Strong finish by Dromina derails second half comeback
The concession of three goals was ultimately the undoing of a strong second half comeback from Killavullen, on a blustery and showery day in Dromina. The pitch was heavy after the recent deluge of rain from Storm Kathleen, but the small compact stand in Dromina afforded the viewing public some respite. Credit to the Dromina club for facilitating the game and having stewards to assist persons with parking.
Killavullen opened the scoring from a Jamie Magner free from well out the field, but Killavullen had the assistance of the considerable wind in the opening period and this along with good accuracy from Jamie carried the ball over the bar. Dromina equalised from play in the 3rd minute and went ahead in the 5th, from a close in free. Seamus O’Mahony equalised for us and the two free takers trading blows to keep the game tight. Dromina went ahead though with two points from open play only to see Colm O’Mahony score a great point for us, after a powerful fetch from the air. Dromina were playing with two inside forwards and got their match ups correct, when their player grabbed a high centre and finished low to the net. Kian Lane responded with a nice point for Killavullen when he was found in open space. Dromina though got another goal when Charlie in our goals got his hurley to a powerful shot, but it still crossed over the line, 2-05 to 0-05.
The inside forwards for Dromina were proving to be a handful with their physique and directness and their ability to simply push their opponents off the ball and pounce on any delay in a fetch or lift. Jamie got an excellent free in reply and then another free after Mickey O’Connor was fouled, followed by another point from Kian Lane. That was an impressive response to the concession of the second goal. Dromina tacked on a point from a broken play situation in the 20th minute and then a free in the 25th but we responded well again, with points from Mickey and two frees from Jamie. Dromina got a point just before the break to leave the score at the half-time whistle 2-08 to 0-11.
Killavullen sprung Colm and Owen from the bench and both were to be influential in different ways in the second period. Jamie scored a free in the opening minute after Colm was fouled, but Dromina replied with a point from open play. Killavullen drew parity in the game though with the next attack when Colm caused consternation in and around their goal and forced the ball over the line. We were hurling very well at this stage and took the lead in the 10th minute with another converted free from Jamie, and went two points up with a Kian Lane point from an angle. Dromina equalised though by the 18th minute, from a carelessly conceded free and then a point from open play.
Liam Cronin, and he just back from Australia, was combative all day long and he scored a great point in the 20th minute to push us into the lead again. Dromina though scored a goal in the 22nd minute from a huge centre in our twenty metre area from the goal keeper, and the ball broke kindly for an inrushing forward who finished emphatically to the net. Dromina tacked on further points from their substitutes who were telling, influential and experienced on the day. On heavy ground it was a day to plant your feet and drive through the ball. Colm O’Mahony got a great point back for us but in the five minutes of added time Dromina scored three further points, and we replied with one from the lively Owen Magner. Final score Dromina 3-16 Killavullen 1-17.
A good game in tough conditions for both teams.
The team was Charlie Cremin, Sean Bartley, Eoin Birchill, Paul O’Sullivan, Darragh O’Grady, Liam Cronin (0-01), Brian Cotter, Eddie Cotter, Fionn Magner, Colm O’Mahony (0-02), Mickey O’Connor (0-01), Padraig Looney, Kian Lane (0-03), Jamie Magner (0-08, 0-07f), Seamus O’Mahony (0-01). Substitutes - Colm Looney (1-00) for Seamus O’Mahony, Owen Magner (0-01) for Padraig Looney, Conor Brennan for Sean Bartley.
LOTTO
There was no winner of the Lotto jackpot last week when the jackpot on the night was at €1,800. The numbers that were drawn were 2, 8 and 15. With low numbers, there is always a great propensity that someone will have the numbers, but not in this case. The draw on the 9th April will be for €1,900.
The winners of the lucky dips last week were as follows; €50 Andrew and Yvonne Hartnett-seller online sales. €30 Michael Linehan - seller Michael Linehan €20 David Brosnan-seller Michael Linehan. Purchase your ticket from any committee member or from our website- Killavullengaa.com. Thank you for your anticipated and ongoing support.
FIXTURES
With Storm Kathleen and the incredible amount of rain that has fallen of late, pitches are saturated and game postponements and cancellations are commonplace. That led to only five of a possible 15 games proceeding last week in Avondhu.
That is putting Avondhu Board officials and clubs in a very tricky situation, with games piling up yet no space in which to play them on. Proceeding with a game on a pitch at the moment could set the host club back 3 to 4 weeks while pitches recover.
Killavullen are due to play Grange in football in Division 3 on Sunday 14th in Killavullen at 2.30pm, again a doubt and we play Charleville in Division 3 hurling in Charleville at 7.30pm on Friday 12th.
We do hope that the weather improves, as the program of games is congested enough when the fixtures go as planned and incredibly so when games are not played. The Avondhu Board cannot give extensions of time, as the dates earmarked for U21 hurling then suffers.
Do check our website for the best and most up to date fixture lists as the times and venues of matches can change due to pitch availability.
These are but games for all of us, and the situation facing farmers and those involved in earthworks on construction projects is most dire. Loads of grass on the paddocks due to the mild weather and lack of frost, but cannot get the animals out for the very real fear of poaching the ground. No ploughing has been done for the sowing of spring corn crops and root vegetables are not in the ground yet. Hopefully, an improvement will come very soon.
SPRING CLEAN
The spring clean collection that was earmarked for last Saturday 6th will now take place on next Saturday, 13th April. Killavullen GAA Club, Killavullen Ladies Football Club and Killavullen Parish ask that volunteers kindly return bags filled with roadside rubbish to the GAA grounds where they will be collected on Saturday evening. All bags need to be dropped off before 5pm. No bags will be accepted after this time. Country Clean bags are to be used. Contact numbers are: John Magner 086-1591585, Marian O’Regan 085-2181887.
CELTIC CHALLENGE – LOCAL PARTICIPANT
The 2024 Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge competition was to get underway on Saturday, 6th April with 37 teams from all 32 counties taking part in one of the most innovative and developmental initiatives within the GAA calendar.
Sadly, it fell victim to the weather. Cork North were meant to play Dublin in Crumlin on Saturday, with Niall Feaheny from the Killavullen club set to play at full forward. The players are drawn from clubs in the Avondhu and Duhallow divisional areas.
The group format provides teams with the opportunity to play three group games over the space of three weekends.
Quarter-final pairings are performance based with counties playing up to six games in the competition. Counties have the opportunity to enter multiple teams with the success of this model clearly evidenced in 2023 as there was success right across the tiers as East Cork and Wicklow Blue joined Tipperary, Antrim and Westmeath in claiming honours.
Cork, who have again entered four sides in the Celtic Challenge, along with one team in the All-Ireland Minor Championship, can only select U17 players and are providing a great opportunity for the players in their pathway.
Sides such as Tipperary and Kildare have also entered second teams to ensure that participation of players across their respective counties remains high.
The Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge is named in recognition of the original juvenile hurling club known as ‘Celtic’. The Divisional trophies are named in memory of 6 of the 14 civilians who were shot dead in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday, 21st November 1920. Michael Hogan (aged 24). Tom Hogan (aged 21). John William Scott (aged 14). William Robinson (aged 11). Jerome O’Leary (aged 10) and Michael Feery.
Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns said: “The Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge is one of the most innovative competitions in the GAA. For our developing counties it provides an opportunity to face teams they would otherwise not have the chance to play against. Our traditionally stronger counties get to ensure that the player pathway is extended for those ambitious players who want to represent their counties but who may not make their Minor Championship panel.”
KILLAVULLEN PARENTS ASSOCIATION TABLE QUIZ
If you are available on Friday night, April 12th, please join the parents association of Killavullen National School in a table quiz in The Haven Bar at 9pm. Loads of interesting questions from quiz-master Niall and here’s one bit of advice - brush up on all things Tipperary between now and then. There is sure to be a question or two on that topic.
PRIMARY SCHOOL GAMES AT FORTHCOMING CORK GAMES
Congratulations to Fionnán Murphy and Conor Vaughan, from Killavullen club, who have been selected to play in the Primary school games which will occur at half-time in the upcoming Cork v Waterford game on 21st April in Waterford and Cork v Limerick on 11th May in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.