Late goals seal glory as Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas see off Killavullen in Division 7 HL decider
Killavullen's captain Liam Cronin clears the ball under pressure from Patrick Crowley, Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas during their Division 7 HL final at Ballyanly. Picture Denis Boyle
It was scrappy, it was gruelling – but Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas got the job done, overcoming Killavullen to win the RedFM Division 7 Hurling League final at Ballyanly on Saturday evening.
Their defensive work rate was unrelenting – Ó Mathúnas giving Killavullen no chance at goal as Conor O’Sullivan delivered an assured performance at centre-back.
It was he who started the move that changed the game, passing to Sean Crowley who then offloaded to Gearóid O’Donovan. O’Donovan struck from distance, and with Killavullen ‘keeper Sean Woulfe drawn to the edge of the square, the ball bounced favourably and nestled in the roof of the net.
Prior to his goal, points from Owen Magner in the 49th and 51st minutes had got Killavullen back to within one as they had been at half-time, but now they had plenty of work to do and not a lot of time.
Jamie Magner did his best to spark a response with a point shortly after, but Ó Mathúnas delivered the killer blow. Patrick Crowley’s line ball from inside the 65 flew into the square, where Caolán O’Donovan gathered and rifled it home from close range – 3-11 to 0-14.
Up to that point, the game had been evenly balanced. Ó Mathúnas had stormed ahead 1-7 to 0-3 after 19 minutes, but Killavullen rallied with six unanswered points to close the gap before half-time. Jamie Magner hit four frees, with Liam Cronin and Owen Magner adding brilliant scores from play. Cronin’s point – a solo run through a string of tackles – was a standout moment.
That left it 1-7 to 0-9 at the break, but Caolán O’Donovan landed two frees early in the second half to restore a three-point lead for Ó Mathúnas. Killavullen again came back into it, with Padraig Looney, Jamie, and Owen Magner all on target.
But those two late goals proved decisive.
It was deserved; they had led from the start – but their first quarter was outstanding. Points from Jamie Lucey, Caolán O’Donovan, Jeremiah Hurley and Gearóid O’Donovan had them 0-4 to 0-1 up with eight minutes elapsed.
O’Donovan scored his first free after 10 minutes as Killavullen struggled to get a foothold in the game. Then came the first Ó Mathúnas goal, which would push them seven clear.
Gearóid O’Donovan’s point attempt dropped short and broke in front of the square – but unlike the third goal, it didn’t have a chance to find its own way in. Lucey won the sliotar and carved open the opportunity. He made no mistake.
Killavullen fought well and had two strong periods of pressure – but 12 wides proved costly. Ó Mathúnas, more clinical and composed, never looked like letting it slip.
C O’Donovan 1-9 (0-7 f), G O’Donovan, J Lucey 1-1 each, J Hurley 0-1.
J Magner 0-8 (0-7 f), O Magner 0-3, M O’Connor, D O’Grady, P Looney, L Cronin 0-1 each.
M O’Driscoll; R McCarthy, S Crowley, E Mangan; J O’Callaghan, C O’Sullivan, J Hurley; R Lucey, T Lordan, G O’Donovan, K O’Donovan, M Draper; J Lucey, C O’Donovan, P Crowley.
W Horgan for Draper (53), S Corcoran for Lucey, J Fleming for Crowley (both 58).
S Woulfe; E Birchill, E Buckley, S Palmer, K Fox, L Cronin, E Cotter; M Cagney, C Lillis; D O’Grady, M O’Connor, C Looney; O Magner, P Looney, J Magner.
S O’Mahony for Fox (25).
Kevin O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers)
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