Kilanerin face local rivals in U-20 final
Mouthwatering final secured against the neighbours
BATTLE lines will be drawn in the north of the county over the coming week as Kilanerin set up a mouthwatering Greenstar under-20 Division 2 final clash with neighbours Castletown after they defeated Forth and Bargy Gaels by 2-12 to 1-8 in Sunday afternoon’s semi-final played at a cold and windy Kilanerin.
Not only were the hosts fully in tune with their familiar surroundings, but more importantly they had first use of the significant breeze blowing down the field, a crucial factor that helped them into a comfortable position by half-time.
A rather slow start with no discernible pattern of play saw Forth and Bargy eventually opening the scoring after five minutes when Reece Broaders pointed at the end of a patient move.
But Kilanerin sprung to life with an unanswered rally of 2-6, thanks in no small part to the general class of Paudie Hughes around midfield. Sean Bardon kicked their first point after Sean Forde had initially hit the post, while Hughes hoovered up the follow-up kickout and pointed with style.
The latter made it 0-3 to 0-1 when splitting the posts on full gallop, while a mark from Andrew Murphy on nine minutes immediately fed Forde, who calmly finished low to the net as daylight began to develop between the sides.
Paudie Hughes was a key figure in their second goal after thirteen minutes when he danced through again and was dragged down for a penalty which Robert Murphy drilled straight down the middle of the pitch.
Conor Hughes tagged on another point after a fine long kickpass from Forde, while Forde and Murphy (free) had it 2-6 to 0-1 by the 22nd minute.
An outstanding solo effort from Wexford footballer Cathal Devereux offered brief respite for Gaels, and while Paudie Hughes added his third of a dominant half, Gaels pounced for a goal from nothing to cut the gap to 2-9 to 1-2 at the break.
Kevin Power’s shot seemed to be drifting harmlessly wide only for Eoin O’Callaghan to keep the ball alive and feed to the onrushing Adam Devereux to tuck away into the empty net as Forth and Bargy at least entered the new half with a glimmer of hope.
And although the leaders took only 53 seconds to score after the break courtesy of Stephen Neville, they only added twice more before the end as they adopted a more conservative approach.
Cathal Devereux carried the fight for Gaels at the other end, adding four points, including three frees, but their overall return of two points from play with the wind at their backs was never going to be enough to trouble Kilanerin. KILANERIN: Kyle Ryan; Cathal O’Reilly, Eoin Doyle, Robert Murphy (1-2, 1-0 penalty, two frees); Colm Noctor, Jim Kenny, Andrew Murphy; Paudie Hughes (0-3), Sean Bardon (0-1); Ben O’Connor, Sean Forde (1-2, one free), Patrick O’Connor; Stephen Mordaunt, Stephen Neville (0-3), Conor Hughes (0-1). Subs: Tom Mordaunt for O’Reilly (37, inj), Ben Morris for B.O’Connor (59, black-card) FORTH AND BARGY GAELS: Josh
Burke; Edmond Cleary, Paul Cummins, Robert Clooney; Dean Corish, Quinn Saunders, Kevin Power; Cian Meyler, Eoin O’Callaghan; Jason Ellard, Cathal Devereux (0-5, three frees), Adam Devereux (1-0); David Pettit, Reece Broaders (0-2), Adam Mullins. Subs: Shane Pettit for Mullins (39), James O’Leary (0-1 free) for Cleary, Jason Devereux for D.Pettit (45).
REFEREE: Paddy Brady (Realt na Mara).