Melview … 5-8 Killoe … 2-7

Match report by Ray Donlon

Melview get off to winning start

Mark Valentine’s fantastic goal

Melview and Killoe played each other in the first round of the 2002/2003 Cumann na mBunscol League. The game was played in Killoe and after a hard fought battle Melview came away with a convincing win in the end with Mark Valentine scoring a killer twelve minutes into the second half in what was a wonderful goal from the young Longford Slashers man. The final score in the game read Melview 5-8 to Killoe 2-7.

Mark Valentine fired over Melview’s first point from play one minute into the game, which was a well-taken point. Killoe then registered three points on the trot with the first two of them coming from John Gilna (both from play), Ronan McGoldrick slotted over the next from free. 

Melview then scored two important goals in the space of two minutes with Paul Devine firing both of them home with Thomas Kelly providing the ball for both of them. Robert Kennedy once again for Melview tipped over a nice point from a twenty-one yard free.

In what was a very close first half overall with Killoe scoring a good goal with Rossa Doyle smacking it to the back of the net with a cracking shot, catching the Melview backs on the hop. Darren Nolan pointed Killoe’s next point hen from play with Melview scoring one more point before the break with Robert Kennedy sending over a lovely point coming from a twenty-one yard free. To leave Melview up by two points – Melview 2-3 to Killoe 1-4.

Both sides recorded one point each at the start of the second half with Darren Nolan for Killoe and Robert Kennedy on the mark for Melview. Gary Reilly for Melview then registered their next score of the game from play. 

In what was the move and score of the game with Melview’s Mark Valentine winning the ball in the centre of the field and in a great move going around four of the Killoe backs and hit a cracking shot from long range with it landing in the back of the net for Melview’s next goal with a touch of class from the whole move by the young man. The goal put Melview well and truly on the way to victory.

Ronan McGoldrick recorded Killoe’s next point of the game with Melview once again replying with two more points coming from Thomas Kelly with one from play and one from free. Killoe came back once again with Ronan McGoldrick (who was having a good game) fired their next score over from play.

Melview put things well and truly to rest with Paul Devine firing home two brilliant goals from play with his younger brother Ciaran Devine providing the ball in for the first of them. Thomas Kelly slotted over Melview’s last point with a well-taken score.

Melview got off to a winning start with Mark Valentine, Paul Devine, Thomas Kelly and Robert Kennedy having good games but in fact it was a team effort that won it on the day.

MELVIEW: Harry Hughes; Michael Farrell, Sean Monaghan, Matthew Dowler; Padraig O’Reilly, Simon Kiernan, Daniel Philips; Robert Kennedy (0-2, from frees), Thomas Kelly (0-4, three from frees); Paul Devine (4-0), Mark Valentine (1-1), Neal Farrell; David Mimnagh, Gary Reilly (0-1), Rory Higham.

SUBS USED:- Sean Flynn for D Mimnagh (15 mins); Ciaran Devine for R Higham (45 mins); Daniel Mimnagh for G Reilly (57 mins).

KILLOE: Brian Mahon; Ronan Clarke, Darren Nolan (0-1), Fiona Toher; Daniel Keogh, Claire McNerney, Darren Bratten; Aidan Ward, Ronan McGoldrick (1-3, two from frees); Terry McCormack, John Gilna (0-2), Daniel Ward (0-1); Rossa Doyle (1-0), Thomas Mahon, Matt Clarke.

REFEREE: Shane Doherty (Emmet Og).

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