Coolkenno are left chasing shadows
COOLKENNO 0-09
KILTEGAN 1-14
KILTEGAN took the two points on offer home with them after a second half display that left Coolkenno chasing shadows for the most part. Kiltegan looked fit and focused in the second 30 while the home team looked tired and bereft of any attacking threat after a promising opening half.
Coolkenno had started well and Conor Walker was as he always is, a danger if getting the right delivery. But Adam Wynne got to grips with him after a shaky start and done a fine man marking job thereafter. Walker kicked the opening two points to give Coolkenno an early lead. Conor Doyle also landed a couple of fine scores but even at that early stage the movement and support play of the Kiltegan half backs was starting to tell. Cathal Fitzgerald tied things up in the 19th minute at 0-04 each and from then on Kiltegan turned the screw. Don Jackman couldn’t get his hands on enough ball around the middle to feed the inside line and the hard-working Paddy Dalton was too often back helping out his defence. Eoghan Dolan who was one of the better performers on the night for the home team pointed but they weren’t to score again until the 42nd minute.
A tight first half went score for score until just before the break Philip Penrose showed good persistence to get through to finish to the corner and when Anthony Furlong tagged on a point they went in to the break 1-06 to 0-05 ahead.
Kiltegan bolted from the blocks in the second half and kicked five points on the trot to all but secure the two points. Scores from Rory Finn, Stephen Farrell and the marauding Bryan Cullen with three put them in to a commanding position. Cullen was a real thorn in Coolkenno’s side in the second half with his direct running style a real problem for the centre of their defence. He had come close once or twice in the first half to nabbing a goal showing good strength when on the ball. The late arriving Eamon and Cathal Rossiter were introduced and while their arrival did inspire them somewhat, a Rory Finn led Kiltegan were on top in too many places to stem the tide.
Coolkenno: John Corcoran, Shane Walker, Paul Keogh, David Cole; James Gregan, Jim Cushe, Bob Keogh; Don Jackman, Paddy Dalton (0-1); Eoghan Dolan (0-1), Conor Doyle (0-2), Brian Rossiter, Paul Murphy (0-1), Ben Jackman, Conor Walker (0-4, 2f). Subs Eamon Rossiter for B Rossiter, Cathal Rossiter for Cushe, Dan O’Neill for D Jackman, David Tomkins for B Jackman.
Kiltegan: Fergal Harmon, Adam Wynne, Blaine Harmon, James Dalton; Liam Keogh (0-1), Ronan Byrne, Colm O’Connor; Rory Finn (0-3), Stephen Farrell; Cathal Fitzgerald (0-2, 1f), Bryan Cullen (0-5), Michael Foley; Anthony Furlong (0-2), Mark Ryan, Philip Penrose (1-1). Subs: Faustas Andrukas for Dalton, Dalton for Cullen. Ref: Kieron Kenny