Noah the hero
Tables turned for Kilmore
KILMORE CRAANFORD 3-7 4-2
THESE KILMORE lads would be forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be their day again. A week after a last-gasp goal cost them their hurling crown, they trailed Craanford heading into the last minute in the New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 4 shield finalKilm.
However, St. Patrick’s Park will always hold fond memories for this team now. Just when they needed some magic, trailing by 4-2 to 2-7, Noah Culleton delivered with a devilishly dipping shot that flew past Paddy Redmond to give his side the win.
While it was a harsh ending for Craanford, there’s no doubt Kilmore deserved their slice of fortune. They completely dominated the opening quarter and build a decent 2-3 to nil lead, but went off the boil and allowed their gutsy opponents a route back into the game.
Eoin Cheevers had the opening dead-ball on the board in the second minute and the next free, struck by Tadhg Rowe with some force, found its way into the back of the Craanford net.
James Cousins scored a classy point before Culleton nabbed his first goal after good work by Leo Sinnott.
Rowe opened up the nine-point lead and James Cloney later pointed, but Craanford began to respond as the half wore on.
Jack Smyth knocked over a pair of dead-balls and Billy Redmond reacted quickly to a breaking ball in the goalmouth to net and leave the game finely balanced at the interval (2-4 to 1-2).
Craanford took four minutes after the changeover to goal twice, through Darragh Steadmond and Redmond. However, Rowe levelled the scores with a free (2-5 to 3-2).
Eoin Spencer’s 44th-minute major seemed to send the Gorey District side on their way, but points from Rowe and Cloney put the minimum between the sides before Culleton won it in dramatic style.
Kilmore: Killian Sinnott; Mark Kelly, Jake Scallan, Stefan Bates; David O’Reilly, James Cloney (capt., 0-2, 1 free, 1 ‘65), Dylan Hore; Joseph Healy, James Cousins (0-1); Eoin Cheevers (0-1 free), Aaron Dempsey, Noah Culleton (2-0); Leo Sinnott, Conor O’Reilly, Tadhg Rowe (1-3 frees). Subs. (rolling) - Lewis Cosgrave, also Sam Fortune, Darragh Mythen, Mark Roche, Seán Lowry.
Craanford: Paddy Redmond; Dylan O’Brien, Michael Kinsella (capt.), Larry Kinsella; Conor Cassidy, Eoin Spencer (1-0), Fionn Murphy; Cian Waters, Conor Hayes; Billy Redmond (2-0), Darragh Steadmond (1-0), Liam O’Brien; Jack Smyth (0-2, 1 free), Calvin O’Toole, Kylan Doyle. Subs. (rolling) - Louie O’Halloran, Conor Donoghue, also Daryl O’Brien, Michael Doyle, Ben Kinsella, Patrick Finn, Eoin Steadmond, Lorcan Doyle.
Referee: Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien).