Killavullen see off Ballyclough in Division 1 Football League encounter
Last Friday night in Ballyclough, Killavullen put the disappointment of the recent loss to Liscarroll-Churchtown Gaels behind them when they accounted for Ballyclough in the latest game in the Avondhu Division 1 Football League.
Ballyclough opened the scoring with a point in the opening minute, but Killavullen, more sharp than the ring rusty display on Tuesday last, were ahead when Eddie Cotter turned his man, raced in on goals and finished very well, low and direct into the corner for our opening goal. Padraig Looney was next to score, a really lovely point from distance that modern teams in their defensive structure cannot counter act ie a score from outside the scoring zone. Ballyclough replied with a point in the 12th minute but Seamus O'Mahony erased that score with a nice point on the 16th minute. Ballyclough scored the next point in a nice game of football from a close in free on the 18th minute, but Liam Cronin fetched the resulting kick out in a crowded midfield area and off-loaded to Liam Fox, who raced through and scored a fine point. Padraig added another point, and then Jamie Magner to open up a lead of 1-05 to 0-03 by the 22nd minute.
SHARPNESS WILL RETURN
Though we are now late into April and the leagues in theory started in February, a lot of teams have very little ball work done on the playing fields due to the previous inclement weather. Though plays sometimes broke down last night, that sharpness will return. Both sides were guilty of turnovers in that regard. Ballyclough got a point back from open play from their attacking wingback in the 26th minute and another point in the next play after they intercepted the kick out, but Liam Fox added another point to his tally. Then before half-time, Dominic Bolster scored a lovely point after cutting in intelligently from his wing. The score at the interval was Killavullen 1-07 as against 0-05 for Ballyclough.
Patrick Angland replaced Brian Cotter, our fullback, for the second half, more as a precaution than anything else as Brian recovers from a knee issue. Killavullen opened the scoring right at the start of the second half when Eoin Birchill finished with his open palm to the net after great exchanges of fast hand passes had opened up the Ballyclough rear guard. Padraig had delivered the final pass across the square for Eoin to finish. Ballyclough replied with a close in free, and then another point from their marauding halfback who was to end up with three points from open play during the game. Sean Palmer replaced Dominic Bolster at this juncture. Eoin added a point from a free to us after Sean Bartley was fouled close in on goals and Eddie Cotter added another point. Padraig added to his impressive night’s tally with another peach of a score before Eoin scored another point from a free in the 22nd minute.
GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY
Colm O’Mahony, Colin Carey and Ultan Cottey were all utilised as substitutes in and around this time. Killavullen were awarded a close in free and seeing an opportunity, Eoin took the free quickly but it cannoned off the post and away from goals, much to the relief of Ballyclough who had not set up properly for the close in free. Colin Carey went close with another goal chance but it fizzed across the square and out wide. Ballyclough added a point from play and right before the final whistle, Tom O’Neill from Ballyclough was alert to a free striking the upright and fisted the ball over the bar. Killavullen would be pleased with their defensive display, offering good protection to Michael in goals who got his kick outs away very quickly, either short or long.
The referee on the night was the vastly experienced Wayne King, who has been referee in senior intercounty games and he was complimentary of both teams and their football prowess. Final score: Killavullen 2-12 Ballyclough 0-10. Well done to all concerned.
TEAM
Michael Walsh, Fionn Magner, Brian Cotter, Cian O’Connor, Paul O’Sullivan, Liam Cronin, Sean Bartley, Liam Fox (0-02), Jamie Magner (0-01), Padraig Looney (0-04), Eoin Birchill (1-02, 0-02F), Dominic Bolster (0-01), Eddie Cotter (1-01), Seamus O’Mahony (0-01) and Charlie Lillis. Substitutes: Patrick Angland for Brian Cotter, Sean Palmer for Dominic Bolster, Colm O’Mahony for Charlie Lillis, Colin Carey for Seamus O’Mahony, Ultan Cottey for Sean Bartley.
PREVIOUS LOSS TO LISCARROLLCHURCHTOWN GAELS
Killavullen were left to rue some wayward shooting in a onepoint defeat by Liscarroll-Churchtown Gaels in a Division 1 Football League game played in Killavullen last Tuesday night. Over the course of the game a plethora of wides from Killavullen undermined a good team performance and the concession of three goals was also decisive.
Killavullen started very well, had plenty of possession in the middle third of the field and had the opening two points of the game, both from play from Padraig Looney. LC Gaels replied with a point before Eoin Birchill and he with the Senior All-Ireland Inter Firm medal now in his back pocket courtesy of the win of Boston Scientific over Astellas, Killorglin recently, got our third point. Our opponents responded in the 13th minute with another point before Padraig got another point after an impressive show and go, and a burst of telling speed. A lot of that good work was undone when LC Gaels got a fortuitous goal from distance that lobbed right underneath our crossbar to deceive our goalkeeper, Michael Walsh. We responded with a good point from Owen Magner and the LC Gaels custodian saved well from Eoin who was through on goals.
CLEVER PLAY
LC Gaels got another point from Colin O’Brien, who was influential at midfield. Charlie Lillis kicked a fine point from distance for us but our opponents did the same and then, Charlie repeated the dose after being found in a modicum of space by Colm O’Mahony. On the 30 minute mark LC Gaels got in for another goal that in a tight game was pivotal. They were playing cleverly with 13 or so players behind the ball and breaking quickly, together as a unit, got another point to bring their tally for the half to 2-05. Colm O’Mahony added a point in first half stoppage time to bring up our tally to 8 points, but we had seven wides in a profligate first half which was our Achille’s heel.
On the resumption, LC Gaels were first to score with a breakaway point in the 4th minute and scored another goal when we lost possession near our goal in the 7th minute to open up a significant gap of seven points. We were unlucky to hit the top of the crossbar from a free, and the ball rebounded into the square and was cleared. A further three wides in this period added to our exasperation on the night. On a cleverly executed break away LC Gaels added another point to bring their tally to 3-07. Eoin Birchill led the fightback with a score in the 15th minute and a close in free conversion after a foul on Eddie Cotter in the 16th minute. Michael pulled off a full-length diving save to keep up our momentum after another break out by our Western opponents. Jamie Magner got another point back for us in the 17th minute but LC Gaels survived a few close encounters and added another point which they orchestrated on another break in the 22nd minute.
WIDES THE DECISIVE FACTOR
Jamie got another point back for us in and around the 24th minute, in a period where we had oodles of possession but were repelled by a resolute defence. Dominic Bolster gave us a lifeline with a low shot that found its way to the net in the 27th minute of the half and Eoin Birchill brought the margin down to a solitary point with a free in the 30th minute. We had all of the ball for the two minutes of injury time but were kept outside the scoring zone by a packed defence and one wayward pass out over the side line was the cue for the referee Colm Maher to blow the final whistle. Twelve wides over the game was a decisive factor in a very competitive game, very capably handled by the experienced referee. Final score: Killavullen 1-13 Liscarroll-Churchtown 3-08.
LOTTO
There was no winner of the jackpot last week when the jackpot on the night was a lovely sum of €2,100. The numbers that were drawn were 9, 23 and 35. The winners of the lucky dips, were as follows; €50 Joanne Ryan, seller e-sales; €30 Olive O’Regan, seller John Angland; €20 John Beechinor, seller John Beechinor. The draw on the 30th of April was for €2,200. Purchase your ticket from any committee member or from our website - Killavullengaa. com. Thank you for your anticipated and ongoing support.
FIXTURES
We play Charleville in hurling in Division 3 on Friday, 5th in Charleville at 7pm. We also then play Charleville again in hurling in Division 1 on Saturday 6th in Charleville at 7pm. 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, but hopefully with a spell of good weather forecast, games can be played off as arranged.
CELTIC CHALLENGE UPDATE
Cork North beat Dublin last Saturday, in the final game in their pool, a game that was played in the home ground of O’Tooles in Dublin on a scoreline of 1-17 to 2-11. Niall Feaheny from the Killavullen club is and was our sole contributor to the squad.
Therefore, the Cork North team will qualify out of the group, with wins against Waterford, Derry and Dublin. Other winners from their respective groups include Clare, Kilkenny, Tipperary Gold, and North Cork. As the sole survivor of four Cork teams, the interest of the whole county will be on how much further Cork North can advance. Well done to all involved.
GOLF CLASSIC
The posters will be going up shortly for the Killavullen GAA Golf
Classic, in Doneraile Golf Club, on the 7th and 8th June. Golf teams, green and tee box sponsors will all be gratefully received. More to follow.
JOHN HANNON WINS TICKET FOR CORK V CLARE
John Hannon won two tickets, at the Premium Level, for the Cork v Clare game on Sunday, with a clever little Limerick that he summited when seeking the club Premium Level tickets in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, that appealed to the judges. The Limerick concerned Barry Murphy, our esteemed clubman from Clare, who now lives in our parish.
The Limerick was; “There’s a lad called Murphy from Clare,
Whose son plays for the Rebels I swear,
Now, when the next game is due, Barry will be in a stew, Cause he won’t know what colours to wear.”
Well Barry was happy with the result, much to the consternation of the Rebel supporters from Killavullen, but all in good banter.