Division 2 crown for Killavullen minors

Killavullen 3-17 St Peters 1-8

KILLAVULLEN Minor footballers bridged a 25 year gap at Charleville on Thursday evening when they were comprehensive winners over St Peters in the Rebel Óg North MFC Div 2 final.

Exchanges were close early on. Good play for Killavullen by Mikey O’Connor led to the opening score by Mark Nagle. Colm Looney added a point in the fifth minute. St Peters regrouped well.

Good play by impressive Cormac Curtin led to a Jimmy McAuliffe point. Killavullen replied in the eighth minute when Darragh O’Grady worked well for Colm Looney who made it 0-4 to 0-1.

Further Killavullen pressure yielded a good point by Mark Nagle. St Peters Eoin Collins cut through from the corner and passed to Seán Broderick whose goal bound effort was well saved by Patrick O’Grady.

The ball broke out to Collins who goaled 0-5 to 1-1.

The Duhallow side came strong into the game. They had two frees that went narrowly wide. Mark Nagle pointed a free. Good play by Liam Fox led to a Jamie Nagle point.

In the 29th minute Killavullen had their goal when Jamie Nagle parted to Colm Looney who netted 1-7 to 1-1. Liam Fox with an injury time point edged the winners 1-8 to 1-1 clear at the break.

On the resumption Killavullen did very well. Their defence were very solid and Brian Cotter and Mikey O’Connor at midfield excelled ensuring plenty of supply to the attack who took some very good scores.

St Peters lacked penetration up front with their key player Jimmy McAuliffe having to retire injured late in the game. Points by Darragh O’Grady and Eoin Birchill were followed by another O’Grady point after good play Eoin Birchill 1-11 to 1-1.

Cormac Curtin replied for the Duhallow side. Killavullen struck for their second goal when Mark Nagle worked well for Brian Cotter who goaled 2-11 to 1-2. Good work by impressive Eoin Birchill led to a great point by Jamie Magnier.

The winners defence dealt capably with a few good runs by the Rockchapel-Freemount side. Patrick O’Grady was in great form in goal. Eoin Collins pointed a free with Colm Looney replying 2-13 to 1-3.

Good play by Declan Buckley led to a good point by Cormac Curtin. St Peters Cormac Curtin made a good run through the Killavullen defence but was intercepted by Michael Cagney. Fionn Magnier and Kian Lane did well.

Killavullen substitutes Seamus O’Mahony, Ben Hunter, Cian O’Connor and Colin Carey all did well. Mikey O’Connor with a brilliant point made it 2-15 to 1-4 entering the final quarter.

St Peters never gave up, they battled to the end, Cathal Broderick made a good run through the centre, but was denied by Fionn Magnier who conceded a ‘45. Good play by Cian O’Connor led to the winners’ third goal by Darragh O’Grady as they moved 3-15 to 1-4 clear.

St Peters replied with points by Michael O’Callaghan and Eoin Collins (free). Brian Cotter replied with a fine point. Killavullen keeper Patrick O’Grady saved well from Eoin Collins after the latter was put through by Declan Buckley.

In the closing moments Eoin Birchill pointed another free.

The Duhallow side had two late points one by Cormac Curtin after good play by Pat Curtin and Cian Curtin after being placed by Eoin Collins.

Time ran out and it was Killavullen who emerged easy victors.

After the game Kieran Linehan Rebel Óg North (Vice Chairman) presented the cup to the winning captain Fionn Magnier. It marked a 25 year gap since they last won the MAFC title back in 1994.

KILLAVULLEN: P O’Grady, C Griffin, R Barry, K Lane, P Cronin, F Magnier (Capt) M Cagney, B Cotter 1-1, M O’Connor 0-1, E Birchill 0-3 (2f), D O’Grady 1-2, L Fox 0-1, C Looney 1-4, M Nagle 0-3 (1f) J Magnier 0-2. Subs: B Hunter for C Griffin, S O’Mahony for M Nagle, C Carey for J Magnier. C O’Connor for K Lane

ST PETERS: C Casey, B O’Carroll, J Walsh, J Murphy, D O’Carroll, C Broderick, P Curtin, Cian Curtin 0-1, D Buckley, Ciaran Curtin, M O’Callaghan 0-1, Cormac Curtin 0-3, S Broderick, E Collins 1-2 (0-2f), J McAuliffe 0-1. Subs: D O’Riordan for P Curtin (blood), P Curtin for D O’Riordan, D Dineen for J McAuliffe inj)

REFEREE: Michael Sheehan (Liscarroll)