Kilmac have too much power for Coolkenno
KILMACANOGUE COOLKENNO 2-16 1-08
KILMACANOGUE have left themselves with a shot of playing Division 1 football next term as they approach their final league fixture of the season. It is perhaps a prospect that manager Jonathan Daniels may have accepted back in April or May but the harsher reality is that they must travel to table-toppers Kiltegan and most likely return with victory in order to leap up a tier.
There were two points between Kilmac and Coolkenno at the break in Fitzsimons’ Park on Saturday afternoon but second half goals from Sam O’Callaghan and Andrew Molloy swung the tie in their side’s favour and left them with a carrot dangling as they brought their home campaign to an end.
This result did little to please Coolkenno. They too have Kiltegan on standby in their satnavs and anything but victory there will spell the end of their reign in Division 1A.
Despite landing the first two scores, the hosts fell behind in the 10th minute as Cathal Rossiter turned home his side’s sole goal of the contest. Joey Molloy had been penalised for a high tackle and with the Kilmac defence still preparing themselves, referee Ed- die Leonard blew his whistle and the ball was flighted into Rossiter to punch it home.
Andrew Molloy and Niall Meldon had both raised white flags in the opening minutes for Kilmac and a free from Sam O’Callaghan and a second from Meldon had the sides level again by the 18th minute.
Cookenno had the wind on their backs in the first period and had they converted all their goal chances, they would have left Kilmac with a sizeable lead to chase.
On 21 minutes, Robert Keogh lobbed it into Brian Rossiter who saw his shot from point-blank range saved by the feet of Michael Whelan. Rossiter gathered the rebound and tried again but Whelan once again spoiled his fun.
From an acute angle, Aaron Creavin found a finish to nudge his side ahead and Meldon then found Conor Finn to allow the Kilpedder man to stretch the lead.
Green flags were on Coolkenno’s mind again moments later as Paul Murphy broke the line and fed Wicklow legend Patrick Dalton as he burst through. Joey Molloy saved Dalton’s shot and the ball hopped up in front of him so he swung the fist at it but Whelan pulled off the save.
The sides swapped two points apiece as the first half drew to a close – Finn and Whelan for Kilmac, the landing a 45 despite the wing; and an Eamon Rossiter double for the visitors.
Having started the first half with a very early score, Kilmac repeated the trick in the second period as Creavin left his man twisted before firing over 10 seconds after Eddie Leonard had thrown the ball in.
Kilmac began to assert their dominance and flex their attacking muscles as they notched six of the next seven scores including an O’Callaghan goal.
Stephen Morgan made the wind his friend as he hurled one over from distance before Meldon, Creavin and Morgan (again) wedged six between the sides.
The home side’s first goal arrived in the 43rd minute. Meldon shipped it to Simon who released the hard-running Robert Conan. The midfielder fisted it to Sam O’Callaghan who had to stretch to take it in but still managed to squeeze a finish past John Corcoran.
Their second goal took a further seven minutes. Conan started the move with a fine tackle, Creavin made the move with a sublime pass to Doyle and he helped it in behind for Andrew Molloy who looked to have fluffed his lines but it still rolled across the line to leave his side firmly in the driving seat.
Coolkenno did outscore Kilmac by four points to two in the closing stages – one of Coolkenno’s points being a Brian Rossiter penalty – but they were never going to bridge the gap and now they’re left clinging onto their status as Division 1A side.