Late Woods free earns Éire Óg a share of spoils

KILTEGAN ÉIRE ÓG 1-11 1-11

WITH a Kiltegan team looking to secure a better position in the knockout stages and an Éire Óg side looking for their first win, this Renault Senior Football Chammpionship clash in Pearse’s Park, Arklow, was always promising.

Trevor Doyle’s Kiltegan were coming in off the back of a serious defeat to defending champions Rathnew and had some good news in that they had Stephan Farrell back in the side but were still without full-back Blaine Harmon.

Éire Óg were without suspended Craig Smullen and Eoin McHugh but had managed to get captain Darren Hayden’s red card overturned and had dual player Anto Byrne back from an elbow injury.

Kiltegan’s midfielder Rory Finn opened the scoring after just 37 seconds after great link up play with Podge O’Toole who was Rory’s new midfield partner for afternoon, and moments later Podge himself had an effort of his own score only for a great block down by Darren Hayden who broke up the field and played a one-two with Dan Kelly to level things up.

It was end to end stuff for the next few passages of play but neither team managed to register a score.

Then Dan Kelly put the Greystones men ahead only for it to be cancelled straight out by by veteran Geffrey Bermingham.

On the 12th minute, Seanie Furlong got his first of the day and could have had a goal straight after it but will be kicking himself for not taking his point.

Éire Óg were fighting hard for scores and young wing-back Fintan O’Shea had made numerous inspirational runs down his wing and drew a foul from which Danny Woods converted.

From there, Éire Óg got into attacking mode. Dan Kelly and Darren Hayden started to cut the defence open and racked up a few lovely scores coming to the half time break and then against the run of play came a piece of individual magic from Kiltegan’s Cathal Fitzgerald who got the ball 40 yards out and beat three defenders to finish sweetly to the bottom corner to leave it Kiltegan 1-4, Éire Óg 0-7 at the break.

Two minutes into the second half Danny Woods found himself through on goal but unfortunately could only get his shot off with his weaker foot and this resulted in a wide.

Then, moments later, Jacko Dalton also found himself with a glimpse at goal only for big Billy Cuddihy to put his body on the line to block his shot. The ball rebounded out to Seanie Furlong who tapped over.

With time starting to tick away Éire Óg’s full-back Stephan Kelly had moved out the field to try bring something to the attacking play.

He set off on one of his trademark runs and was brought down in a scorable position and Danny Woods converted.

Then came one turning point in the game. Kiltegan’s full-back found himself bottled up and his pass went astray to Anto Byrne who slipped the through to Danny Woods to get a priceless goal.

Kiltegan’s Jacko Dalton, who had number 15 on his back, had also drifted out the field to try create something and soon got on the ball and drew a foul with the free dropped over by Cathal Fitzgerald.

Nearing the last 10 minutes, both side traded scores at either end and then came another key moment when Anto Byrne got on the end of a pass headed for goal and looked to be dragged down.

Referee Pat Dunne pointed to the penalty spot but after conferring with his umpires he overturned that decision which did look like the correct call.

Kiltegan went on the attack after that and won a free; another score for Seanie Furlong and Kiltegan up by a point and time almost up.

Éire Óg set off on one last attack with captain and a man of the match Darren Hayden winning a free from a very tight angle.

Danny Woods stood over it and never was there a doubt in his mind but that ball was going over the black spot to finish the game as a draw.

A valuable point for Kiltegan, not so precious to Éire Óg. This sees Kiltegan through to the quarter-finals and Éire Óg now head for the Keating Trophy.