Kildorrery relegate Glanworth from Intermediate A after dour replay
Luke Keating, Kildorrery, takes on Podge Hannon, Glanworth, in the McCarthy Insurance Group Intermediate A Football Championship relegation play-off replay at Shanballymore. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Kildorrery came out on top in the McCarthy Insurance Intermediate A Football Championship relegation final replay at Shanballymore on Saturday.
In truth, it was a disappointing game before another capacity attendance. It failed to ignite at any stage and couldn't match the drama of the extra-time draw the first day.
Glanworth will feel, once again, they left victory behind them. Darragh O’Brien got through in the final minute but his shot went inches wide of the right post.
The opening exchanges were cagey with both teams careful with the ball and Kildorrery unable to get a foothold despite the stiff breeze. Glanworth were trying to play at pace and were rewarded with a Dave Pyne white flag in the seventh minute.
Kildorrery's patience was rewarded with a fabulous Peter O’Brien two-pointer.
The standard of football in the opening quarter was atrocious with the build- up play clocked at a snail’s pace.
In the 17th minute, a quality Kildorrery attack finished with their second two-pointer courtesy of a long-range Cian Coughlan beauty.
Kildorrery were taking control and Timmy O’Sullivan produced a stunning run and split the posts to edge his side into a four- point lead.
Kildorrery keeper Anthony Crowley increased the lead to five points with a neat kick following a placed ball as Glanworth were now struggling to get a grip in this game.
Glanworth did manage to register the closing point of the half following a Darragh O’Brien white flag but had some work to do in the second half, trailing 0-6 to 0-2.
The plus for Glanworth was they had the wind advantage for the restart but they needed more structure in their play to break down the dominant Kildorrery defence.
The huge Glanworth support were given the perfect start to the second half when Podge Hannon kicked a splendid point their first from play.
The next five minutes were a comedy of errors but Pyne reduced the deficit to two points with a stunning two-pointer from a placed ball in the 41st minute. Credit to Kildorrery, they responded with a quality move that yielded a quality point from Shane Fitzgerald entering the last quarter.
It was nip and tuck in the closing minutes and when Pyne nailed a two-pointer from a free with three minutes remaining, the gap was down to the minimum.
Sadly, for Glanworth O’Brien’s opportunity at the death was off target as the sound of the final whistle brought jubilant scenes in the Kildorrery camp.
A Crowley (f), P O’Brien (2pt), C Coughlan (2pt), 0-2 each, T O’Sullivan, K Hurley, S Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
D Pyne 0-6 (2 2pt f, 0-1 f), D O’Brien, P Hannon 0-1 each.
A Crowley; C O’Sullivan, D Hunter, J McCarthy; W Fuohy, L Keating, C Coughlan; S Fitzgerald, D Kent; J Hunter, J Keating, P O’Brien; T O’Sullivan, K Hurley, T Hurley.
J McEniry for T O’Sullivan (52), S O’Grady for D Hunter (60).
S Cunningham, P Condon, J Coughlan, S Finn; J Fogarty, R Murray, M Blackburne; D Pyne, P Hannon; D O’Brien, Darragh O’Brien, J O’Sullivan; P O’Driscoll, G O’Neill, S Condon.
M Jackson for G O’Neill (inj 12), J Walsh P O’Driscoll (46), M Moloney for M Blackburne (50).
James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).
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