Blitz does the trick
Tinahely’s two-goal hammer blow undoes Kilmac
TINAHELY KILMACANOGUE 2-13 2-9
A merciless last few minutes of the opening half from Tinahely in front of the Kilmacanogue goal paved the way for Alan Costello’s side’s progression to the Darcy Sand Intermediate Football Championship final where they will face the old enemy from Carnew.
Conceding 2-2 in less than four minutes will knock the stuffing out of the majority of teams and this was very much the case for Mark King’s team as they plunged from a manageable two-point deficit at 0-7 to 0-5 to a 2-9 to 0-5 canyon when Anthony Nolan sounded his half-time whistle in Joule Park Aughrim.
Prior to and after that calamity, Kilmac were competitive and ambitious against this year’s most impressive side in the Intermediate ranks. In fact, early on they looked like they were going to make a mockery of the favourite’s tag being worn comfortably by Tinahely as the Sugarloaf men exposed a temporary fragility in the full-back line through the exploits of Sam O’Callaghan at corner-forward.
However, a steadying of the ship from Alan Costello and that blitz before the break sent Tinahely on their way and although Kilmac would goal twice in the second half and bring the game to Tinahely for a time, the second goal was close to the death and anything other than a Tinahely win was pretty much out of the question.
Kilmac were dealt a blow prior to the start of this game that would have a massive effect on their championship chances. Goalkeeper Niall King picked up an injury in the lead up to this game and was unable to participate. In his place went full-forward Stephen Morgan with Cormac Kelly coming in for the Kilmac stalwart with the job of a third midfielder resting on his shoulders for the afternoon.
This development hurt Kilmacanogue in a number of ways. Firstly, it robbed them of the services of Morgan out the field and that is no small theft, that is akin to clearing out the vault in the biggest bank in town.
Secondly, it put pressure on the Kilmac kickouts, which for a spell before half-time seemed magnetically drawn to Tinahely’s midfielder Brian Walsh and gave Alan Costello’s men considerable momentum as they laid siege to the Rednagh Hill goal in Joule Park Aughrim.
Paddy O’Rourke started for Tinahely wearing number 20 and he produced a fine performance from the half-back line, but while there were a number of excellent individual performances – Michael Byrne recovered from a shaky opening 10 to go on and thrive at full-back – it is to the collective that Alan Costello can reflect upon when he considers this victory. A savage work ethic, a relentless hounding of their opponents on the ball and a scintillating attack when in possession.
At 0-5 to 0-4 to Kilmac at the end of the first quarter it looked as though we were in for a serious belter of a game.
The excellent Niall Meldon got the scoring underway with a ripper after 20 seconds, but the impressive Jason Cushe replied rapidly as this most eagerly anticipated battle got underway at a decent pace.
Tinahely were guilty of some poor shooting options at times and Alan Dillon had the first of those after four minutes when he went off the outside of the boot with an effort that tailed harmlessly wide after quality work from Paddy O’Rourke. Immensely satisfying when they go over, badly demoralising when they don’t.
The Aaron Creavin and Sam O’Callaghan combination caused Tinahely all sorts of problems in the opening stages of this game. Creavin picked out O’Callagahan after five and Kilmac returned to the lead at 0-2 to 0-1.
Another wide from Alan Dillon was followed by the first of Tony Darcy’s 1-6 (two frees) on what was a superb day for the veteran attacker. One other point of interest in relation to the Tinahely full-forward line, it is populated by three left footers which brings about its own positives and negatives when players are bearing down on goal.
A good burst from Noel Mulhall allowed Darcy send Tinahely to the front after 11 but he would miss with his next effort as the action ebbed and flowed.
Kilmac’s ploy of seeking Sam O’Callaghan with long ball was working. The height differential between O’Callaghan and the lofty Michael Byrne was made completely redundant thanks to the cleverness of the corner-forward and Andrew Molloy profited to point but Tony Darcy swung over a beauty in reply.
A Kilmac team with Simon Doyle bringing his huge influence to bear is damn near impossible to stop but the playmaker was prevented from exerting that influence by tenacious Tinahely defending. However, he would draw the teams level again at 0-4 apiece before providing a delicious ball to O’Callaghan who fired Kilmac ahead at 0-5 to 0-4 with 15 on the clock.
Mark King withdrew Cormac Kelly and introduced Micheal Masterson at this stage, but it was from here until the half-time break that Tinahely took complete control of the game.
An audacious attempt at a lob on Stephen Morgan by Alan Dillon resulted in the levelling score after 18. If it had been a few inches lower, it would have been the goal of the season to date without a shadow of a doubt and a shot like that comes from a player who is in a very good place.
James Hedderman from play and a free from Tony Darcy pushed Tinahely out in front and they also had wides from Alan Dillon, Paddy O’Rourke and Tony Darcy from a free.
This took us up to the 28th minute of the opening half. The pressure on the Kilmac goal was growing. There’s a savage hunger for goals in Tinahely this season and you just knew that opportunities were going to come and come they did.
A lovely move involving Alan Dillon, Rory Stokes and James Hedderman saw the ball worked to the rampaging Willie Dillon who fired home past Stephen Morgan.
A storming run from Rory Stokes who covered over 30 yards through the heart of the Kilmac defence ended with Tony Darcy blasting home from close range and points from Alan Dillon and James Hedderman sent a shellshocked Kilmac to the dressing room in desperate need of emergency surgery at 2-9 to 0-5.
Word on the ground was that Niall King was going to take the number one jersey from Morgan and release the creative attacker out the field but when the teams emerged that wasn’t the case.
But Kilmac came out with fire in their bellies and they went for the jugular in the opening minutes when Niall Meldon brought out a very good save from Alan Nolan in the Tinahely goal.
A Meldon ball to Sam O’Callaghan saw the corner-forward raise a much-needed white flag and another from Aaron Creavin put an altogether more positive look on the scoreboard at 2-9 to 0-7.
Tinahely had two sides at this stage but got off the mark in the second half through Jason Cushe who was then black carded for a cynical foul after seven of the second half.
Sam O’Callaghan went wide as Alan Costello sent in Austin Brennan for Cushe and Brennan had a hand in the next Tinahely attack in which Tony Darcy pointed.
But Kilmac were throwing caution to the wind now and they attacked the Rednagh Hill end with ambition and were rewarded with a point from Sam O’Callaghan and a wicked goal from Niall Meldon after a sweet exhange with Simon Doyle to make it 2-11 to 1-8 after 17 minutes of the second half.
Wides were exchanged before Stephen Dillon was switched in to full-forward for Tinahely and Aaron Creavin swept over a free after Josh O’Callaghan was fouled by Willie Dillon.
Eight to go, 2-11 to 1-9, time running out for Kilmac.
Wides for Micheal Whelan (45) and Simon Doyle didn’t help the cause and a long Brian Walsh ball to Alan Dillon brought a foul from the Sugarloaf defence and Tony Darcy did the necessary.
A one-two with Alan Dillon gave Paddy O’Rourke the chance to point and kill off the Kilmac challenge even more and while Sam O’Callaghan did get the goal that his performance deserved late on it was to be far too little far too late for Mark King’s side who will look back on those four minutes before half-time with abject horror.
Tinahely march on to face James Hickey’s Carnew. It’s a final that has the potential for absolutely any outcome with an abundance of factors coming into play such as history, rivalry, friendships, grudges and whatever you’re having yourself.
Forget your Ryder Cup, lads. This is the real deal.
Scorers – Tinahely: Tony Darcy 1-6 (2f), Jason Cushe 0-2 (1f), Alan Dillon 0-2, James Hedderman 0-2. Willie Dillon 1-0, Austin Brennan 0-1.
Kilmacanogue: Sam O’Callaghan 1-4, Niall Meldon 1-2, Aaron Creavin 0-2 (1f), Andrew Molloy 0-1, Simon Doyle 0-1.
Alan Nolan; James Gilbert, Michael Byrne, Conor Hatton; Kevin Mulhall, Willie Dillon, Paddy O’Rourke; Noel Mulhall, Brian Walsh; James Hedderman, Jason Cushe, Stephen Dillon; Tony Darcy, Rory Stokes, Alan Dillon. Subs: Austin Brennan for J Cushe (BC).
Stephen Morgan; Gavan Burke, Paddy O’Donnell, Donal Tuohy; Simon Doyle, Cian Rafferty, Ben O’Callaghan; Andrew Molloy, Robert Conan; Josh O’Callaghan, Micheal Whelan, Niall Meldon; Aaron Creavin, Cormac Kelly, Sam O’Callaghan. Subs: Micheal Masterson for C Kelly.
Anthony Nolan (Baltinglass)