, were missing a number of key players in their Group 2 opener against Dingle and Kerry star Paul Geaney really put them to the sword as he racked up 3-5 in an eight-point win. With the bottom placed teams from each group facing a relegation playoff, Sunday’s clash between Legion and Rathmore in Derreen is almost a must-win for Paul Murphy and co. Kenmare host Dingle in the other fixture on Sunday.

In Group 2, Dr Crokes had a very comfortable win over An Ghaeltacht in Tralee. Playing with a strong breeze, Pat O’Shea’s side raced into a 1-4 to no score lead and led by 11 points, 1-10 to 0-3, by half time. They registered seven points in the second and that was more than enough as An Ghaeltacht only managed three more scores with the wind at their backs.

Division 2 outfit Austin Stacks won their derby with Kerins O’Rahilly’s by 1-15 to 0-13 on Saturday. David Mannix top scored for Stacks with 1-5 (two frees), Ferdia O’Brien added three points and centre back Jack O’Shea chipped win with a brace. Stacks will be hoping to make it two from two when they host An Ghaeltacht this weekend, as will Crokes as they travel to Strand Road to play Rahilly’s.

In the Intermediate, Spa continued their good run of form with a solid victory over Gneeveguilla, Glenflesk defeated Castleisland Desmonds and Kilcummin had a narrow one-point win over Glenbeigh-Glencar. Fossa also got their championship off to a winning start as they overcame Keel in Killorglin.

All in all, it was an excellent weekend of club football for Killarney and the surrounding parishes. Let’s hope for more of the same this time around.