Comfortable for Coolkenno
COOLKENNO 4-13 KILTEGAN 2-4
COOLKENNO got their SFL Division 1A campaign for 2020 off to a successful start with a more than comfortable victory over Kiltegan at Coolkenno on Saturday evening last February 22.
The visitors lined out minus their county football and hurling panelists and were also minus a number of other regulars. Ground conditions were firm with a strong breeze blowing into the dressing room end.
Kiltegan had first use of the breeze and started in a confident manner. Corner-forward Brian Carroll had the ball in the Coolkenno net after one minute.
Wing back James Gregan equalized for the home side after six minutes but Kiltegan midfielder Cathal Fitzgerald put his team back in front with a pointed free.
This was a somewhat unusual score in that the free dropped short, was missed by everybody, and hopped over the bar. There are not many pitches where that would happen at the moment.
Wing forward Johnny Kavanagh brought the sides level again when he beat Brendan Ryan from close in after 12 minutes.
The score stood at 1-1 apiece at this stage.
However, the goal fest continued with Andy Foley and Coolkenno’s Ben Jackman exchanging majors to keep the sides level at 2-1 apiece.
Kiltegan were competing well at this stage but Coolkenno began to move ahead in the final ten minutes of the half.
Kiltegan had two further points – one a beauty from Andy Foley off the outside of his right boot and the other from a Cathal Fitzgerald free.
However, points from Jack Maxwell, Eamon Rossitor (2), Ben Jackman and a goal from Jim Cushe left the home side ahead by five points coming up to the break. In added time Eamon Rossitor added a final Coolkenno point from a free to leave the home side by 3-6 to 2-3 at half-time.
Things were beginning to look ominous for the Kiltegan men at this stage. They were two goals down and turning over to play into a very strong wind.
The tempo of the game dropped off in the early stages of the second half when it became obvious that Kiltegan had shot their bolt. Coolkenno had brought on Paddy Dalton, Colm Murphy, Cormac Byrne and Niall Byrne.
The evergreen Don Jackman entered the fray for the final ten minutes and got on the scoreboard.
Coolkenno kept the scoreboard ticking over with Eamon Rossiter pulling the strings up front.
They had too much experience spread throughout the field for the Kiltegan side who were down too many players to have any prospect of coming back into the game at that late stage.
Final score: Coolkenno 4-13, Kiltegan 2-4
Scorers - Coolkenno: Ben Jackman 2-1, Jim Cushe 1-0, Johnny Kavanagh 1-0, Eamon Rossiter 0-5, Padraig Coleman Murray 0-3, Jack Maxwell 0-1, Cormac Byrne 0-1, Conor Doyle 0-1, Don Jackman 0-1.
Kiltegan: Andy Foley 1-1, Brian
Carroll 1-0, Cathal Fitzgerald 0-2, Brandon Ryan 0-1.
COOLKENNO: Damian Geraghy; Donal Doyle, Adam O’Neill, Willie Doyle; James Gregan, Bob Kehoe, Jack Maxwell; Conor Doyle, Niall Bayley; Johnny Kavanagh, Jim Cushe, Ben Jackman; Cathal Rossiter, Padraig Coleman Murray, Eamon Ross. Subs: Colm Murphy, Don Jackson, Paddy Dalton, Cormac Byrne, Niall Byrne.
KILTEGAN: Brendan Ryan; Padraig Farrell, John Farrell, Aaron Byrne; Jamie Daly, Adam Wynne, Colm Keogh; Stephen Farrell, Cathal Foley; Andy Foley, Mark Pierce, Mark Foley; Brian Carroll, Darren Hobson, Eoin Coogan. Subs: Emmet Murphy, Luke Byrne.
REFEREE: Kieron Kenny (Tinahely)