Heartbreak for Kilmurry as they lose out on All-Ireland final after penalties
Liam Wall, Kilmurra, makes progress despite the attention of Johnathan Toye, Naomh Pádraig. Picture: Moya Nolan
It took penalties to separate Kilmurry and Naomh Pádraig in the AIB All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final at Parnell Park.
A cruel way for any side to lose out and sadly for Kilmurry it wasn’t to be with Conor Kelleher their only scorer, with Caolon McColgan, Kevin Lynch and Rory Hirrell scoring to put their side through.
Kilmurry had heroes all over the pitch with the likes William Ronan, Liam Wall, James O’Mullane and Lawrence Aisling doing all they could to ensure their side reached the final but it wasn’t to be their day.
Naomh Pádraig had the first real chance as they gained possession from the throw-in, with Eunan Mullan’s effort coming back off the upright.
Both sides had chances to open the scoring before Kevin Doherty got the Donegal side off the mark after seven minutes from a free.
Three minutes later and Kilmurry were level when Liam Wall pointed from their second free, his first effort going narrowly wide.
Doherty put his side back in front before Kilmurry goaled from the best move of the game to that point.
Brothers Denis and John O’Mullane combined to set up Lawrence Aisling to fist to the net, to make, it 1-1 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.
Lloyd Aisling increased their lead with a great score from distance before Caolan McColgan got Naomh Pádraig’s third point as the Cork side were enjoying the better of the play at this stage.
Another free from Wall made it 1-3 to 0-3 with five minutes to go in the first half.
With two minutes left in the half Kilmurry were down to 14 when Tomás Collins was black-carded for a foul on McColgan.
Jonathan Toye pointed the resulting free to put only two points between them at the break as Kilmurry lead by 1-3 to 0-4.
Naomh Pádraig made the extra man count at the start of the second half as they made it a one point tie after just 30 second, with McColgan pointing.
A brilliant run from Toye saw the sides level and just before Collins rejoined the action the same player put the Donegal side back in front, as they led by 0-7 to 1-3, with 38 minutes gone.
The switches at half time were paying off for Naomh Pádraig with Rory Hirrell and Ronay Hoy both having a big say since their introduction after the break.
Hirrell was involved in setting up McColgan for another point as the Donegal outfit now led by two.
But with Collins now back on the pitch Kilmurry worked their way back into contention, with Wall getting their first score of the second half.
With 46 minutes gone they were back on level terms when Denis O’Mullane scored and it was game on.
A minute late and Kilmurry were back in front when Kyle Kelleher and John O’Mullane combined to set up Lawrence Aisling to point, making it 1-6 to 0-8.
With seven minutes to go and in a huge blow for Kilmurry they had Lawrence Aisling black -arded for a foul on Hirrell, which meant they were going to play out the remainder of the game with 14. Kevin Lynch pointed the free for Naomh Pádraig to level it, 1-6 to 0-9.
A minute into injury time and Wall put Kilmurry in front but with the last kick, Lynch equalised for Naomh Pádraig to take it to extra time. Aisling was back on for extra-time so it was 15 v 15 again.
Lloyd Aisling put Kilmurry in front from the throw-in, his effort clipping the back and going over. From the restart came the crucial score when Wall played Rory Duggan in for their second goal to put them four up and from here it was always going to be difficult for Naomh Pádraig.
Sean O’Leary increased their lead and by half time in extra time it was 2-9 to 0-12 in Kilmurry’s favour.
Lynch reduced the deficit and in the final three minutes Naomh Pádraig were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on McColgan but Denis O’Mullane scored last on to see it end level and penalties needed to decide the outcome.
They now face An Cheathru Rua from Galway in the All-Ireland final.
Lawrence Aisling 1-1, L Wall 0-4 (0-2 f), R Duggan 1-0, D O’Mullane (f), Lloyd Aisling 0-2 each, S O’Leary 0-1.
K Lynch 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3 f, 0-1 45), C McColgan, J Toye (f) 0-3 each, K Doherty 0-2 (0-1 f), R Hoy 0-1.
J McDonnell; A O'Mahony, W Ronan, S O’Leary; B Hinchion, T Collins, A Aisling; K Kelleher, James O’Mullane; L Wall, Lawrence Aisling, R Duggan; Lloyd Aisling, John O’Mullane, D O’Mullane.
Joe O’Mullane for A O’Mahony (44), D Linehan for D O’Mullane (60), C Kelleher for K Kelleher (71), D O’Mullane for T Collins (74).
O McCauley; C Kelly, C Harkin, D McIntyre; Mc McCarron, J Toye, J McCallion; E Mullan, C McColgan; O McIntyre, K Doherty, D McKinney; J McCauley K Lynch, C McColgan.
R Hoy for M McCarron, R Hirrell for C Kelly (both ht), A McCarron for J Toye (53 inj), D Keaveney for K Dohery (59), C Kelly for O McIntyre (66), J McColgan for J McCauley (70).
David Hickey, Carlow.
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