If Our Lord or Lazarus had been present in Aughaville on Sunday last he
would have definitely been on the side of the Kilmacs, as for the third time in
this championship, they managed a miraculous comeback to draw this enthralling
South West u21 B football championship final with Clanna Gael. When Richie O
Sullivan escaped from the clutches of Clann fullback Paul Crowley and billowed
the back of the net deep into injury time, a little tremor could have been felt
in the Aughaville hinterland as the large Kilmac following celebrated a
magnificent finish to an otherwise superb final played in driving wind and
rain.
Playing against the strong breeze in the finish half, the Kilmac lads took a long time to get used to the conditions and this gave the Drimoleague/Drinagh outfit time to speed into an earlier lead. Quick-fire opening points by lively wing forward Paul Hickey, Eric Crowley and the industrious Gavin Connolly gave Clann the early foothold and a sweeping move in the fifteenth minute lead to Don O Driscoll crashing the ball to the Kilmac net leaving a six point gap to overcome. But never count out this Kilmac outfit, who with the Collins brothers at midfield ,centre back Niall Hayes and the creativity of wing forward Diarmuid O Callaghan, got to grips with the game and started to create openings of their own. No sooner had Clann hit the back of the Kilmac net, that the umpires at the opposite end were raising the green flag, when an effort for a point by Joe Collins dropped in the grateful arms of Diarmuid O Callaghan who dispatched the leather to the net. He soon followed this up with pointed free to leave the score-line Kilmac1-1 Clanna Gael 1-3. The Clann forward line profited from a little indiscipline in the Kilmac defence and landed two more points to leave the half time score Kilmac 1-1 Clanna Gael 1-5.
With the words of the Kilmac management ringing in their ears the Kilmac lads turned to play with the breeze at their backs and renewed endeavour they set about over turning the deficit. With commanding John O Sullivan at full back, the tigerish Niall Hayes and Martin Collins, the lads started the brighter and only for some wasteful shooting could have been back level. The ever dangerous Joe Collins finally landed his side’s second point and the pressure was increasing around the Clann goal mouth. Some good link up play landed Clanna their sixth and seventh points of the game and at this stage it looked very bleak for the Kilmac lads, even with two pointed frees from Diarmuid O Callaghan and one from Kevin Whooley and Kilmac goal was badly needed to swing the game back in their favour. A late Clann point with two minutes of normal time stretched their lead to four points and it looked very bad for the Kilmacs A point from full forward Richie O Sullivan cut the gap to three points heading into injury time, and the dramatic end to this contest. Solid custodian Padraig Burke’s kick out was well fielded by captain Joe Collins, who fed the tireless Diarmuid O Callaghan. A mazy run by the wing forward opened up some space and a perfectly timed pass to Richie O Sullivan put the Kilmac speedster away. With over thirty metres to the Clann goal and a major needed to tie the game, it was in little doubt what the Kilmac full forward needed to do. His beautifully arched shot past the despairing dive of Clann custodian Donnacha Shanahan into the net begun scenes of joy through the Kilmac supporters and mentors and when referee Donal Shorten blew the final whistle moments later the relief within the Kilmac camp was immense. The final score of this thrilling final, playing in a fine sporting air, was Kilmacabea 2-5 Clann Na nGael 1-8.
The replay of the u21 B Football Final will take place next Sunday 7th April at 3pm in Aughaville. All support will be greatly appreciated as the lads go in search of the crown last annexed in 2008.
Fixtures for the coming week: u21 B Football Championship Final replay vs Clann Na nGael on Sunday 7th April at 3pm in Aughaville.Junior B Football League vs
Clonakilty on Friday 5th April at 7pm in Leap.Cancelled
Please check locally as fixtures are subject to change and don’t forget you can keep up to date with all club activities and events by logging on www.facebook.com/Official Kilmacabea GAA Club or www.twitter.com/KilmacabeaGAA.
Playing against the strong breeze in the finish half, the Kilmac lads took a long time to get used to the conditions and this gave the Drimoleague/Drinagh outfit time to speed into an earlier lead. Quick-fire opening points by lively wing forward Paul Hickey, Eric Crowley and the industrious Gavin Connolly gave Clann the early foothold and a sweeping move in the fifteenth minute lead to Don O Driscoll crashing the ball to the Kilmac net leaving a six point gap to overcome. But never count out this Kilmac outfit, who with the Collins brothers at midfield ,centre back Niall Hayes and the creativity of wing forward Diarmuid O Callaghan, got to grips with the game and started to create openings of their own. No sooner had Clann hit the back of the Kilmac net, that the umpires at the opposite end were raising the green flag, when an effort for a point by Joe Collins dropped in the grateful arms of Diarmuid O Callaghan who dispatched the leather to the net. He soon followed this up with pointed free to leave the score-line Kilmac1-1 Clanna Gael 1-3. The Clann forward line profited from a little indiscipline in the Kilmac defence and landed two more points to leave the half time score Kilmac 1-1 Clanna Gael 1-5.
With the words of the Kilmac management ringing in their ears the Kilmac lads turned to play with the breeze at their backs and renewed endeavour they set about over turning the deficit. With commanding John O Sullivan at full back, the tigerish Niall Hayes and Martin Collins, the lads started the brighter and only for some wasteful shooting could have been back level. The ever dangerous Joe Collins finally landed his side’s second point and the pressure was increasing around the Clann goal mouth. Some good link up play landed Clanna their sixth and seventh points of the game and at this stage it looked very bleak for the Kilmac lads, even with two pointed frees from Diarmuid O Callaghan and one from Kevin Whooley and Kilmac goal was badly needed to swing the game back in their favour. A late Clann point with two minutes of normal time stretched their lead to four points and it looked very bad for the Kilmacs A point from full forward Richie O Sullivan cut the gap to three points heading into injury time, and the dramatic end to this contest. Solid custodian Padraig Burke’s kick out was well fielded by captain Joe Collins, who fed the tireless Diarmuid O Callaghan. A mazy run by the wing forward opened up some space and a perfectly timed pass to Richie O Sullivan put the Kilmac speedster away. With over thirty metres to the Clann goal and a major needed to tie the game, it was in little doubt what the Kilmac full forward needed to do. His beautifully arched shot past the despairing dive of Clann custodian Donnacha Shanahan into the net begun scenes of joy through the Kilmac supporters and mentors and when referee Donal Shorten blew the final whistle moments later the relief within the Kilmac camp was immense. The final score of this thrilling final, playing in a fine sporting air, was Kilmacabea 2-5 Clann Na nGael 1-8.
The replay of the u21 B Football Final will take place next Sunday 7th April at 3pm in Aughaville. All support will be greatly appreciated as the lads go in search of the crown last annexed in 2008.
Fixtures for the coming week: u21 B Football Championship Final replay vs Clann Na nGael on Sunday 7th April at 3pm in Aughaville.
Please check locally as fixtures are subject to change and don’t forget you can keep up to date with all club activities and events by logging on www.facebook.com/Official Kilmacabea GAA Club or www.twitter.com/KilmacabeaGAA.
Other fixtures Check before travelling
Minor Hurling St Patricks v Ahan Gaels in Enniskeane on Thursday 11th April at 19.00
U14 Hurling St Patricks v Ballinascarthy in Rath on Thusday 11th April at 19.00
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