March 04, 2012

Kilconieron 1-13 Killimordaly 3-19

This performance, many would say was one best forgotten. A big defeat from our near neighbours who lost narrowly in last year’s county final. But this might be a match that many of the players might want to recall later on in the year when the ground is harder and the grass is shorter. 

Enda Connaughton will certainly remind the team of some of the positives. With Killimordaly coasting with a 3-12 to 0-4 at half time, Kilconieron would have been forgiven for throwing in the towel at that stage. But there were some signs of green shoots emerging before the half time break. Conditions were worse than poor with a gale blowing into the Kilconieron goal and the sod soaked up the ball like a sponge. Everything that went goal wards for Killimordaly was carried by the wind with increased speed and distance. The backs were under big pressure and the forwards were starved. Killimordaly ran up a tally that was always going to be hard to catch. 

Then something happened in several positions for Kilconieron. Willie Lawless was at home in the conditions and cleared his lines to a degree that something had to come from all the ball he delivered. Cathal Smyth always had the match of his man and now he was acclimatizing to the conditions, Colm Connaughton held his line and carried the ball into the wind and pushed Killimordaly into reverse. Paul Plower and Paul Tierney started to gain the upper hand in their positions and Tierney was rewarded with two fine points from play. 

All this happened in the last 10 minutes of the first half and you could see some cracks in the Killimordaly outfit. The manager asked his team to win the first ball of the second half and the next one after that. Killimordaly got the first score though, But Kilconieron battled and though the wind had died to half its strength; they started to ask some questions. They pounded ball into the forwards which they won and accumulated some fine scores. Gerry Smyth started it off with a long range point followed by Kieran Murray with two placed balls. 

Colm Connaughton lifted the team with a superb effort off his stick while under a lot of pressure. The Killimordaly sideline was looking worried, the script had changed. Kilconieron introduced Padraic Burke and Shane Caulfield. Burke got two beautiful points from out on the wing and Caulfield rifled over another. Killimordaly to their credit, responded with a couple of scores before Caulfield struck a gem of a goal into the corner that left the goalie gasping. 

Shane Conway linked up with Gerry Smith who shot over another. That saw the end of proceedings, but Kilconierons walk off the field had a certain degree of purpose in it. They saw that when they were asked some questions, they were able to answer them. No team ever won a county title in the first week in March.

Ollie Uniacke made his debut in goal and despite three going past him, made two super saves. Frankie Carty was very steady and very encouraging to the younger players around him. Cathal Smyth and Colm Connolly struggled early with the conditions but to their due, got better and better as the game progressed. David Gannon liked the room at wing back. Gerry Smith and Paul Plower had some good moments at midfield and will thrive in better conditions. Donal Warde, Ciaran Curley and Karl Martyn must have felt as bystanders for long periods of the first half with the ball going over their heads, but when called upon, they battled hard to gain possession. The full forward line of Donal Egan, Paul Tierney and Ciaran Murray lived off scraps but Tierney made a huge impact when he was moved to the forty.

Kieran will rue some missed frees that could have kept the contest closer and will have to focus more on his striking. Free shots at goal are hard earned and could be match winners in future games. Shane Conway will be happy with his contribution and combined well with his forwards. The introduction of Padraig Burke and Shane Caulfield gave Kilconieron forward line some extra pace and given more time could have inflicted more damage to the opponents. Enda Connaughton will be happy with his troop’s second half response and saw a glint of a wounded animal in his team. This game may well prove to be a ground mark for the year ahead.

Kilconieron Intermediate Team: Back (l-r) Padraig Burke, Colm Connaughton, Cathal Smyth, Ciaran Curley, Colm Connolly, Donal Egan, Frank Carty, Gerard Smyth, Shane Conway, Kieran Murray
Front (l-r) Ollie Uniacke, Karl Martyn, Donal Ward, Paul Plower, Paul Tierney, William Lawless, David Gannon, Shane Caulfield