Pat Ryan
KILDORRERY 3-14
MALLOW 2-15
Pictures | Team News
IN one of the best Under 21 (A) Football Championship finals in recent years, Kildorrery, who trailed by eight points with 10 minutes remaining, staged a great comeback that saw them force level at the end of normal time and in extra time they claimed their first title since 1982 when they overcame reigning champions Mallow by a two-point margin at Killavullen on Saturday evening.
It was a game that Mallow dominated from the start and goaled in the seventh minute when Mark O’Brien struck the crossbar with Joseph Hayes on hand to kick to the net.
From the kick-out, Cian O’Riordan had a point for Mallow. Kildorrery had two wides before a free out of defence by John Cronin set up Eoin Carroll for a well-taken point and the latter added another point in the 12th minute to go six points clear.
Kildorrery opened their account a minute later when a great solo by Eamonn O’Connor set up Tom Whelan for a point. Both sides added a point before Eoin Carroll had a point in the 20th minute, 1-5 to 0-2.
Mallow looked likely to have the game wrapped up in the 23rd minute when great work out of defence by Daniel Coughlan led to Rory Downey setting up Sam Cronin for his side’s second goal and open up a nine-point lead and with the Mallow half-back line of John Collins, Kevin O’Halloran and John Collins well on top and with Cian O’Riordan, Eoin Carroll and Sam Cronin very dangerous going forward, there looked no way back for Kildorrery.
The ‘Hill’ had a point from Padraigh Hanley and they came close to goaling in the 26th minute when Liam Kelly struck the Mallow crossbar with the ball being eventually cleared.
Peter O’Brien followed with a point for the winners but it was Mallow that added a late point when a great movement by Barry O’Halloran, Kevin O’Halloran and Sam Cronin led to Cian O’Riordan putting over a great point out near the endline which gave his side an eight-point advantage at half time, 2-6 to 0-4.
On the restart, both sides missed an early chance in front of goal before Cian O’Riordan, who kicked some brillant points from the most difficult of angles, pointed in the 35th minute.
Kildorrery gradually came more into the game and with Eamonn O’Connor now operating at full-forward they goaled in the 39th minute when Peter O’Brien and Liam Kelly combined well to set up O’Connor for a great goal.
This gave Kildorrery hope and two quick points by the threequarters stage from Peter O’Brien and Adrian McEniry reduced the lead to four points, 2-7 to 1-6.
From the kick-out by Brian Daly, Mallow’s John Collins soloed up the field to set up O’Riordan for a fine point. O’Riordan added two more points and when Sam Cronin got inside the Kildorrery defence to punch the ball over the bar in the 50th minute, eight points separated the sides.
Mallow came close to a goal moments later when Frank O’Neill was narrowly wide. Kildorrery brought Stephen Coughlan back on for the last eight minutes and he had a major impact in the closing moments along with Peter O’Brien, Eamonn O’Connor, Tom Whelan, Michael Walsh, Tadgh Coffey, Padraigh Hanley and John Hennessy who were all outstanding.
Kildorrery reduced the lead to five points in the 54th minute when a good movement by Stephen Coughlan, Sean Coughlan found Peter O’Brien who handpassed across to Padraigh Hanley who fired home Kildorrery’s second goal, 2-11 to 2-6.
Time looked to be running out for Kildorrery and when the Mallow ‘keeper Brian Daly made two marvellous saves on two different occasions from Liam Kelly and Stephen Coughlan, there looked like only one winner.
However, in one last attempt, Kildorrery gave it their all with Peter O’Brien having a point with three minutes remaining. They came right back into contention in the 59th minute when a great clearance out of the Kildorrery defence by Ciaran O’Connor found Peter O’Brien who set up the outstanding Eamonn O’Connor for a great goal to see just a point separate the sides, 2-11 to 3-7.
The ‘Hill’ forced level in injury time when Peter O’Brien kicked over and this was greeted by the full-time whistle on the kick-out.
In the first period of extra time, Kildorrery started well and went two points clear when Tom Whelan and Stephen Coughlan kicked two points from difficult angles.
Mallow, with their never-say-die attitude never gave up, and when Cian O’Riordan’s free hit the crossbar, Frank O’Neill placed Joseph Hayes for a point.
Kildorrery went down the field with Michael Walsh setting up Eamonn O’Connor for a well-taken point. Kildorrery came close to a goal when Tom Whelan burst through the Mallow defenece but only for a great interception by Mallow’s Stephen Coughlan Kildorrery were through for a certain goal.
Cian O’Riordan kicked a great point for Mallow to see his side trail by a point at half time in extra time, 3-11 to 2-13.
In the second period of extra time, Kildorrery went two points clear again when Michael Walsh, Eamonn O’Connor and Peter O’Brien combined well to set up Padraigh Hanley for a point.
Mallow again came strong and two points from Cian O’Riordan had the sides deadlocked with five minutes remaining. Mallow sensed victory and nearly went ahead only for a great blockdown from Richard McEniry on O’Riordan.
Richard Barry also defended well at corner-back making some vital clearances. Kildorrery ‘keeper Brian Lee did well to save a long delivery from Cian O’Riordan that could have found its way to the net.
Kildorrery went ahead again in the last minute when some great footwork by Padraigh Hanley led to a fine point. From the kick-out, Stephen Coughlan pointed for Kildorrery. Time ran out for Mallow and Kildorrery held out for a close win.
After the game, David Lavan, on behalf of the sponsors Ulster Bank, presented the cup to the winning captain Eamonn O’Connor in the presence of Tom Crowley, Board Chairman, amid great scenes of wild excitement.
Scorers:
Kildorrery : Padraigh Hanley 1-4 (0-2 frees), Eamonn O’Connor 2-1, Peter O’Brien 0-4, Stephen Coughlan 0-2, Tom Whelan 0-2, Adrian McEniry 0-1.
Mallow : Cian O’Riordan 0-10, Sam Cronin 1-1, Joseph Hayes 1-1, Eoin Carroll 0-3.
Teams:
Kildorrery : Brian Lee, Richard Barry, John Cremin, Richard McEniry, Ciaran O’Connor, Stephen Coughlan, Tadgh Coffey, Eamonn O’Connor, Michael Walsh, Liam Kelly, Padraigh Hanley, Peter O’Brien, Adrian McEniry, Tom Whelan, Sean Coughlan.
Subs: John Hennessy for Stephen Coughlan, Stephen Coughlan for Adrian McEniry.
Mallow : Brian Daly, Daniel Coughlan, Barry O’Halloran, Stephen Coughlan, John Cronin, Kevin O’Halloran, John Collins, Andrew Cashman, Brendan Gleeson, Eoin Carroll, Cian O’Riordan, Mark O’Brien, Frank O’Neill, Sam Cronin, Joseph Hayes.
Subs: Rory Downey for Andrew Cashman (injured), Michael Murphy for Brendan Gleeson, Rory Sheehan for Frank O’Neill (extra time), Kevin Coughlan for Rory Downey (extra time), Brendan Gleeson for Eoin Carroll (extra time).
Referee: Jas Cummins (Glanworth).
|
|
