Then you had fortune favouring the brave in the sense that Kilglass clawed their way back from eight points in arrears to jump in front with a fortunate goal and then seal their triumph with a poignant score from veteran Tommy Deehan, their driving force during their trying time in the first-half.

It was fairytale stuff, particularly as it appeared that irreparable damage had been inflicted on Kilglass during Tulsk’s whirlwind start. Keane’s enthusiasm was infectious, his speed and strength something which Kilglass did not eclipse until he was starved of possession in the closing quarter.

As a target man Keane was the perfect bullseye to hit and with cub John Carleton proving the perfect foil alongside him in what largely became a two-man full forward line, Tulsk unerringly found the range to leave Kilglass stumbling and more than a touch shell-shocked.

Having seen Tulsk rattle up 2-2 without reply after they lorded possession during the first seven minutes, something which Kilglass manager Jimmy Gacquin admitted in a championship preview last week was proven un-shakably accurate. “The first round is the one you can fall very easily at because you’re playing league matches all year, then you’re into the championship and bang, you get a tough game,” he said.

And it was bang for Kilglass. Being honest they were a shambles during the opening salvo and if Tulsk had been capable of maintaining the service to Keane and Carleton throughout the second quarter and beyond, Kilglass would never have chopped the daunting deficit back to a manageable five points by the break.

That they did was commendable and their unflinching spirit to carry on regardless of how insolvent their position appeared was best epitomised by captain Deehan. A loyal servant, who was revelling in his first appearance at senior level in more than 16 tours of duty, there was no way he was going to allow the opportunity to hang around for a while in the higher echelon to pass him by.

Counsel

Using his counsel to coax those around him to keep calm and play their way into the game by gradually snapping up possession, Deehan’s promptings from centre-back found willing lieutenants down through the spine of the side. Ray Lannon at full-back was soon tussling for the better with Keane, Padraig Nugent became the focal point of midfield activity and Dermot Washington identified himself as the attacking hub around which Kilglass’ second-half backlash found its inspiration.

Confidence permeated through to others and with Tom Tully and Jim Tighe flashing over critical points from play during the hour’s death roll, there was no halting the momentum Kilglass had stoked.

For Tulsk it was an unpalatable outcome. They could not have dreamed of a better start and with Alan Lavin and Joe Cunnane acting as a durable midfield partnership which regularly prompted bursts of creativity from David Cryan and Richard Feeney, a winning foundation was established.

Keane took only 27 seconds to flash over the introductory point before Cryan rounded off a sweeping surge with a finish at the second time of asking to end a move which had its birth in a hand-pass from ‘keeper John Hession to Alan Bailey.

Two minutes later, Cryan again rattled the net, this time with a rasping drive on astutely catching Keane’s delicious cross ahead of a ponderous leap by Vincent Murphy. And when Feeney completed the early rout with a seventh minute point, when loose ball broke his way after Keane had two attempted shots blocked, Tulsk’s dominance looked untouchable.

Of their many concerns at this juncture, the principal one pre-occupying Kilglass was that of remaining calm and to stop frittering away possession in the manner in which they had done so from the throw-in. Psychologically, Tulsk started to rest on the laurels of their thunderous start and Kilglass crucially gained a toe-hold by knocking over three unanswered points from play, a pair from Washington and another from Nugent.

And if Kilglass had been a touch more astute in their approach, the margin could have been further eaten into. Aside from a couple of shoddy wides, one in particular from Deehan just before break, they had a habit of punting long range frees designed to drop in or around the Tulsk square. However, this was a tactic not worth pursuing as Tulsk, equipped with towering presences such as that wielded by Cunnane, were comfortable in dealing with this dead ball tactic.

Only in the second-half, when Kilglass altered their approach and more shrewdly attempted to work the ball in with a series of short passes, did Tulsk become vulnerable. That said, it was long range kicks launched with enough strength to carry the distance which initially allowed Kilglass to saunter back.

Deehan tanked one over from the sideline and Washington followed with another before the defining moment arrived on 40 minutes when Washington fetched possession by taking it into his control with a lovely toe-up up to himself near the ‘45. He soloed forward, advancing about 10 metres or so before whisking in a low-trajectory punt in the direction of Paddy Kelly, the sub just freshly introduced.

Jostle

Tulsk ‘keeper Hession must have taken notice of the jostle between Kelly and defender Kevin Mannion in their attempt to fasten onto the dropping ball because instead of advancing confidently to cut out the danger before the ball bounced, Hession remained rooted to his spot and could only agonisingly look on as the ball skidded wickedly off the damp surface and spun clear of his grasp into the top corner of the net.

That left Kilglass 1-7 to 2-5 behind and the appetite visibly drained from Tulsk’s challenge because Washington and Tighe ushered over points from play in quick succession to propel the intermediate champions into the lead.

But Tulsk were not yet done and dusted. Lavin, continuing to ply to good effect in midfield, slotted over a 49th minute equaliser following good work by Keane and Carleton. However, they could never fully resume the interrupted service to the inside duo who were gradually being rendered surplus to the contest’s central shake-up.

The score remained deadlocked for three minutes before Thomas Diffley took advantage of an errant Lavin free to attack down the left. Tighe carried on, delivering a cross into the centre which saw breaking ball falling to Nugent who, instead of stooping down to pick up, fabulously chipped a first-time kick over the head of a Tulsk defender for an unmarked Tully to take a point.

The midfielder was again involved a minute later in setting up Tighe to take another score to create a two-point gap which remained intact at the finish after the side’s equally shared another four points.

How fitting it was that Deehan was the provider of the salutary Kilglass score two minutes into injury time. Only for his contribution in stabilising his side following their haemorrhaging opening, there would have been no winning score and no wildly appetising thoughts of challenging the might of Clann na nGael or Shannon Gaels in the quarter-finals.

Not that Tulsk’s effort should be forgotten about. In blitzing Kilglass early on they demonstrated that pride is a commodity which any club can positively utilise, no matter what problems they are dealt with along the way. And Tulsk’s problems have been many this season.

Unfortunately, pride alone may not be sufficient to keep them safe from the relegation haunting the sides now consigned to the Losers’ Group. A tough road beckons for them.

Kilglass Gaels: S. Davis; D. Davis, R. Lannon, V. Murphy; J. Casey, T. Deehan (0-3, two frees), T. Diffley; A. Lannon, P. Nugent (0-1); M. Mullarkey, D. Washington (1-4, one free), N. Hanley; C. Tully, T. Tully (0-3, one free), J. Tighe (0-2). Sub. used: P. Kelly for C. Tully (35 mins).

Tulsk: J. Hession; A. Bailey, K. Mannion, M. Greene; L. Owens, B. Murray, B. Connor; A. Lavin (0-1), J. Cunnane; J. Lenehan, D. Cryan (2-0), R. Feeney (0-4, one free); S. Monaghan, G. Keane (0-1), J. Carleton (0-2). Subs. used: T. Owens for Greene (15 mins), P. Kelly for Monaghan (54 mins).

Wides: Kilglass Gaels - 10; Tulsk - 4.

Booked: Kilglass Gaels - T. Tully (30 mins); Tulsk - Feeney (51 mins).

Referee: S. Mullaney.