Kilanerin still unbeaten

FIVE OUT of five ain’t bad as Kilanerin maintained their one hundred per cent record with a hard-earned four-point victory over Taghmon-Camross in their Ashdown Park/Amber Springs Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A game at Monageer on Saturday.

For both sides a quarter-final spot is secure but they will realise that it is now down to real championship fare as there will be no second chances.

Despite their security, both sides adopted an entertaining, attacking approach with Kilanerin enjoying the ideal start.

Taghmon-Camross managed to claw their way back into the game, only coming up short in the closing stages when the experience of Kilanerin eventually won out.

Inside the opening quarter, Kilanerin had raced into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead, with the goal coming inside five minutes of the start from Peter Hughes after the sides had exchanged opening points from Bobby Hughes and a Michael O’Gorman free.

Kilanerin went on to add further points through Matty Forde, Niall Hughes and Bobby Hughes in a period when they showed total control.

It was somewhat against the run of play that the south county side hauled themselves back into contention. A long, speculative lobbing ball from Eoin Doyle deceived ’keeper Tom Hughes, dropping off his outstretched hands into the corner of the net and making it 1-4 to 1-1 after 20 minutes.

With Taghmon-Camross going on to finish the half strongest, adding points through Seamus McLoughlin along with two from Ian Carty (one free), the sides went in level (1-4 apiece) at the interval.

Matty Forde bagged an early second-half point to restore his side’s lead, but their opponents showed they were up for the challenge by responding through a fine Darren Carty point.

They continued to trade points with Forde and Niall Hughes on target for the eventual winners, while their opponents responded through Eoin Doyle and Seamus McLoughlin, leaving the sides deadlocked on 1-7 each with ten minutes remaining.

But in a one-minute spell to follow, wing-forward Mark Boland decided the destination of the points, with a 22nd-minute point followed by a goal one minute later to give his side a 2-8 to 1-7 lead.

While Ian Carty (free) and Niall Hughes with a long-range effort exchanged late points, Kilanerin preserved their one hundred per cent record with a competent rather than spectacular display.

Kilanerin: Tom Hughes; Aidan Jones, Colm Kavanagh, Brian Hughes; Killian O’Toole, Gavin O’Toole, Mark Gethings; Jim Hughes, Danny Boland; Mark Boland (1-1), Niall Hughes (0-3), Denis Jones; Peter Hughes (1-1), Matty Forde (0-3, 2 frees), Bobby Hughes (0-1). Subs. - Damien Whelan for D. Boland, Tommy Boland for P. Hughes, Lorcan Clare for J. Hughes.

Taghmon-Camross: Seán O’Gorman; David O’Keeffe, Alan Nolan, Mark O’Gorman; Shane Doyle, Barry O’Gorman, Pat Nolan; Stephen O’Gorman, Derek Hanlon; Barry Og McGrath, Ian Carty (0-3, 2 frees), Darren Carty (0-1); Michael O’Gorman (0-1 free), Seamus McLoughlin (0-2), Eoin Doyle (1-1). Subs. - Stuart Murphy for Michael O’Gorman, Páuric O’Gorman for Hanlon.

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).