February 26, 2012

Kilconieron 0-14 Mullagh 1-12

Kilconieron were unlucky to become unstuck today in this close contest played at Castledaly. The score says that Mullagh won the match but a draw would probably have been a result both teams would have settled for. Both teams were evenly matched with the scores level at 7 points each with two minutes remaining in the first half. Kieran Murray was the main thorn in Mullagh's side with 5 points, 3 from frees and 2 from play. 

Shane Caulfield and Liam Cannon both added a point each for Kilconieron. Mullagh then pulled away from Kilconieron in the last two minutes of the first half with 2 points to leave the score at 0-09 to 0-07 in favour of the east Galway men.

Mullagh started off the second half and went for the jugular with a goal that pushed them 5 points clear and some would say, out of sight. However Kilconieron dug deep and started a scoring blitz of 6 unanswered points to push them one ahead of Mullagh. Kieran Murray stopped the rot with a pointed 65 and followed it up with two frees. Add for good measure a point from play and you could tell that the captain was rising to the challenge. Liam Cannon notched one over and then Shane Caulfield replicated Liam with one of his own.

Mullagh were rocked but through pure necessity they pulled it back to level again with a point and then went one up with another quick point. Murray levelled again with a free and both sidelines were sweating. A draw would be acceptable there and then, But there was still enough time for drama and heartbreak.

Two minutes into injury time, Mullagh struck what proved to be the decisive score. They then lost their number 5 for a second yellow card offence but still managed to hold out for a win. 

All in all, Kilconieron didn’t deserve to lose the game as they did all of the hurling without achieving the result. The absence of Sean Hickey had a major bearing on this result. 

Players to impress were, Murray, Caulfield, Cannon, and Flannagan but you could probably have mentioned all of the team, such was their commitment. The game probably came too early for some of the players who had lined out 24 hours earlier in their Connacht schools hurling finals. All is not over yet, Kilconieron have a second bite of the cherry when the face the winners of Killimordaly and Cois Fharraige. This game is going to bring the team on immensely, so if you can, please come out and support them. Thanks to all of you that supported the team both last week and today.