Tough blows

TWO Kiltegan goals, both of a somewhat fortunate nature, eventually proved to be the difference between these two sides when they met at windswept Stratford in Division 1A of the county football league on Sunday morning, February 25.

This was a home fixture for Kiltegan but was transferred to the excellent playing surface at Stratford. A strong breeze blowing into the goal at the village end looked likely to ensure that we would have the proverbial ‘game of two halves’ but such was not the case.

Both teams coped well against the wind resulting in an evenly contested game all through. Kilmac had first benefit of the breeze, but the home side got off the mark in the second minute when centre-forward Stephan Farrell pointed.

The Sugarloaf midfielder Stephen Cahill levelled almost immediately.

The football in the early stages was typically early season fare with lots of mistakes and misdirected passes.

Kiltegan midfielder Ciaran Harmon restored the home side’s lead with a point from play. A strong contest for midfield supremacy was developing between Liam Keogh and Ciaran Harmon of the home side against the powerful Stephan Cahill and Rob Conan pairing for the visitors.

John Fox at centre-forward for the Sugarloaf men was also showing well early on and he was well prepared to have his shot at goal whenever the opportunity presented.

A pointed free from Fox levelled matters again on 10 minutes. Two converted frees from Kiltegan full-forward Seanie Furlong left the home side ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter.

John Fox reduced the deficit with a point from a long free. Kiltegan lost centre-back Adam Wynne to a black card, and he had no sooner left the fray when big Rob Honan fielded a Kiltegan kick-out and drove through the centre to set up wing forward Stephan Flynn for the opening goal of the game. 1-3 to 0-4 now and John Fox extended that lead before half-time with two long-range efforts.

However, as the game entered the added time period, Kiltegan got a lucky break when midfielder Liam Keogh’s effort for a point