Kilglass Gaels First Round Report Sunday Ausust 10

Boyle                  1-16

Kilglass Gaels  0-14

Boyle impress in exciting win
IT was a long time coming but the intermediate championship burst to life with a marvellous match between Boyle and Kilglass Gaels in the sunny surrounds of Croghan on a balmy evening last Sunday. The first-half in particular was a throwback to last year's vintage championship with both teams playing free-flowing football. Boyle, whose superior fitness told, were dominant in the second-half and if their shooting was more accurate would have won by a much greater margin.

Tatler's Inn/Jono's Bar intermediate championship first-round
Boyle 1-16 Kilglass Gaels 0-14

On this display Boyle are well worthy of consideration for the intermediate championship and their quarter-final match-up with Western Gaels will be the acid test of their credentials. Like a number of his county colleagues over the weekend David Casey wasn't overly prominent but he still played a vital role for his team with a series of judicious interventions.
Kilglass will be disappointed with their second-half fade out but there is still plenty of ability in their team, not least in the person of Dermot Washington who gave a masterclass in shooting, especially in the first-half when he did a reasonable imitation of a Kilglass version of Peter Canavan.
Unfortunately for the Gaels the supply dried up in the second-half as Boyle, and Roch Hanmore in particular, took over at centrefield. For much of the half Washington was marooned upfield, deprived of the ball to show off his myriad skills. It was like putting Jennifer Aniston behind blacked out windows.
The game began at a cracking pace which the teams maintained throughout the first-half. Kilglass reeled off four points inside five minutes from Washington (two), Padraig Nugent and Joey Casey. Boyle bounced back with a seventh minute goal from Jonathan Casey who took a pass from Eoin O'Donoghue and cracked a thunderbolt past Michael Diffley. Paul Simon equalised one minute later.
Boyle squeezed two ahead by the 16th minute with points from O'Donoghue (two) and the accurate Brendan McQuaid to a lone reply from Washington. The full forward responded with points in the 19th and 24th minutes to bring the sides level. Kilglass hit the front with a Thomas Tully point only for Simon to drill over the equaliser. Two more Washington specials, the first a class score off his left foot, restored Kilglass's lead. Inevitably, Boyle rose to the challenge with a brace of points from O'Donoghue to go in level at the break.
The enraptured attendance waited expectantly for more of the same in the second-half yet it didn't develop into the anticipated classic. There was plenty of good football but most of it came from a Boyle side bristling with purpose. Hanmore, ably assisted by Casey, took command in the centre and inside the first four minutes of the half they'd hit three wides as well as points from O'Donoghue and McQuaid.
Washington tapped over a free but after Jim Tighe had a low shot saved by Dara Loftus, their attacks became sporadic. McQuaid and Washington swapped points while Conroy swung over a fine point on the turn. On top at centrefield, Boyle shored up their advantage by moving Casey back on Washington.
O'Donoghue converted a free and David Nugent responded with a good point after a neat swivel. Simon swung over a 55th minute point and Casey walloped over the insurance score one minute later. Washington notched his tenth point after David Nugent hit the woodwork but when the Kilglass dynamo shot wide from a free Gaels fans knew the game was up. Mark O'Donoghue hooked over an injury-time point to underline Boyle's superiority. The flow of an exciting game was helped by the good refereeing of Seamus Regan.
BOYLE: Dara Loftus; Seamus Gallagher, Mark McGovern, John Healy; Brian Supple, David Casey (0-1), Ciaran Supple; Aaron O'Connor, Roch Hanmore; Eoin O'Donoghue, Rory O'Donoghue (0-6, four frees), Damien Keenehan; Paul Simon (0-3), Jonathan Conroy (1-1), Brendan McQuaid (0-4). Subs used: Mark O'Connor for E. O'Donoghue (42 mins), Mark O'Donoghue (0-1) for Keenehan (45 mins).
KILGLASS GAELS: Michael Diffley; Gerard Nugent, Ray Lannon, Jason Tananine; Barry Feeney, Fintan Cruise, Joseph Kelly; Joey Casey (0-1), Adrian Lannon; Padraig Nugent (0-1, free), Thomas Tully (0-1), Michael Mullarkey; David Nugent (0-1), Dermot Washington (0-10, five frees), Jim Tighe. Subs used: Pascal Mahon for P. Nugent (49 mins).
Referee: Seamus Regan.

Lossers Group Sunday 17 August

Kilglass Gaels          3-11   

Fuerty                      1-08

Capital show from Washington as game ends in controversy
KILGLASS GAELS progressed to the second round of the Tatler's Inn/ Jono's Bar Intermediate football Championship losers group on Sunday afternoon at Tulsk, overcoming Fuerty by 11 points. The final score would indicate that this was a comprehensive victory for Kilglass but this final margin between the teams didn't reflect the pattern of play. Fuerty led by four points at half time and indeed the teams were level just 10 minutes from the end of the game. However, a number of decisions by the referee at this crucial stage in the match seemed to upset Fuerty's concentration and Kilglass, with the outstanding Dermot Washington to the fore, scored an admirable 2-5 in the last 10 minutes.

Tatlers Inn/Jono's Bar Intermediate Football losers group
Kilglass Gaels 3-13 Fuerty 1-8

Fuerty, aided by a strong breeze, dominated the first half and indeed were never trailing their opponents throughout this period. They defended doggedly, never giving Kilglass forwards time on the ball. The deployment of Paddy Neilan in front of the half back line worked excellently. Indeed it was a blow to Fuerty that Neilan had to retire after just 24 minutes with a fractured finger.
Mervyn Connaughton opened the scoring for Fuerty with a good point after just four minutes. Fuerty could have established a substantial early lead after eight minutes when they won a penalty but Connaughton's shot was well saved by Frankie Kiernan in the Kilglass goal. Dermot Washington registered Kilglass's first score in the 12th minute with a pointed free but Tom Reddington re-established Fuerty's lead with a good point two minutes later, turning and shooting after receiving a good pass from Neilan.
Kilglass had a number of chances to score after this but dogged Fuerty defending kept them at bay. In the 22nd minute a sweeping Fuerty move resulted in a goal. Davy Hogan broke down a Kilglass attack and quickly released the ball to Neilan. His pass found Niall Connolly who exchanged passes with Kieran Mullen before kicking the ball past Frankie Kiernan in the Kilglass goal.
Brian Cunniffe and Kilglass corner forward Jim Tighe swapped points almost immediately after Connolly's goal. Two frees from Washington reduced the Kilglass deficit to just two points but points from Niall Connolly and Kieran Mullin restored Fuerty's four-point advantage before half time.
Kilglass began the second half extremely well. Washington opened the scoring with a great point from 40 metres in the 31st minute. The same player followed this up with a point from a 13-metre free. Then in the 34th minute Washington, who scored 0-10 for Kilglass against Boyle last week, won possession and whipped the ball to the net. Washington and Adrian Lannon subsequently scored points for Kilglass.
Kieran Mullen, who had a marvellous game, finally broke Fuerty's second-half duck in the 44th minute with a point. It was Mullen who posed the greatest threat to the Kilglass defence in this game. Colm Moran brought Fuerty to within a point two minutes later with a point from 30 metres after a patient build-up involving Thomas Murray, Brian Cunniffe and Donal Neilan. Three minutes later an excellent free from Frank Farrell from a tight angle brought the sides back on level terms.
With 10 minutes to go, the pace of the game increased as both teams sought victory. It was at this point that a number of debatable decisions incensed the Fuerty players. Tom Reddington was dismissed amid controversy. Reddington was not entirely innocent but the decision was somewhat harsh.
Order was restored and a few moments later Dermot Washington scored a free from a tight angle. Two minutes later the same player scored an outstanding point from 35 metres on the run. Further points from Washington and Adrian Lannon preceded the sending off of Fuerty half back Davy Hogan for dissent. Hogan's protest against a decision by the referee merited a yellow card but the straight red was unnecessary.
In the closing stages of the game Jim Tighe scored two goals which were followed by yet another point from Washington which gave Kilglass a flattering margin of victory. On balance Kilglass were slightly the better team. While the Fuerty players will feel aggrieved they should have maintained their discipline in the closing stages. Fuerty now play either St. Michaels or Strokestown in a relegation play off. Kilglass Gaels, who without doubt are a good football team, now play Éire Óg in the losers group semi final.
KILGLASS GAELS: Frankie Kiernan; Gerard Nugent, Ray Lannon, Michael Diffley; Joseph Kelly, Joey Casey, Fintan Cruise; Adrian Lannon (0-2), Niall Hanly; Padraig Nugent, Thomas Tully, Michael Mullarkey; David Nugent, Dermot Washington (1-10, 0-7 fs), Jim Tighe (2-1). Subs used: Roger Hogan for Tully (20 mins); Thomas Tully for Casey (45 mins) Owen Diffley for D. Nugent (59 mins)
FUERTY: Gerry Gacquin; Tomás Bannon, Colm Moran (0-1), David Delaney; Fergal Flynn, Donal Neilan, Davy Hogan; Brian Cunniffe (0-1), Mervyn Connaughton (0-1); John Connolly, Niall Connolly (1-1), Paddy Neilan; Frank Farrell (0-1, f), Keiran Mullin (0-2), Tomás Reddington (0-1). Subs used: Thomas Murray for Paddy Neilan (inj. 24 mins); Alan Kelly for J. Connolly (49 mins)
Referee: F. Keane

Round 2 Sunday 24 August

Kilglass Gaels     2-09

Eire Og               1-11    

A one point defeat is always disappointing. For Eire Og this was a crippling defeat as they enjoyed enough possession in the final quarter of this intermediate losers’ group championship game at Tulsk on Sunday evening to at least secure a replay.

But in the end it came down to belief and Kilglass weren’t lacking in this department. Eire Og who put up a gallant effort and pushed Kilglass right to the end, but lacked the killer instinct that is needed in close games.

Trailing by 2-4 to 0-4 at half-time, this game looked beyond Eire Og but they put up a spirited second-half showing which should have yielded them a draw. But credit to Kilglass. Just when it looked like they were about to crumble under pressure from Eire Og, they picked themselves up and whilst they weren’t entirely convincing, they had enough in reserve to grind out this result for themselves.

Again Dermot Washington was one of the chief reasons that they won this game but the likes of Ray Lannon, Fintan Cruise, Padraig Nugent and substitute Pascal Mahon, who kicked the winner four minutes from time, all made big contributions.

While Eire Og trailed by six points at the break, they actually led 3-0 after four minutes of play with Declan Woods, Ross Nolan and Adrian Doorey all finding the target. Kilglass took a few minutes to settle but once they oiled the supply lines, they gave the Eire Og defence plenty of headaches. Michael Mullarkey and Padraig Nugent had them back to within a point of their opponents after 15 minutes and on the 22nd minute David Nugent fired a shot to the net after being set up by Niall Hanley. This goal seemed to knock the wind of Eire Og and for the remainder of the half they went back into their shell as Kilglass began to dominate. Dermot Washington raised a white flag on 26 minutes before Niall Hanley set up the full forward for his side’s second goal of the game on 31 minutes with a neat flick on. Wing back Fintan Cruise then made a burst from the half back line to put six between the sides on the stroke of half-time.

Whatever was said in the Eire Og dressing room at half-time most definitely worked as they came out a different side in the second-half. Central to their comeback were Colm Coleman and Adrian Doorey. Coleman latched onto bundles of possession around midfield and scored two points within five minutes of the second-half while Doorey provided his side with plenty of firepower, finishing the match with 1-4 from play.

Dennis Creaton of Eire Og takes possession of the ball during Sunday’s intermediate losers’ group clash at Tulsk with Niall Hanley of Kilglass Gaels in hot pursuit

When Ross Nolan fired over a free on the 38th minute to put just two between the sides, Kilglass were beginning to look shaky as Eire Og continued to press forward in numbers. Their efforts were rewarded a minute later when Aidan Doorey netted, finishing off a good move that involved Woods, Lynn and McNulty.

Dermot Washington kept a cool head to send over a ‘45 as Kilglass began to regroup having watched the game slip away from them.

It took another Washington ‘45 on 49 minutes to level the match up again before Adrian Doorey gave his side the lead again in the 51st minute.

At this stage Eire Og wasted possession on a number of occasions when attacking as Kilglass mopped up ball after ball behind the half back line. A Dermot Washington free on 54 minutes drew the sides level again with a draw looking the most likely result at this stage.

Niall Hanley of Kilglass Gaels makes progress for Eire Og’s Paul Freeman difficult during Sunday’s encounter at Tulsk

But it was Kilglass who always looked the more likely to score in those final few minutes and Pascal Mahon didn’t need a second invitation when the opportunity presented itself on 56 minutes as he steered the ball over the bar to book his side’s place in the next round.

A bitter, bitter defeat for Eire Og who battled gallantly throughout. Kilglass’ dependency on Dermot Washington could prove to be their downfall in their next outing. They can’t afford to have as many passengers again as they had on Sunday.

Eire Og: J. Horan; A. Keane, J. Grennan, R. Doorey; K. Johnstown, D. Woods (0-1), B. Corrigan; P. Freeman, C. Coleman (0-2); K. Lynn, R. Nolan (0-3, 1 free), D. Creaton; A. Doorey (1-4), D. McNulty (0-1), G. Raftery. Subs: S. Noonan for Raftery (45mins), D. Corrigan for Johnston (52mins), B. Nolan for Lynn (55mins).

Kilglass Gaels: F. Kiernan; G. Nugent, R. Lannon, B. Feeney; M. Diffley, J. Casey, F. Cruise (0-1); N. Hanley, A. Lannon; P. Nugent (0-1), M. Mullarkey (0-1), D. Nugent (1-0); R. Hogan, D. Washington (1-5, 2 ‘45s, 1 free), J. Tighe. Subs: P. Mahon (0-1) for Hogan (42mins), T. Diffley for D. Nugent (50mins), J. Tannaine for Feeney (54mins), J. Gilroy for Tighe (59mins).

Wides: Eire Og - 8; Kilglass Gaels - 4.

Booked: Eire Og - none; Kilglass Gaels - J. Gilroy.

Ref: O. Kelly.

Round 3 of the lossers Group Saturday 6 September in Kilmore