GOAL-DEN MOMENTS WIN IT FOR SHILLELAGH
SHILLELAGH COOLBOY 4-5 0-10
COOLBOY took on Shillelagh in a winner takes all clash in the JAFC on Saturday evening.
The game included four goals, three penalties, two black cards, one red card and yet this was still one of the quieter meetings between these two sides in recent times.
Coolboy had a nightmare start when a kick-out went straight to Mark Collins who showed great vision to pick out the unmarked David Cullen. The pacey forward was left with only goalkeeper Damien O’Keeffe to beat and he did so in considerable style, slotting low into the bottom corner.
Coolboy responded well to this setback, pulling back two points through a Kevin O’Keeffe free and a long-range effort from Wayne Kinsella who lined out with the number 1 on his back but was dropping further out the field at times.
Brendan Behan responded with a fine score of his own before Shillelagh added their second goal of the day, this time from the penalty spot. The attack originated from an incisive run forward from corner-back Daniel Behan, who played a one-two with a team-mate before finding Paddy Hennessey.
Hennessey played the ball across goal to Robert Elliott who cut inside before finding himself dragged to ground before he could pull the trigger.
Gary Murphy stepped up to take the spot-kick and the Shillelagh centre-forward finished with aplomb, lifting the ball high into the top corner of the net.
While Shillelagh had built up a commanding lead at this point, their hopes were dealt a blow when, after pulling PJ Mulhall to the ground, Noel Murphy was issued with a black card despite the fact that there was no chance of Mulhall catching up with the play.
Shortly afterwards Jonathan Smyth forced Laurie Cullen into a fine save and the sides then traded points to leave Shillelagh 2-02 to 0-04 up at half-time.
Coolboy introduced Michael Lennon at half-time and the switch proved to be an inspired one early on in the second half as Lennon was played in on goal on the inside left channel but was hauled to ground before he could pull the trigger, leaving the referee no option but to award a second penalty of the game.
However, Kevin O’Keeffe was unable to convert, dragging his shot wide of the mark. To add insult to injury, Shillelagh added their third goal of the game minutes later.
Good work from Brendan Behan out the field released David Cullen. With Francis Byrne outside him, Cullen unselfishly drew in the last defender before playing across to Byrne who finished well after rounding the keeper.
To their credit, Coolboy kept pushing and scores from Wayne Kinsella and Kevin O’Keeffe gave their side a glimmer of hope. O’Keeffe has a wonderful, lazy style of stroking frees over the bar from the ground, approaching the ball as if it is a balloon and he is afraid to burst it before delicately chipping it goalward.
Despite these scores, Shillelagh always seemed to add a score of their own just as Coolboy looked like they were building momentum. This point was emphasised after Coolboy had closed the gap to three points.
Brendan Behan first swung over a score that Buff Egan would only describe as ‘tantalising’ before raising the fourth green flag of the evening for his side after he got on the end of a long ball forward and coolly slotted past Damien O’ Keeffe. Coolboy were left to finish the game with 14 men when Michael Gregan was dismissed for dissent. The result leaves Shillelagh very much still in the hunt for the Junior A Football Championship although they will be well aware that there are bigger challenges to be faced in the coming weeks.
Scorers – Shillelagh: Brendan Behan 1-03, Gary Murphy 1-01 (1-00p, 0-01f), David Cullen 1-01, Francis Byrne 1-00.
Coolboy: Wayne Kinsella 0-04 (0-01f), Kevin O’ Keeffe 0-04(004f), Jonathan Smyth (0-02).