Heatly goal sends CCA to South Leinster decider
Joe’s late 1-1 key to Kilcoole side’s win over Pres Bray
JOE HEATLY scored the all-important goal as Coláiste Chraobh Abhann booked their place in the Leinster PPS ‘D’ football final with a hard-fought win over Presentation College Bray.
The An Tóchar forward scored a late 1-1 to flip the script in the favour of Kilcoole, who were starved of clear-cut openings in the second half by a well-organised Bray side.
Indeed, the home side did have one last chance to force extra-time in Bray Emmets, only for Liam Egan to put the ball narrowly wide with the last kick of the game.
Despite the strong wind and occasional rain, the football on display on Tuesday morning was of a high quality between both sides, with a first-half that was as nip and tuck as one would expect.
It was CCA who made the brighter start, with Oisin Murphy providing the power and Sean McDonald the guile.
The weather conditions played a role in the first score, when Mark Gray’s kick-out got caught in the wind and dragged back towards his goal, ending with Robbie Murphy putting Bray into an early lead.
Kilcoole were denied their first goal when Eoin Khan made a great save to deny Mick Carroll.
The two sides traded scores, but it was CCA who were building some momentum as the game entered its second quarter. Eanna Nolan did brilliantly to roll McDonald before feeding Ryan Harrison, only for his poked shot to be too weak to beat Khan.
They did finally get their goal on 21 minutes, and it was a beauty.
Harrison – a real nuisance all morning with some of his intuitive positioning – rose highest to claim his side’s kick-out. After moving possession on, Harrison kept his run.
The ball came back to him and, one give-and-go with Heatly later, he was in on goal, clinically dispatching past Khan.
Pres rebounded with the next three points to level, before Sean Kenny scored their first goal near the end of the half after Oisin Murphy used all of his athleticism in a marauding run to set it up.
Yet just as they had gotten some control of the game, Bray were pegged back when Ryan Harrison rolled the ball in after being found by a quick Mick Carroll free.
Despite playing against the strong wind, CCA found themselves level at half-time, putting them in a great position to take advantage in the second half.
Instead, however, they had to work off scraps as a pragmatic
Pres dominated possession. Unfortunately for them, they were profligate in scoring areas which would come back to bite them.
A pair of McDonald frees had the visitors one up, a lead they retained owing to their functional use of the ball to prevent CCA from having much of it.
What moments Kilcoole were able to produce justified that approach, with Carroll once again denied by Khan.
However, Bray were unable to take advantage of that wayward shooting, ending the half with five wides and two shots that dropped short. Indeed, McDonald’s fine solo point on 52 minutes was their last.
On 55 minutes, CCA got the goal that they desperately needed. A turnover in their own territory instigated a razor-sharp counter, ending with Heatley stroking the ball into the back of the net.
A well-taken Dale Van Laden point later and CCA were in front by three. Then, in injury time, Pres launched one last rally as Liam Egan – outstanding on the day – punching in to level.
Yet just as they had been pegged back, CCA went up the other end to win it through an excellent Heatly score.
There was time for one last chance when Liam Egan was found by Sean McDonald with a quick free. Under pressure, however, he could only shoot narrowly wide with the last kick of the game.