Hanny goes from villain to hero with super point

KILCOOLE BARNDARRIG

CHAMPIONSHIP favourites Kilcoole advanced to the Junior ‘A’ final for the third year in a row after a magnificent clash with Barndarrig in Wicklow town last Sunday morning.

Substitute Eoin Hanny turned from villain to hero in the final few minutes of extra-time for the Goosebankers with the winning score after minutes earlier giving away a penalty.

A beautiful autumn morning for football with Dunbur looking in splendid condition saw both teams battle with a passion and intensity that only championship fare can bring.

It was Barndarrig who started stronger with Mick Cullen clipping a beautiful point from distance and Mick Murphy adding the first of his nine soon after.

Kilcoole were very wasteful in the early stages, chalking up four wides on the bounce before Danny Kavanagh got them on the board. Murphy replied with another score. Barndarrig then got the reward their early pressure deserved. A mammoth delivery from Murphy into the Kilcoole square saw Philip Kinsella leap over keeper Glen Tighe to palm home. This setback seemed to awaken Kilcoole and Matthew Gilbert struck two fine scores before they got a magnificent goal.

Ronan Keddy gathered possession and he put galloping wing back Peter O’Brien into space and as the defence converged on him he fed Jack Bellemy who quickly swept onto an unmarked Danny Kavanagh close to goal and the big full-forward almost took the net off the hooks with a shot that screamed past keeper Jamie Roe.

Barndarrig closed out the first half scoring with another Murphy point to lead by one.

Kilcoole came out after the break meaning business with the first four points through Gilbert (3) and Kavanagh. However, Barndarrig refused to lie down with Murphy striking two of his own from distance. Lee Dutton, who was introduced as a sub, had a big say in this game and he got his first point when his fisted effort was unlucky to hit the bar and go over instead of under after a long Kavanagh ball.

Dutton’s second on 54 minutes had the lead out to three and Kilcoole appeared to be easing home. Jack Bellemy got a nasty injury at this stage and as Kilcoole were trying to replace him Barndarrig struck for two points the first from Jacques McCall and that man Murphy with the second.

As the game ticked into injury time Barndarrig were awarded a free and cometh the hour cometh the man, Murphy struck it straight and through to send us to extra time.

The first period of extra time was a joy to watch with seven points in the ten minutes of play, the goosebankers shading it by one. When Luke Evans got the first in the second period the gap was two. The drama was to follow, though. Martin Cullen dropped a Barndarrig 50 into the square and amongst the plethora of bodies referee Darragh Byrne adjudged Eoin Hanny of pulling down a Barndarrig attacker. Up stood Paul Ryan to put the blues back into the lead.

With a minute to go Matthew Gilbert showed that ice runs through his veins with the equaliser and as time ticked on Hanny gathered possession before speeding through the defence and arrowing between the uprights to become hero for the day.

A rip-roaring contest with Barndarrig desperately unlucky to come up short. They had great performers in Martin Cullen and full-back James Cullen who handled Kavanagh well.

For Kilcoole, Ronan Keddy, Lee Dutton and Matthew Gilbert were impressive. Man of the match had to be Michael Murphy, who shot nine points and gave an exhibition in accurate kicking.

Barndarrig are young and will challenge for this title over the next few years. For Kilcoole, they will be hoping it’s third time a charm after losing the last two Junior ‘A’ finals to Ashford and Laragh. Their accuracy will have to improve, however, as kicking 13 wides, hitting the upright twice, and dropping the ball short on numerous occasions will not help them beat Valleymount.

Scorers – Kilcoole: Daniel Kavanagh 1-4, Matthew Gilbert 0-6, Lee Dutton 0-4, Luke Evans 0-1, Eoin Hanney 0-1.

Barndarrig: Michael Murphy 0-9, Philip Kinsella 1-0, Paul Ryan 1-0, Michael Cullen 0-2, Jacques McCall 0-1

Glen Tighe; Luke Reilly, Matthew Mannix, Keith Reynolds; Dara Keddy, Colm McGovern, Peter O’Brien; Jack Bellemy, Ronan Keddy; Eoin Keddy, Declan Roper, Luke Evans; Matthew Gilbert, Daniel Kavanagh, Vinny Quigley. Subs: Lee Dutton, Cormac Byrne, Eoin Hanny, Eoin O’Brien, Gary Coady, Kevin Condon.

Jamie Roe; James Quinn, James Cullen, Kevin Cullen; Paddy Redmond, Jacques McCall, Shane Whelan; Andrew Kavanagh, Michael Cullen; Paul Ryan, Michael Murphy, Philip Kinsella; John Andrew Kinsella, Martin Cullen, Tom Doyle. Subs: Stephen Collins, David Byrne, Cathal Keegan.

Darragh Byrne