Kilrush coast into the last eight with big win
A FRANK Boggan seven-minute hat-trick cemented a place in the last eight for his Kilrush side as they brushed past Kilanerin in the Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘ A’ football championship at Páirc Uí Síocháin on Sunday last.
The victors came into the game after their first championship defeat of the season against St. Joseph's the previous weekend but bounced back in style as five goals in eight minutes left an understrength Kilanerin reeling.
Not content with being low on players, Kilanerin must also have been short of jerseys with a superb selection that included three numbers 20s, plus two players each wearing numbers five, six and 15.
However, there was no mistaking Pat Forde who got the first point. That was his side’s final score until the 24th minute though, by which time they had conceded 5-3.
After points from Eoin Boggan and Conor Levingstone, Frank Boggan got his first goal after a Shane Tomkins feed. His second followed a minute later after good combination play with Garry Doran and Levingstone.
Both providers were on the major scoresheet thmselves as Kilrush ripped Kilanerin apart, but the day belonged to Boggan who completed his hat-trick in the 19th minute.
Points were exchanged between Peter Nash and Eoin Boggan towards the end of the half (5-4 to 0-2 at the break). Calls from the sideline to ' take your points' probably damaged the Kilrush focus more than helped as a succession of poor shots that resulted in wides meant they didn't score again until the 49th minute.
The 19 minutes after the interval saw just one Forde point but it was Kilrush, despite a Cathal D'Arcy free, who found their shooting boots in the final eleven minutes with Frank Boggan (three), Doran and David Travers putting the seal on victory.
Kilrush: John Harte; David Travers (0-1), Frank Lancaster, Martin Hayden; Tom Kavanagh, James Lancaster, Patrick Nolan; Shane Tomkins, Garry Doran (1-1); Tom Hayden (capt.), Eoin Boggan (0-3), Tom Byrne; Conor Travers, Frank Boggan (3-3, 0-1 free), Conor Levingstone (11, 0-1 free). Subs. - Gavin Sunderland for C. Travers (31), Pádraig Byrne for Boggan (41), Ted Kinsella for Levingstone (41).
Kilanerin: Michael Hegarty; Maurice Stanley, Enda O'Leary, Peter Nash (01); Gavin Kinsella, Seán Mulligan, David Byrne; Niall Gethings, Killian O'Toole (capt.); Keith Mordaunt, Pat Forde (0-2, 1 free), Cathal D'Arcy (0-1 free); Niall Furlong, Tommy Boland, James Graham. Subs. - P.J. Sheehan for Furlong (19), Furlong for Forde (47).
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).
STATE OF PLAY
This victory for Kilrush leaves them in second position on the Group A table with one round left to play.
The current points tallies are: St. Joseph’s 8; Kilrush 6; Geraldine O’Hanrahans 4; Davidstown-Courtnacuddy 4; St. Patrick’s 2; Kilanerin 0.
The last round pairings are: Geraldine O’Hanrahans v. Kilanerin; Davidstown-Courtnacuddy v. St. Joseph’s; Kilrush v. St. Patrick’s.
Kilanerin will be meeting either Réalt na Mara or Clonard in the relegation final regardless of how they fare in that last encounter.
Cloughbawn, St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) and Naomh Eanna have all earned quarterfinal spots from the other group, with Marshalstown-Castledockrell looking favourites to joint them by claiming fourth spot.