Kilcoole in control
Evans rows in with 2-8 as Goosebankers break Rocks
KILCOOLE had a comprehensive victory in the end in their Intermediate hurling championship game against ARP, played at the sun drenched GAA grounds in Rathnew on Sunday morning last, September 27.
The game was played on a firm hurling sod with hardly a wisp of breeze and was evenly contested until the final quarter. Kilcoole led by a goal at the half-time break and were still a goal up at the second-half water break.
However, a great final ten minutes from Luke Evans, during which he scored 2-3, led to a final winning margin of 13 points for the Goosebank men.
Ryan Heffernan got the opening point for Kilcoole in the third minute but Rocks midfielder Shane Mellon responded with a point from way outfield. Toby O’Brien set up Vinny Quigley to push Kilcoole ahead again.
However, Toby was the villain of the piece for the next score when a cross field pass went to Shane Mellon, who landed a great point from his own half-back line.
The Arklow half-back line of Darren Reilly, Sean Somers and Tyrone Byrne were keeping a close watch on the Kilcoole half-forward line of attack and scores were being earned. Eoin Keddy got a point after 11 minutes but PJ O’Connor levelled the game again from a 65 one minute later.
Luke Evans, selected at corner-forward but roaming well out
field and largely anonymous up to now, put the Kilcoole men ahead when he pointed his first free as we came to the first-half water break. Kilcoole were ahead by 0-4 to 0-3 at this stage.
On the restart, Rocks midfielder Tom Somers levelled matters again with another fine score from outfield. Luke Evans and PJ O’Connor swopped points from frees to keep the game on an even keel.
With six minutes left to the halftime break we got the game’s first goal. Eoin Keddy set up Toby
O’Brien to shoot the Goosebank side into a goal lead.
Once again Luke Evans and PJ O’Connor exchanged pointed frees to leave a goal between the teams at half-time. Arklow Rocks were staying well with their more fancied opponents but they were becoming more dependent on PJ O’Connor points from free as the game progressed.
Luke Evans came more into the game early in the second half and chalked up three points (one free) before the water break. Ronan Keddy also landed a fourth point
from long range. PJ O’Connor continued to display great accuracy from frees and he responded with three points. Tony Kinsella added another from long range and the game was still in the melting pot at 1-10 to 0-10 as we began the final quarter.
Kilcoole seemed to go up a gear at this stage. They had quick points from Vinny Quigley, Eoin Keddy and Ronan Keddy. When Luke Evans scored a goal on 50 minutes, the Kilcoole men were now gone nine points ahead in a short space of time.
Liam Somers gave ARP some hope when he got a touch on a ball that the Goosebank defence had allowed to bob around the square and chalked up a goal for the Rocks.
It was too little too late though as Luke Evans cut loose and added 1-3 (one free) in the remaining ten minutes.
Ronan Keddy added another point while some good saves from ARP goalkeeper Sean Pierce saved matters from getting worse.
The final Rocks score came from another PJ O’Connor free. Kilcoole ran out comfortable winners in the end with the final score
line standing at 3-18 to 1-11. KILCOOLE: Chris Carroll; Mickey O’Brien, Garry Coady, Adam Cummins; Dara Keddy, Ciaran Doyle, Paddy O’Brien; Ronan Keddy (0-4), Vinny Quigley (0-2); Kris Farrell, Eoin Keddy (0-3), Ryan Heffernan (0-1); Conor O’Toole, Toby O’Brien (1-0), Luke Evans (2-8, 5f). Subs: Barry Diskin for Adam Cummins, Cormac Byrne for Kris Farrell, Dylan Doyle for Toby O’Brien, Marivan Machaolini for Garry Cody, Finn Mansfield for Ryan Heffernan.
Sean Pierce; TJ Copeland, Martin Gilbert, Daniel Long; Darren Reilly, Seam Somers, Tyrone Byrne; Shane Mellon (02), Tom Somers (0-1); Cian Doyle, Conor Doyle, Colin O’Connor; Liam Somers (1-0), Tony Kinsella (0-1), PJ O’Connor (0-7, 6f, 1 45). Subs: Cathal Byrne for Martin Gilbert, Jimmy Dignam for Daniel Long. REFEREE: Eddie Leonard (St. Pats)