Kilglass Gaels First Round Report
Not a bad game considering the horrendous conditions with Kilglass Gaels’ appetite for battle causing Roscommon Gaels a few problems before the defending champions’ greater overall balance pushed them safely across the finishing line. A much changed Gaels’ team too with some positive performances from some of the newer squad members.
Perhaps Roscommon Gaels’ two first-half goals summed up the major difference between the sides. Two pinpoint passes sent Kenneth Hegarty on his way and on each occasion, the corner forward’s clinical finishing wasn’t found wanting.
It was an incredible contribution from Hegarty and his two second-half points copperfastened his enormous contribution. Not that the Hegarty was hugely involved in proceedings. Whenever possession was presented to him on a plate, he duly supplied the finish.
Cathal Kilcline performed with gusto at centre back, given the task of marking Kilglass’ most potent weapon, Dermot Washington. Alan Nolan patrolled midfield with ample vigilance while John McHale finished off some fine moves for the Gaels. It was an interesting cocktail of youth and experience with Fergal O’Donnell and Ross Shannon lining out in the full forward line.
For their part, Kilglass showed enough diversity in their play to suggest that they could negotiate a path through the losers’ group if their first round draw is favourable. Under Tommie Kenoy’s stewardship, they were well drilled and hugely committed. However that bite in attack foiled them on numerous occasions with Washington and Trevor McDonagh the only forwards to find the target.
The biggest roar from the Roosky contingent erupted when goalkeeper Tommy Deehan strode forward confidently to land a mighty ‘45 in the 20th minute. It was the sort of inspirational score that could have propelled Kilglass to bigger things but with John Nolan marshalling the threat of Fintan Crews, they looked far too limited in attack.
After Dara O’Gara and John McHale edged Roscommon Gaels into a two point lead, Kilglass received the perfect fillip after 10 minutes when Washington’s delivery was grabbed by midfielder Niall Hanley and his confident strike gave Kilglass a craved goal.
Niall Hanley putting the ball past Chris Groagan
Game on but with the Gaels gradually wrestling back the initiative disaster struck for the Roosky side after 18 minutes. John McHale played a probing pass in behind the Kilglass defence. Hegarty latched on to the move in a flash to plant a low drive into the corner of the net. Simple but hugely effective.
Kilglass were just getting into their stride again, courtesy of a fine effort from Washington when he worked some space along the endline only, for another accurate Gaels’ delivery proved their undoing a minute from the break. It was a peach of a pass from McHale and Hegarty’s finish was just as emphatic.
That first-half contained some promising football but as underfoot conditions worsened, so did the standard of the game. Hegarty nonchalantly fisted over an effort on the 36th minute to cancel out an early Washington free. However with the Gaels moving possession rapidly out of procession, sometimes with military precision, it was inevitable that the defending champions would get the desired scores.
McHale (a free) and McDonagh exchanged points before a fine move involving Nolan and Shannon resulted in a good score from Fergal O’Donnell. Washington added two more frees before substitute James Durkin rounded off the score with a well taken point.
So the Gaels march on and a date with either Strokestown or St. Aidans in the next round. Their credentials remain as strong as ever.
ROSCOMMON GAELS: C. Grogan; D. Flanagan, J. Nolan, L. Casey; S. Cullen, C. Kilcline, M. Costello; P. Noone (0-1), A. Nolan; J. McHale (0-4, three frees), C. O’Brien, D. O’Gara (0-1); R. Shannon, F. O’Donnell (0-1), K. Hegarty (2-2). Subs Used: J. Comiskey for O’Gara (53 mins), J. Durkin (0-1) for Shannon (59 mins)
KILGLASS GAELS: T. Deehan (0-1, a ‘45); J. Kelly, J. Casey, S. Davis; M. Diffley, D. Davis. T. Tully; A. Lannon, N. Hanley (1-0); M. Mullarkey, D. Washington (0-5, four frees), B. Feeney; T. McDonagh (0-1, a free), F. Cruse, G. Carberry. Subs Used: P. Nugent for Feeney (10 mins), G. Nugent for Diffley (53 mins)
Referee: S. Regan
SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP LOSERS’ GROUP
Just over a month ago it appeared that Strokestown was on the football scrap heap, a short championship summer was on the horizon. But like many teams this year, the back door is proving a rewarding, fruitful and scenic route to take.
After the St. Aidans disaster, team manager Pat Doorey circled the wagons, called for a pit stop, had an NCT test and repaired the damage. As a result Strokestown look a fresher model and are back buzzing again. While not yet the finished article, they could be and probably will be caught out in the long run by their lack of physical strength up front, the black and amber are emerging from the long grass in the losers’ group with a spring in their step.
Team spirit is back and after crushing Shannon Gaels a week previously Kilglass Gaels were their latest victims in Kilmore last Saturday evening. Strokestown romped home with a clear cut and clinical victory. Their final tally of 1-13 all came from play, five of their forwards found the target. They were five up at the break and by the finish had doubled their advantage.
Next for the cats is the acid test and a losers’ group final meeting with Padraig Pearses. The south Roscommon men will be a different kettle of fish compared to the Gaels of the last fortnight, but Doorey’s men have now found that winning feeling and will not shy away from the challenge. From goalie to midfield Strokestown are strong and healthy.
They are lively up front, but very light, skilful players like Kenny Bosquette, Kevin J. Dolan and Conor Silke are young men who will be asked to do a man’s job next weekend against Pearses. But one thing is for sure if Conor Silke gets a chance close to goal he will take it. He bagged 1-2 to make it 2-5 in two games.
For Kilglass Gaels it’s the opposite side of the coin. After a dreadful performance they are now sucked into a relegation battle with Kilmore and Shannon Gaels, and after this display they have their hands full to remain in the top flight. They only scored once from play, failed to score for 30 minutes and while their backs tried hard under constant pressure especially corner back Michael Diffley, their forward line drew a blank.
They were blown out of the water by a tough Strokestown defence while midfield was wiped out. With Tommie Kenoy in charge Kilglass will not throw in the towel in the relegation scrap. Wouldn’t it be ironic if they meet Kilmore, Kenoy’s own club, in the losers fight?
Played before a very small crowd, Strokestown had a dream start, a goal after one minute. Kilglass Gaels’ Michael Mullarkey gave away a needless free in midfield. Luke Dolan took it quickly to Emmet Collins who found Conor Silke and he did the rest with a quality strike. Shane Flaherty and Pierce McGinley added points as Strokestown built on a solid start. All Kilglass could muster together inside the opening 12 minutes was a Dermot Washington free after four, as they trailed 1-2 to 0-1.
Scores were now as scarce as fine days and play became scrappy. Kilglass Gaels came out of the trenches after the poor spell of football to kick two points. First a Dermot Washington free from 40m out was followed by their only score from play in the entire contest from half forward Oliver Carley to lift Kilglass spirits. It appeared they were ready to make a game of it. Once Strokestown’s midfield pairing of Derek Hagan and Ronan Owens clicked into gear Kilglass Gaels’ challenge collapsed. Strokestown took over, playing quick and decisive football which ran the losers defence ragged. Two points from Luke Dolan and one from quick silver Silke in the corner propelled the town into a 1-5 to 0-3 half time advantage.
Within 16 minutes of the restart the contest was over. Strokestown had their bags packed, ready for the next assignment. Five unanswered points shot them 1-10 to 0-3 in front. Pierce McGinley, who hit 0-3 from play, began the sequence, Ronan Owens, who doesn’t score too many, popped up to score one with his left foot. Now that’s one for the Owens’ collection album, 1-7 to 0-3 after 35 minutes.
Wing forward Kenny Bosquette came alive to kick two fine points, with ‘Cool Hand Luke’, also finding the target after a super move involving Conor Silke, and Shane Flaherty. Dolan’s left foot supplied the finishing touch. At 1-10 to 0-3 the fat lady had cleared her throat and was in Hillstreet at this stage.
To his credit Dermot Washington did try and rally Kilglass with a couple of frees. His first effort on 48 minutes, his team’s first score in over 30 minutes. Conor Silke, after a mighty catch, kicked a splendid point and a final one from John Rogers, barely on the field as a sub, brought the curtain down on an impressive Strokestown performance. Dermot Washington who was a one man show in the scoring department for Kilglass, had their last word with a close in free.
STROKESTOWN: Donal Hanly, Damien Cassidy, Niall Owens, Adrian Cassidy, Damien Donlon, Morgan Beirne, Emmet Collins, Ronan Owens (0-1), Derek Hagan, Shane Flaherty (0-1), Pierce McGinley (0-3), Kenny Bosquette (0-2), Kevin J. Dolan, Luke Dolan (0-3), Conor Silke (1-2). Subs Used: Richard Dolan for A. Cassidy (half-time), John Rodgers (0-1) for K.J. Dolan (56 minutes).
KILGLASS GAELS: Sean Davis, Michael Diffley, Ray Cannon, Joe Kelly, Brian Feeney, Joey Casey, Tomás Tully, Adrian Cannon, Niall Hanley, Michael Mullarkey, Dermot Washington (0-5 all frees), Oliver Carley (0-1), Tim Tighe, Tommy Deehan, Fintan Cruise. Subs Used: Gerry Carberry for Tighe (29 minutes); Kevin Hoey for Feeney (45 mins), Trevor McDonagh for Carley (45 minutes)
Wides: Strokestown - 8; Kilglass Gaels - 9
Booked: Strokestown - Owens, Beirne; Kilglass Gaels - Lannon
Referee: Declan Hunt.
Kilmore consign Kilglass to the drop
TORRENTIAL driving rail and howling wind provided a suitably dreary backdrop
for Kilglass Gaels as their three-year sojourn in senior football came to a limp end at
Tarmonbarry last Sunday. It wasn't the most auspicious day in Kilmore's history either.
After contesting three of the last four county finals to find themselves in the last game
of the senior championship scrapping for their survival in the top flight was an affront
to their heritage. However they retained their senior status and now in the winter and
spring ahead they can have a serious look at themselves and try to regain their lofty
perch among the elite of Roscommon football.
Senior championship relegation play-off
Kilmore 1-15 Kilglass Gaels 0-5
Ray Lannon of Kilglass Gaels makes a clearance in the senior championship relegation play-off
Kilglass too must indulge in some soul-searching if they are to emulate their glorious
victory of 1999. The intermediate championship reached a high standard this year and while
St. Faithleachs have moved up, it will still be very competitive next year.
The senior relegation play-off was one of the few matches to survive the deluge that
unleashed itself last Sunday. Kilglass' brave performance in their first-round match
against then-champions Roscommon Gaels was a distant memory. They've lost their way since
then and after maintaining their hard-won senior status for the last two years they
couldn't repeat the feat for a third time.
Kilmore's slide down the rankings this year happened almost imperceptibly. They were close
enough to St. Brigids in an undistinguished first-round match but since they were routed
by Castlerea the alarm bells have been ringing for last year's county finalists. The bell
didn't toll for them last Sunday but it wasn't until they drove over six points in the
final stages that they could finally relax.
The final scoreline was harsh on Tommy Kenoy's Kilglass who fought bravely in the
first-half although Kilmore were deserving winners. To score 1-15 in such conditions
quashes any argument about the worth of their victory. They also shot nine wides to the
Gaels' two which underlines their supremacy. Kilmore's sheer physical power proved
invaluable in wearing down Kilglass' challenge in the second-half.
Thomas Tully nudged the Gaels in front after two minutes with a good point. By the 14th
minute, Kilglass led by two points with Dermot Washington, who always carried a
threatening air only to be deprived of possession in the second-half, knocking over three
points, two of which came from frees.
As always on a day such as this goals were sure to count for more than just three points
and when Kilmore found the net in the 18th minute the feeling intensified that it would be
they who would take advantage of the escape hatch. A shot from John Crowe bounced and came
back off the crossbar and last year's county minor Derek Connellan reacted quickest to
slot in a precious goal.
Trailing by two at the break, Kilglass needed an early response but it was Kilmore who
took the game to them. Indeed the game was decided in the ten-minute spell after the
interval. Dorr, Flood, Connellan and Crowe (twice) had all found the target. Kilmore had
raised the ante of the game and Kilglass's cause was starting to look forlorn. In the
final quarter Kilmore hammered home their advantage with a sequence of well-taken points.
Emmet Clancy had a superb game at wing back for Kilmore. He formed a resolute half-back
line with Brendan Bourke and Gavin Flood and ranged upfield to score two points. Jason
McEvoy, Derek Connellan and Pat Caslin scored 1-9 between them and such accuracy in
conditions like last Sunday's was always going to prove priceless.
KILMORE: A. Glancy; J. Sharkey, D. Carroll, S. Sharkey; B. Bourke, G. Flood, E. Glancy
(0-2); D. Carney, G. Carroll; J. McEvoy (0-3), J. Crowe (0-2, 1 free), J. Gilchrest; D.
Connellan (1-3), D. Corr (0-1), P. Caslin (0-3, 2 frees). Subs: E. Flood (0-1) for
Gilchrest (half-time), L. Caslin for Dorr (55 mins), A. Dockery for Crowe (56 mins), D.
Foley for S. Sharkey (56 mins).
KILGLASS GAELS: S. Davis; M. Diffley, R. Lannon, D. Davis; T. Diffley, J. Kelly, M.
Mullarkey; N. Hanley, K. Hoey; B. Feeney, D. Washington (0-4, 3 frees), T. Tully (0-1); T.
Deehan, J. Tighe, O. Diffley. Subs: G. Nugent for Feeney (18 mins), O. Carley for Nugent
(h-t) G. Nugent for T. Diffley (42 mins), R. Hogan for Mullarkey (inj. 47 mins), A. Lannon
for Hoey (50 mins).
Referee: S. Mullaney.
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