Heartbreak for Killavullen in league final

Newcestown 2-12 Killavullen 2-10

NEWCESTOWN claimed the Rebel Óg Co Minor BHL title when they defeated Killavullen in a keenly contested league final at St Michael’s Grounds, Mahon on Saturday.

From the offset both teams were quick into the action. Killavullen surged into a 0-2 to no score lead when Paul O’Sullivan and Jack O’Regan had a point apiece by the fourth minute.

Newcestown got back on parity when Timmy Coughlan and Colm Dineen had points. They were level again at 0-3 each by the 10th minute. Killavullen shaded most of this half with Gearoid Sheahan, Patrick Angland, Seamus Fox, Eddie Cotter, Eoin Buckley, Padraigh Looney, Paul O’Sullivan and Jack O’Connor doing very well.

A period of sustained pressure by the Avondhu outfit saw them move double scores in front 0-6 to 0-3 by the 17th minute. Newcestown in an attempt to get back into the tie were forced to make a number of positional changes that certainly worked in their favour.

Gearoid O’Donovan and Timmy Coughlan formed a new partnership at midfield with James Kelleher dropping back to centre back. In attack Colm Dineen took up a new role at centre forward with Padraigh Collins moving to the edge of the square, they all played leading roles in their sides victory.

In their next attack they were back on level terms when a delivery by Gearoid O’Donovan was finished to the net by Padraigh Collins. Further pressure saw the outstanding Colm Dineen with two fine points open up a two point game. Killavullen’s response was immediate.

Eddie Cotter set up Padraigh Looney for a fine solo point before Jack O’Connor scored their opening goal in the 27th minute when he finished to the net from a very tight angle.

Newcestown rallied again and a point each by James Kelleher and Padraigh Collins made it 1-7 each as the half time whistle approached.

In injury time the Carbery side took the lead when Colm Dineen scored a great point from out near the sideline and it helped them hold a slender lead at the interval.

The entire second half was again much the same trend with the issue in doubt till the very end. Killavullen struck for their second goal within minutes of the throw in when James Fitzpatrick finished to the net following a goal mouth scramble.

However, their lead was short lived with Newcestown cancelling out the Killavullen goal in the 40th minute when a delivery by James Kelleher saw the impressive Padraigh Collins breach the Killavullen defence for his sides second goal 2-8 to 2-7.

Both teams battled hard for supremacy from here.

Killavullen forced level soon after when a quick free by Seamus Fox resulted in a well taken score by Paul O’Sullivan. By the end of the third quarter they were level again at 2-9 each when Colm Dineen and Jack O’Connor traded points.

In the 46th minute Newcestown took a lead they would not surrender when Colm Dineen sent over a long range free. Killavullen tried hard to get back on terms but on this occasion they found scores difficult to come by.

Instead it was the winners that moved two clear in the 56th minute when Padraigh Collins pointed with the same player with another point three minutes later opening up a three point game. Killavullen refused to panic.

At the end of normal time Jack O’Connor with a point from a sideline cut closed the deficit to two points.

In injury time they came close to snatching victory when a goal scoring opportunity went narrowly wide.

In the end time ran out for Killavullen with Newcestown emerging victors by a two point margin. After the game Donal Whooley on behalf of the Rebel Óg Board presented the cup to the winning captain Colm Dineen.

NEWCESTOWN: P O’Riordan, G Murphy, M Shorten, D Buckley, D Buttimer, G O’Donovan, E Collins, J Kelleher 0-1, T Coughlan 0-1, S Collins, P Collins 2-3, G O’Sullivan, O Walsh, C Dineen 0-7 (0-5f, 1 ‘65’), C Goggin Subs: S Collins for C Goggin, T Galvin for S Collins

KILLAVULLEN: C Lankford, I Roche, G Sheahan, L Nagle, P Angland, S Fox, S Browne, E Cotter, E Buckley, P Looney 0-1, P O’Sullivan 0-4, J Fitzpatrick 1-0, J O’Connor 1-4 (0-1f, 0-1 s/l), J Sheehan, J O’Regan 0-1 Sub: J Creedon for J Sheehan

REFEREE: Peter Aherne (Carrigtwohill)