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Kilanerin complete their first 'Double'
Kilanerin 0-09 (09) HWH Bunclody 0-07 (07)
Kilanerin's footballers completed the championship/league double on Sunday December 3rd 1995, when they survived a searching test of their pedigree at Gorey by HWH Bunclody.
The two teams were deadlocked at 0-6 apiece with ten minutes to go but the winners pulled away to secure the Advance tyre League title by a two-point margin.
It seemed at the start that it might be a romp for the champs when they held Bunclody scoreless in the first quarter. With the help of the breeze they slung their pretty passing movements together to set up points for Paul Hughes, Michael D'Arcy, Pat Forde, and free-taker Nicky D'Arcy.
The Enniscorthy district side were all at sea during this spell, their mis-directed kicks meat and drink to tall men of the opposition. Eventually, Niall Guinan set the Bunclody ball rolling with a couple of frees after fouls on their main dangermen, Rory Deane and young Ronan Kinsella.
Still, they were lucky to be only 0-5 to 0-2 behind at the interval after their defenders had been led a merry dance by Paul Hughes, Donie Noonan and the rest. With the men in green continually on the defensive up to half-time, even corner-back Chris Murray felt at liberty to join the attack.
Bunclody needed to improve and this they did on the resumption, Ronan Kinsella showing the way with a lovely solo and shot over the bar on the run. This was cancelled out by a point from John Hegarty - on as substitute at corner-forward and still a class footballer, even with on just one good leg.
However, Bunclody hauled themselves back to level terms with their best spell of the match, as they played with admirable intensity. Kilanerin were not allowed to settle on the ball and two further points from Kinsella and one from Guinan tied up the sides at 0-6 each.
Unfortunately for the losers, they could not sustain the pace and Hegarty began to weave his magic up the right a little too often for comfort. He set up one point for Michael D'Arcy and picked up another for himself after a sloppy kick-out. Nicky D'Arcy freed a third after Donie Noonan was flattened.
Needing a goal, Bunclody could only muster a final free from Guinan. They had star players in Liam O'Neill, John McCormack and the late arrival of Fergal Kelly.
But on the day, they had only two scorers - Guinan and Kinsella - where Kilanerin had more variety and discipline in attack. The winners not only had six different players on target but they also benefitted from cool defensive work from the likes of wing-back Stephen Kavanagh.
Team: Barry Hughes; Pat Murray, PJ Gethings, Chris Murray; Micheal Hughes, Michael Higgins, Stephen Kavanagh; Seamus Hughes, Jim D'Arcy (0-1); Nicky D'Arcy (0-2, frees), Michael D'Arcy (0-2), Pat Forde (0-1); Peter Bushe (capt.), Paul Hughes (0-1), Donal Noonan. Sub: John Hegarty (0-2) for Bushe.