Big card count as Gers pip Kilkerley
Geraldines 2-10 Kilkerley 0-15
GERALDINES’ pursuit of a Championship and League double remains on course after Jim McEneaney’s superb 60th-minute goal settled this full-blooded and at times bad-tempered semi on Saturday evening.
Before throw-in the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup wasn’t top of the ‘wanted’ list for either of these two sides, but what transpired over the next hour and more suggested otherwise as the game was played at a high intensity throughout - just what both Geraldines and Kilkerley needed ahead of their upcoming SFC quarter-finals.
However, Hunterstown referee Noel Hand needed eyes in the back of his head at times as several skirmishes broke out in the lead up to half-time, and by the end the official had brandished an amazing total of 14 cards - three red, two black and nine yellow.
In the early stages it was Kilkerley who came out all guns blazing as they built on the momentum of their championship win over St Patrick’s six nights earlier.
Shane Lennon and James Fegan both pointed from play in the opening four minutes, and when Tadhg McEneaney and Lennon kicked frees either side of a superb Sean Hand score the Emmets were full value for their 0-5 to 0-0 lead.
However, having not registered a single scoring attempt in the first 11 minutes, Gers began to find some rhythm and a fine point from play by Shane O’Hanlon and a Michael Rogers free cut the deficit to three just past the quarter-hour mark.
Kilkerley seemed to lose their way at this stage, not helped by the departure of Cathal Bellew with a shoulder injury, and Gers made them pay with a burst of 1-2 in the space of three minutes.
McEneaney registered from play and then a free, but the key score came in between as Gerard Hoey and Rogers fashioned a chance for Conall Hoey who finished with a flourish low to Darren Meehan’s right.
Lennon and Jim McEneaney then exchanged frees to leave the Gers two ahead, but the football took a back seat coming up to half-time as a series of melees broke out.
Gers’ Stephen Reidy got his marching orders for two yellow cards in the space of a minute - although there were claims of mistaken identity on the second occasion - and Kilkerley’s Andrew McGuill was dismissed on a straight red soon after. Referee Hand then showed a black card to Gerard Hoey, and as the former county man had been booked earlier he too was sent to the line.
Amidst all the mayhem during the 10 minutes added on for stoppages, Tadhg McEneaney fisted a point and Lennon landed a free to leave the scores tied at the break - 1-5 to 0-8.
Thankfully the players kept the animosity under control in the second half and an exciting contest ensued between the 13 men of Geraldines and Kilkerley’s 14.
The two McEneaneys, Tadhg and Jim, exchanged frees, and after Tadhg kicked another free in response to a good Shane O’Hanlon score the sides were still level - 1-7 to 0-10 - after 44 minutes.
However, even allowing for the blustery conditions Kilkerley’s shooting was wayward at times, and by this stage they had tallied nine wides. That wastefulness that would ultimately cost them dear.
Lennon, Kilkerley’s top marksman but also the chief culprit in terms of wides, did land a well-judged free to edge his side ahead again, but two excellent O’Hanlon scores from play inside 60 seconds shifted the momentum Geraldines’ way - 1-9 to 0-11 after 49 minutes.
Kilkerley responded imme- diately as Lennon kicked a free before combining with Rian Hand to set up namesake Sean whose soccer-style shot grazed the bar on its way over.
Jim McEneaney (free) tied the scores once more, only for Lennon to respond in kind in the last minute of normal time.
Geraldines were far from finished, however, and a fine piece of fielding by Rogers in midfield set up an attack that yielded the match’s decisive score.
Rogers’ delivery found Jim McEneaney still some 30 yards from the posts out on the right, but the Louth man had goal on his mind and he drifted past his man at pace and beat two more defenders before firing an unstoppable shot to the Kilkerley net.
It was the seventh time in the match that the lead had changed hands, but still there was work to for Geraldines as referee Hand added on a further seven minutes.
Tenacious work from their backs ensured that Kilkerley only had one further shot at the posts in that time, and although Tadhg McEneaney’s free cut the deficit back to one it was too little too late for Kilkerley and Gers are through to their first senior final in more than 30 years.
The way they dug out a hardfought win with 13 men reinforces their position as strong contenders for Joe Ward glory, but on this evidence Kilkerley cannot be discounted either.
GERALDINES: Darren Kearney; Ryan Trainor, James Craven, Tiernan Hand; Gerard Hoey, Gareth Neacy, Josh Arrowsmith; Matt Corcoran, Michael Rogers 0-1 (f); Conall Hoey 1-0, Shane O’Hanlon 0-4, Nicky Mackin; Paddy Hoey, Jim McEneaney 1-5 (0-4f), Stephen Reidy. Subs: Kevin Pepper for P Hoey (HT), Paul Clarke for Mackin (HT), Glen Trainor for Arrowsmith (58min).
KILKERLEY EMMETS: Darren Meehan; Barra McCarthy, Adam Shields, Alan McGeough; Cormac Bellew, Cathal Bellew, Ciaran Clarke; Ciaran Bellew, Andrew McGuill; Ryan Hand, Shane Lennon 0-7 (6f), Shaun McElroy; Tadhg McEneaney 0-5 (3f), Sean Hand 0-2, James Fegan 0-1. Subs: Emmet Hughes for Cathal Bellew (19min), Conall McEneaney for R Hand (50min), Michael McGeown for Hughes (54min, BC).
REFEREE: Noel Hand