Shannon fires Vols to second success

VOLUNTEERS KILMORE 2-9 1-4

DAVID SHANNON fired the crucial scores which led to Volunteers seeing off Kilmore with an impressive second-half showing in this Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship Group A game in Taghmon on Saturday.

After a rather listless first 30 minutes, Volunteers had to rely on a much-improved second-half showing, giving a performance that saw them maintain their one hundred per cent start to the campaign.

They will still be concerned about their over-reliance on Shannon for scores both from open play and frees.

And they were thankful for the excellence of their ‘keeper John Cody whose two tremendous second-half saves kept the opposition’s revival at bay at a crucial stage.

Kilmore were once again disappointing. Going down to their second successive defeat, their failure to use the strong breeze through the first-half proved their undoing, as their three-point interval lead did not look sufficient to carry them to a victory.

Having conceded two early second-half scores, they managed a strong recovery through the final quarter but once Cody denied both Tom Byrne and Tommy Cousins with superb saves, at a time when just six points separated the sides, they were left with little to show for their efforts.

Indeed, just one second-half point was scored, and four easy frees from in front of goal were kicked wide.

Paddy Byrne marked his return to the side with a fine opening point from play, but the Vols were back level by the third minute through a Shannon free.

Kilmore got the ideal lift after five minutes when Noel Casey collected a long ball across the face of the goal and worked his way along the endline before beating Cody with a low shot at his near post, giving his side a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

Kilmore had started brightly with Shannon and Shane Goff exchanging pointed frees, while a fine Shannon point from an acute angle left the seasiders with a 1-3 to 0-3 interval lead.

Two minutes before the break Kilmore were struck a cruel blow when Shane Goff was dismissed on a second yellow card, for what was a timid tackle from a sporting player.

That refereeing decision had an impact on the eventual outcome as Volunteers, with the strong wind, utilised their numerical advantage.

Shannon powered in a superb levelling goal within two minutes of the re-start, while two minutes later Jack O’Leary found the net following some dreadful defending, giving his side the lead for the first time (2-3 to 1-3).

Both sides found it somewhat difficult to play open football, with the strange refereeing decisions leaving players confused.

Now trailing by 2-6 to 1-3, Kilmore stormed back into the game in the final quarter, but ‘keeper Cody kept out goal attempts from Tom Byrne and Tommy Cousins on 51 and 54 minutes.

Kilmore’s solitary second-half point cameg ten minutes from the end through Tom White, and the Vols finished out the game with points from a Shannon free and Aaron McGuire.

Volunteers: John Cody; Brian Delaney, Keith Furlong, Jason Kearns; Aaron McGuire (0-1), Brian Sheridan, Stephen Kearney; Eoin McCarthy, Cian Brennan; Danny O’Sullivan, Kyle Dempsey, Keith Kearney (0-1); Jack O’Leary (1-0), David Shannon (1-7, 0-5 frees), Mikey Banville. Subs. - Stephen Burke for Furlong, black card (35), Dylan Carty for Dempsey.

Kilmore: Kevin Casey; Willie Carley, Graham Mernagh, Seán Carley; Tommy Cousins, Denis Kenny, Aaron Kielty; Paddy Byrne (0-1), Tom Byrne; Shane Goff (0-1 free), Conor Moore (0-1), Tom White (0-1); Aaron Goff, Noel Casey (1-0), Páraic Reville. Subs. - Keith Bates for Reville, Martin Frayne for Kielty, James Roche for S. Carley.

Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).