Fossa defeated Castleisland Desmonds after extra-time to earn a place in the semi-finals of the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship.
It was a 5-17 to 1-19 victory for Fossa, the club of Paudie and David Clifford, who were All-Ireland junior champions last season. After the game finished 1-17 to 2-14 in normal time, Fossa ran riot in extra-time.
They took the lead in the sixth minute of the additional 20 when Matt Rennie's skied effort for a point nestled in the top corner of Steven Bartlett's net.
Early in the second period of extra-time, with just three points between the teams, Emmett O'Shea scored a superb solo goal. The Fossa captain stole the ball in midfield and soloed 70m before side-footing the ball to the net.
Nine minutes later, as Fossa held a seven-point lead, David Clifford - who scored 1-7 - emulated O'Shea with his own solo goal. The 2022 Footballer of the Year picked up possession in his own half and showed his pace as he ran at Castleisland centre-back Denis O'Connor before finishing to the roof the net.
David Clifford solo goal vs Castleisland in Kerry IFC
Three goals in bizarre extra-time goals helped @FossaGaa into their first EVER @Kerry_Official Intermediate Quarter-Final
⭐️ Matt Rennie lob?
⭐️ Emmet O’Shea 70 metre solo goal
⭐️ David Clifford 70 metre solo goalYou can watch the full game on https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 🔗 pic.twitter.com/m7rNvfEY1e
— Clubber (@clubber) September 3, 2023
Desmonds had edged ahead by two points with just over two minutes of normal time to play but then the Clifford brothers combined to set up Eoin Talbot, who punched the ball to the net.
A free from Thomas Hickey in the 62nd minute brought Castleisland level once again, and after David Clifford's kick from a free with the last play of normal time dropped short, the game went to the extra 20 minutes.
"We were very disappointed with our performance defensively the last day," Fossa manager Adrian Sheehan told Clubber TV.
"Conceding four goals, there were a few harsh words during the week. What it did was force us to really scrutinise where these things were really coming from.
15 January 2023; Brothers David Clifford, left, and Paudie Clifford with the Corn Seamróga Chraobh Mháirtín after their side's victory in the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Championship Final match between Fossa of Kerry and Stewartstown Harps of Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"It makes a huge difference when you're bringing on experienced guys that you can trust. Everyone that we brought on played in an All-Ireland final last year. Thats testament to the club and testament to the amount of players that we have. You never know, we might have another day out!
"[Desmonds] got a goal after a minute or two today but I just felt that we really shut it down for most of the game. They only scored one goal. I was delighted with us defensively. We had been in that situation last year as well. We were able to call on that bit of experience from last year. We're delighted."
Fossa will play Austin Stacks in the semi-finals of the Kerry IFC while Killarney Legion will face Milltown/Castlemaine in the other last four game.
"Followed by about 40 or 50 children around the field"😂
David Clifford paraded by a children across the country once again at FT today. Fair play to him for giving his time each occasion 👏
Watch back @FossaGaa's Extra-Time victory today on https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 🔗 pic.twitter.com/jIGljoxJ1q— Clubber (@clubber) September 3, 2023
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