Avondale through but questions still remain
at Aughrim Finn found him with a long ball. Ryan Cahill hit back with a point before Cathal Fitzgerald’s ball in found Furlong for his goal and the game was level after 10 minutes.
Immediately, however, Sean McGraynor caught the kick out and galloped up the field as the pitch opened up for him. He was only stopped by John Farrell fouling him and after a brief consultation with his umpires referee Kieron Kenny awarded a penalty. Credit to Conor Byrne for making a run out to wing to create the space for McGraynor to run into. Older brother Conor hit it into the top corner.
Eoin Baker got forward five minutes later to take a pass from Eugene Dunne for another Avondale point but Derek Daly replied immediately. A couple of Conor McGraynor frees opened up a five point advantage but Furlong and Fitzgerald kicked the final two points of the half, Fitzgerald’s from 40 metres, to go in at half time a goal down, 2-4 to 1-4.
Avondale began the second half extremely well. Ryan Cahill and the McGraynors kicking a point each to extend the lead to six. It was a good start but then they gave away the next two scores; a Mikey Foley point from play and a Furlong free. By this time Kiltegan were dominant under the Avondale kick out.
Conor McGraynor kicked a monster free to push the lead out to five and a Cahill goal chance went over the bar. It was 2-9 to 1-6 with 15 minutes to go. Both teams lost a player to a red card as Avondale’s Eoin Baker and Kiltegan’s Anthony Furlong were both sent off for striking while the match was going on around them.
This broke the momentum of the game and there was some confusion about what had happened before the players were sent off. It didn’t help Kiltegan as they were chasing the game. They scored the next point, a Rory Finn free, before McGraynor replied with another placed ball. Kiltegan goalkeeper Fergal Harmon made two crucial saves from McGraynor and Dean Gahan that had they gone in would have sealed the match. However, they went out for a 45 that McGraynor stroked over the bar.
With a six-point lead Avondale retreated back into defence to stop a goal. Kiltegan had very little movement in the forward line and that forced Rory Finn especially to run the ball from half way. It was impossible for Kiltegan to burrow their way in on goal and while they kicked the final four points of the game Avondale weren’t under too much pressure.
Avondale move on to face a tricky assignment against Tinahely, Kiltegan go into the Keating Cup and will miss Seanie and Anthony Furlong badly.
Scorers – Avondale: Conor McGraynor (1-00 pen, 4f, 1 45) 1-5; Ryan Cahill 0-3; Conor Byrne 1-00; Eoin Baker, Sean McGraynor 0-1 each.
Kiltegan: Anthony Furlong (1f) 1-3; Cathal Fitzgerald (1f) 0-3; Rory Finn (2f) 0-2; Mikey Foley, Derek Daly, Padraig Keogh 0-1 each.
Avondale: Brian Burke; Shane Beevor, Shane Byrne, Simon Cullen; Liam Kinsella, Eugene Dunne, Eoin Baker; Barry Sheehan, Ian McDonald; Sean McGraynor, Conor McGraynor, Dean Gahan; Mark Baker, Ryan Cahill, Conor Byrne. Sub: Saoirse Kearon for Conor Byrne (44 mins).
Kiltegan: Fergal Harmon; Jim Bob Dalton, Blaine Harmon, Eoin Fitzgerald; John Farrell, Ronan Byrne, Cathal Fitzgerald; Rory Finn, Steven Farrell; Mikey Foley, Geoffrey Bermingham, Shane Lennon; Liam Keogh, Anthony Furlong, Derek Daly. Subs: John O’Toole for Shane Lennon (HT); Pádraig Keogh for Liam Keogh (37 mins).
Referee: Kieron Kenny