Forde still focused
Kilanerin veteran prominent in win
KILANERIN ST. JAMES’ 2-11 2-6
HISTORY HAS shown that Kilanerin are at their most threatening in the year immediately after winning the Intermediate football title, so it was no great surprise to see them advance to a first Tom Doyle Supplies Senior championship semi-final since 2010 in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday.
St. James’ did ask them some serious questions when two goals in a nine-minute spell in the second-half reduced a comfortable 2-8 to 0-6 lead to just two points.
However, it was a test that the north county side passed in admirable fashion, as they shut up shop in the closing stages to hold the Ramsgrange side scoreless for the final 20 minutes including added time.
They had gone for more than quarter of an hour without a score before wily veteran Matty Forde steadied the ship from a free, and midfielder Niall Hughes then left four between the teams in the 56th minute (2-10 to 2-6).
Their last point was a spectacular wind-aided kick from 45 metres at the town end by substitute Bobby Hughes, and they remain on course to match the feats of their 1974 and 1993 teams - Senior championship winners at the first attempt.
Two of Kilanerin’s most eye-catching performers are in their first year as adult footballers, with the rangy Seán Forde slotting over three neat first-half points from play, while Paudie Hughes was full of running and a most effective linkman in the half-forward line.
Neither player was born when Matty Forde, Seán’s uncle, played his first Senior game for the club in 1996, and it was also interesting to note the wide-ranging contribution of the most skilful Wexford footballer I have ever seen.
Despite being one year shy of his 40th birthday, he spent a lot of time away from his full-forward berth around the middle third of the field in the first-half in particular when Kilanerin faced the wind, with Conor Devitt the only attacker to consistently remain close to goal.
And by the end of the game, Forde was content to trot back to the edge of his own square and keep Tom Hughes company - the best place to be to avoid one opponent in particular who seemed to be constantly goading him into a reaction off the ball.
It was clear from an early stage that St. James’ were in for a tough afternoon, as they fell behind by 1-3 to nil after eleven minutes.
Seán Forde played a quick onetwo from a free with Conor Devitt to open Kilanerin’s account in the third minute, with Páuric Hughes setting up Matty Forde for their second before that goal arrived in the fifth minute.
Hughes was involved again, getting and returning a Devitt handpass slightly to the left of goal at the Clonard end before the latter rounded netminder John Ryan and calmly slotted the ball into a gaping net.
Another Matty Forde free stretched the lead to six before St. James’ finally showed some signs of life.
Matthew O’Hanlon’s long free was caught by Graeme Molloy and swiftly given to Donal Barron whose palmed effort was turned over the bar by alert netminder Tom Hughes in the 13th minute.
Molloy added their second point, but his loss through injury close to half-time was the type of blow that the Jimmies simply weren’t equipped to absorb.
Indeed, they were in even more bother by that stage, as Kilanerin had added another 1-2 to their tally in a devastating burst.
Seán Forde repeated his earlier trick, this time finding Peter Hughes from a short free, accepting the return and almost lazily lofting it left-footed over the bar. Whatever about being caught once by this move, it didn’t say much for the St. James’ defending that they fell asleep for a second time.
Kilanerin goaled again in the 16th minute when Conor Devitt’s high kick from the right was watched all the way by Matty Forde who held off Jason Barron with one hand and knocked the ball down to the unmarked Niall Breen with the other.
The midfielder had ghosted into the ideal position and his composed finish stretched the lead to 2-4 to 0-2, with Seán Forde adding another point inside 40 seconds.
It was 2-7 to 0-5 by half-time, with Matty Forde converting two dead-balls while Donal Barron, Tommy Walsh (free) and Brian Molloy (free) responded.
Seán Forde (free) and David Doyle - now at right half-forward - swapped points on the re-start, before St. James’ were thrown a lifeline in the 38th minute.
Donal Barron and Brendan Doyle combined to find Daniel Keating who was fouled for a penalty, and Tommy Walsh tucked his left-footed shot into the right corner of the net (2-8 to 1-6).
It was almost ten minutes before the next score arrived, and the fact that it was another St. James’ goal suggested that the improving 2015 champions mightn’t be finished just yet.
Matthew O’Hanlon found David Doyle whose delivery across the square was finished to the net by Brendan Doyle who had been moved to full-forward at half-time, but he was immediately replaced by Mark Molloy whose brief was no doubt to get on the ball outfield and run at the Kilanerin defence.
With the leaders funnelling back in numbers, St. James’ could only muster two wides and no further scores as the Gorey District side allayed any fears among their supporters with the last three points.
There was one bizarre incident in the 56th minute when Kilanerin physio Jim D’Arcy collided with St. James’ captain Paul Barron as he left the field after treating an injured player.
The man with the medical bag was promptly ordered away from the playing area by referee James Mullally.
Incidentally, although open to correction, I believe this was the first meeting of these clubs in championship football since they played a draw in an Intermediate group game in Bellefield as far back as 1987.
Kilanerin: Tom Hughes; Aidan Jones, Colm Kavanagh (capt.), Rhys Owley; Ben O’Connor, Gavin O’Toole, Denis Jones; Niall Hughes (0-1), Niall Breen (1-0); Páuric Hughes, Seán Forde (0-4, 1 free), Dean O’Toole; Peter Hughes, Matty Forde (0-5, 4 frees), Conor Devitt (1-0). Subs. - Mark Boland for Owley, temp. (9-12), Mark Gethings for O’Connor (HT), Boland for D. O’Toole (39), Bobby Hughes (0-1) for Peter Hughes (47), Emmet O’Toole for S. Forde (56).
St. James’: John Ryan; Paul Barron (capt.), Jason Barron, Greg Doyle; Darragh Lyons, Robbie Barron, David Doyle (0-1); Matthew O’Hanlon, Brendan Doyle (1-0); Brian Molloy (0-1 free), Donal Barron (0-2), Daniel Keating; Tommy Walsh (1-1, 1-0 pen., 0-1 free), Graeme Molloy (0-1), Shane Murphy. Subs. - Liam Murphy for G. Molloy, inj. (25), Mark Molloy for B. Doyle (48), Alan Walsh for Keating (51), Michael O’Grady for D. Doyle (60+2).
Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).