Kilanerin have it easy
AN ENTIRELY meaningless conclusion to Group A of the Tom Doyle Supplies Senior football championship saw Kilanerin warm up for the quarter-finals with a comprehensive 6-20 to 1-9 mauling of Fethard in Saturday’s dead rubber fifth round game at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
The seasiders’ fate was already known before a ball was even kicked, and while they held their own in the first quarter as the sides were tied at 0-4 each, the manner in which they folded thereafter must be disappointing, particularly given that personal pride was at stake.
Perhaps most frustrating of all is the quality of Kilanerin’s goals, as five of their six green flags were close-in finishes right in front of goal, while the other major was a first-time pull on a loose ball that admittedly looked spectacular in its execution.
An excellent tackle from Daire Barden had sent Jimmy Sutton away to point and add to a pair of Kevin Rowe frees as Fethard stayed in touch with Kilanerin in those early pleasantries.
Kilanerin’s first goal arrived on 16 minutes when Mark Boland applied the finish after Matty Forde did the spadework, although Forde may well have over-carried the ball in the build-up.
Emmet O’Toole was next up two minutes later after Niall Breen latched onto a return pass from Conor Devitt and set up an easy finish.
And when O’Toole raced onto his uncle Matty’s break to rattle the net again, Kilanerin sat comfortably in front by 3-8 to 0-6 at the interval.
Kilanerin continued to pile on the scores, most eye-catching of all when Conor Devitt left two opponents in his wake before flighting over on 37 minutes.
Seán Forde soon palmed home their fourth goal after being teed up by Denis Jones before Fethard’s misery was compounded when Tom Hughes saved a penalty from Kevin Rowe.
Niall Hughes assisted Seán Forde for his second close-in finish shortly before Rowe made amends with a consolation goal eight minutes from time for the team unable to qualify in fifth place (5-18 to 1-8).
But the north county men showed no signs of easing off the gas, with Matty Forde rolling home their sixth goal as a queue of players lined up to finish.
With a quarter-final meeting with an improving St. James’ on the horizon, they certainly are in fine fettle and confident of making an impression in their first year back in the top flight.
Kilanerin: Tom Hughes; Aidan Jones (capt.), Colm Kavanagh, Rhys Owley; Ben O’Connor, Gavin O’Toole, Denis Jones; Niall Hughes (0-1), Niall Breen; Mark Boland (1-0), Seán Forde (2-1), Conor Devitt (0-3); Emmet O’Toole (2-2), Peter Hughes (0-4), Matty Forde (1-6, 0-3 frees). Subs. Bobby Hughes (0-2) for Boland (HT), Mark Gethings for G. O’Toole (HT), Dean O’Toole (0-1) for Breen (42), Paudie Hughes for D. Jones (45).
Fethard: Kieran Furlong; Seán Donohoe, Daniel Mullan, Martin Power; Richard Waters (0-1), Graham O’Grady (capt., 0-1), Jimmy Sutton (0-2); Daire Barden, Rúairí Tubrid; Aran Murphy (0-1), Kevin Rowe (12, 0-2 frees), Darren Foley; Ciarán Dwyer, Garrett Foley (0-1), Ricky Rowe (0-1). Sub. - Jean Luc Tubritt for Waters, inj. (35).
Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).