Kehoe is the hero
Substitute’s late point sends Coolkenno to IFC final
1-13 2-9
DESPITE being pegged back twice by Kilcoole goals, Coolkenno endured their stubborn opposition to book their place in the final of the intermediate football championship at the end of a dramatic game that ended with substitute Paul Kehoe kicking the winning score in extra-time.
Coolkenno were the better team for much of the game but were unable to put away a Kilcoole side whose goals from Declan Roper and Danny Kavanagh forced the game inro an additional 20 minutes. Cream rose to the top, however, as Paul Kehoe came off the bench to be the unlikely supplier of a winning score that sets Coolkenno up for a date with Donard-The Glen in the decider.
The opening 10 or so minutes of the semi-final was so-so at best as both teams went about finding their feet. Kilcoole were the first to take advantage and led 0-3 to 0-1 thanks to Declan Roper, Danny Kavanagh, and Matt Kennedy, the third score coming after Kilcoole had turned over a Coolkenno kick-out; a trait that would become somewhat thematic of the game itself as it wore on.
Coolkenno responded well and, after Pauric Coleman had reduced the gap to the minimum, they took the lead on 18 minutes. Eamonn Rossiter, as he had done all afternoon, dropped deep to get possession and fire it into the
big target man: Conor Walker. Walker turned the ball around the corner to Eoghan Dolan, who was subsequently brought down for a penalty, from which Coleman made no mistake.
Coolkenno, rejuvenated by the goal, began to take command. Coleman continued his decent start with another free, before two further strikes from Conor Walker put them well on top at 1-5 to 0-3 on 27 minutes. While Coolkenno were having a better time of things, Kilcoole were finding it incredibly tough to keep hold of the ball and make chances. They sought to remedy this by introducing Jack Bellamy shortly before half-time,
a decision that paid off in additional time.
A high ball into the area by Jack Bellamy was punched down into an open space by Danny Kavanagh, where Declan Roper was on hand to dispatch into the back of the net. From being unimpressive and seemingly playing Coolkenno’s game, Kilcoole were trailing by just two points at the break.
Kilcoole tried to build on this at the start of the second-half but, while Lee Dutton did put the ball between the posts, it was sandwiched between two wides from Eoin Keddy and Declan Roper, respectively. On top of this, Coolkenno remained the side who
were able to do more with the ball when they had it. Coleman slotted two more free, while Rossiter split the posts with a sweet strike off his left boot. They were guilty of wastefulness, however. Rossiter and Dolan had shots drop short, while Coleman sent one wide. This inability to truly put the game to bed left the door open for Kilcoole who, for the second time, kicked it down with a goal against the run of play.
Cathal Rossiter, brought on three minutes earlier, was caught in possession by Eoin Keddy, who drove towards goal, only to be brought to ground by Damien Gerathy for a penalty which was duly
stroked down the middle by Danny Kavanagh with just ten minutes left to play. One Eoin Keddy score later, and Kilcoole had brought the game level at 2-5 to 1-8.
Coolkenno were the architects of their own downfall and very nearly threw the whole thing away in injury-time. Another lacklustre kick-out fell short to Luke Evans, who set up Lee Dutton for the score that, had Kilcoole been able to hold on, would have seen them steal a spot in the final. Instead, Conor Doyle brought the teams level and forced extra-time.
The sides remained deadlocked throughout much of extra-time as bodies began to feel the
strain. Eoghan Dolan and Eamonn Rossiter – two of Coolkenno’s star performers on the day – both pulled up with cramp, meaning it was up to Paul Kehoe to settle affairs with four minutes, which he did with a nice, bending effort with his right foot.
Damien Gerathy; Adam O’Neill, Robert Keogh, Willie Doyle; James Gregan, Jim Cushe, Donal Doyle; Conor Doyle (0-2), Niall Bailey; Patrick Dalton, Eoghan Dolan, John Gregan; Pauric Coleman (1-4, 4f), Eamonn Rossiter (0-2), Conor Walker (0-4, 1f). Subs: Ben Jackman for J. Gregan (HT), Cathal Rossiter for D. Doyle (47), Cormac Byrne for N. Bailey (55), Paul Keogh for R. Kehoe (70). KILCOOLE: Vinny Quigley; Luke Reilly, Eoin O’Brien, Shane Keogh; Dara Keddy, Matt Kennedy (0-1), Eoin Hanny; Ronan Keddy, Cormac Byrne (0-1); Luke Evans, Gary Coady, Eoin Keddy (0-1); Declan Roper (1-1), Danny Kavanagh (1-3, 2f), Lee Dutton (0-2). Subs: Jack Bellamy for G. Coady (27), Peter O’Brien for D. Keddy (47), Dara Keddy for E. Keddy (70). REFEREE: Anthony Nolan