Kilkerley one step from senior return
THIS enthralling semi final went right down to the final quarter, as Kilkerley Emmets edged St Fechin’s by never losing sight of the prize on offer - a place in the intermediate final.
As the water break sounded late in the second half it didn’t look likely for last years finalists.
Four down and goalkeeper Rian Hand’s goal living a charmed life. Fechin’s forwards Joe Corrigan, Niall Devlin and Eoghan Duffy spurned goal chance after goal chance.
These lets-offs were duly punished as soon as both sides came back out on to the field. A Termonfeckin attack broke down and ended with Dan McKeown finding the back of the net and reducing the margin to one.
That strike set the tone for the rest of the game.
McKeown was Kilkerley’s best player on the night and deservedly got the goal that swung the game.
Even more remarkable about his performance was the fact his grandmother passed away the day before.
Despite losing Ciaran Bellew to a second yellow card, the goal was the surge in momentum Kilkerley needed to power on and win the game.
They were soon level through Tadhg McEneaney. Unusually quiet by his own standards, McEneaney still had the awareness to punch over the bar when things weren’t going his way.
From that point onwards Shane Lennon took control, nailing four free’s compared to Ronan Holcroft and Harry Haughney’s best efforts.
The Fechins had expended themselves at that stage and would go on to rue the missed chances as Ciaran McGlynn landed an inspirational score.
The, with Eugene Judge’s side searching for an equalising goal, Fintan Brady countered extremely comfortably to round Niall McDonnell for the simplest of tap-ins to seal the game.
Fechin’s youngster Ryan Walsh was the star of the first half with four points. Kilkerley themslves guilty of missing at least three goal chances in what was a nervy, error ridden opening half.
Luckily for Emmets they would not be punished but still went in at the break 8-5 down.
The introduction of Niall Devlin ten minutes into the half looked to have put Termonfekin in pole position, the experienced player had a huge impact on the game running at Kilkerley, grabbing a score and winning frees as they scored three points in a row just before the water break.
However, relentless Kilkerley remained focused and outscored the Seasiders 2-7 to 0-3 in the games devastating final act, ensuring
Emmets now have the chance to go one further than last year’s final loss.
KILKERLEY EMMETS: Rian Hand; Barra McCarthy, Adam Shields, Ciaran McGlynn 0-1; Patrick Murtagh, Kieran Murtagh, Fintan Brady 1-0; Ciaran Bellew 0-1, Cathal Bellew, Ewan McEnteggart, Tadhg McEneaney 0-1, Conor Quigley 0-2; Ciaran Clarke, Shane Lennon 0-9 (8f), Dan McKeown 1-1. Subs: Killian Kampes for McEnteggart, Cillian Mulligan for K Murtagh (wb), Shaun McIlroy for P Murtagh (55), Michael Begley for McKeown (61).
Niall McDonnell 0-1 (‘45); Jamie McDonnell, Niall McCabe, Danny Burnell; Conor Haughney, David Lally, Harry Haughney 0-1; Paul Mathews, Eoin Hackett; Joe Corrigan 0-1, Eoghan Duffy 0-2, Ronan Holcroft 0-3 (1f); Bevan Duffy, Sean Kerrisk 0-1, Ryan Walsh 0-5 (3f). Subs: Padraig O’Donoghue for Lally (25), Niall Devlin 0-1 for Mathews (40), Mathew Flanagan for McDonnell (44), Paul Mathews for Hackett (54).
REFEREE: Noel Hand.
Paths to final:
Round 1
Ardee St Mary’s 1-12 Newtown Blues 0-14 Naomh Mairtin 2-15 Dreadnots 0-7
Semi-finals
Ardee St Mary’s 1-13 Newtown Blues 0-13 Naomh Mairtin 4-16 St Mochta’s 2-11