Senior Co. Championship:
Austin Stacks 0-15; Kilcummin 1-5.
For the third year in a row we have qualified for the quarter final of the County Championship with a less than convincing win over Kilcummin at Fitzgerald Stadium last Saturday evening (9th July). We cannot recall when, if ever, a game went to the 14th minute without a score. It took that time before the first score was registered, a point from centre back, Daniel Bohan.
It was followed inside a minute by another point from Fiachna Mangan and these two scores released the shackles and by the 24th minute we were up seven points, without a score for the opposition. Our five other points came from a Graham O’Connell free, a forty five by Kieran Donaghy, one from play by Shane O’Callaghan and two by Darragh Long (one from a free). Twenty five minutes elased before Kilcummin’s opener from play. This was followed two minutes later by a second Fiachna Mangan point after good work by Shane O’Callaghan. Just before half time Kilcummin scored their second point from a free to leave us six clear at the break (0-8 to 0-2).
The score of the game came inside two minutes after the resumption when Daniel Bohan sent an inch perfect pass the Paul O’Donoghue (Man of the Match) out near the side line and Paul put over from an acute angle. Three more points from play followed, by Darragh Long (2) and Fiachna Mangan to leave us ten clear at that stage. However Kilcummin gave themselves a lifeline with a 44th minute goal followed by a point a minute later to leave us ahead by six (0-12 to 1-3) as the game entered the final quarter. But we kept up the momentum during the closing fifteen minutes with further points by TJ Hogan, Darragh Long and a beauty by David Clifford who was just on the pitch. Kilcummin added two more in that period to leave us with a comfortable seven points victory. Credit our defence, who limited the opposition to just five scores from play during the hour.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Pa McCarthy, David Leonard, Fearghal MacNamara, Padraig McCannon, Daniel Bohan (0-1), Alain Creagh, William Kirby, Paul O’Donoghue (0-1), TJ Hogan (Capt) (0-1), Fiachna Mangan (0-3), Shane O’Callaghan (0-1), Graham O’Connell (0-1 free), Kieran Donaghy (0-1 – a ’45), Darragh Long (0-5 – one free).
Subs: Michael Collins (47m), Darragh O’Brien (50m), Denis Costello (54m), David Clifford (58m) (0-1), Denis O’Neill (59m).
The game was followed a great night’s entetrainment back at the Clubhouse where the Man of the Match presention was made to Paul O’Donoghue. It’s back now to Co. League duty on the weekend after next (w/e 23rd July) when we entertain Killarney Legion in Connolly Park in round 7.
Man of the Match Paul O’Donoghue
Austin Stacks & Kerry’s Daniel Bohan & Kieran Donaghy put in the challenges.
Fiachna Managan who scored 3 lovely points and put in a very impressive overall performance.
Graham O’Connell tries to find a way through the Kilcummin defence.
(all photographs by Adrienne Mc Loughlin – more photographs from this game to follow).