Castlerahan still unbeaten after stern Killinkere test

Intermediate Football Championship Round 3

Castlerahan 1-17

Killinkere 1-13

Castlerahan continued their unbeaten run since returning to the Intermediate Championship with a four-point victory over a sticky Killinkere side at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday. With a comfortable win over Belturbet in round two, Dudley Farrell’s Killinkere entered the game with confidence but knowing that an improvement was needed to better the 2018 and 2019 senior champions.

Killinkere’s defence were caught napping in the opening minute when attacking wing-back Stephen Cooney waltzed through and placed the ball into the back of Jake Norris’s net. Three minutes later, Cian McCabe extended Castlerahan’s lead to four points with a well-taken free.

Killinkere replied from the resulting kick-out as Jason McMahon created enough time and space to send the ball over the bar. The Killinkere defence were punished once again for fouling as McCabe converted his second free of the afternoon. Lively inside forward Ciaran Cusack sent over his first point of the game with eight minutes played to settle Killinkere nerves.

Killinkere’s top scorer Emmett Fitzsimons opened his account with a free on the ninth minute leaving just two between the sides. Castlerahan’s years of Senior Championship experience came to the fore as they managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with an attacking mark by David Wright.

After an uncharacteristic wide from a free by Emmet Fitzsimons, Castlerahan attacked but just as it looked like they were about to lose possession, Enda Flanagan demanded the ball in the pocket and sent it over the bar to extend the gap to four points once again.

Killinkere youngster Cian McGovern sent over his first point of the day with a nice strike on his left foot but from the resulting kick-out, a driving run from Oisin Kiernan saw him fist over at the other end. With 20 first-half minutes played, Castlerahan midfielder David Wright booted over a long-range effort, extending the gap to five points for the first and only time.

A Fitzsimons free followed two minutes later with an attacking mark by Ciaran Cusack saw Killinkere close the gap to three on 24 minutes. Experienced Castlerahan corner-forward Oisin O’Connell opened his scoring with a point with three minutes remaining to the break.

In the end-to-end nature of the game, McMahon pointed for Killinkere but McCabe responded with a point at the other end as the game entered first-half injury time.

With half-time quickly approaching, Killinkere sent a long ball to the Castlerahan goal mouth. McGovern gathered possession and quickly turned his man, drawing over the Castlerahan keeper before squaring a pass to Ciaran Cusack who slotted the ball to the back of Kieran Daly's net.

With a point between the sides as they started the second-half, Stephen Cooney showed leadership once again as he pointed after just two minutes. Former county minor McGovern then added his second point of the game as Killinkere kept in touch.

A left-footed point by half time Castlerahan substitute Karl Cosgrove was cancelled out by another free from the reliable Fitzsimons. As the second half progressed, the scores kept coming, with Padraig McGahern extending the Castlerahan lead to two points - but once again Fitzsimons reeled it back in to one.

As the clock showed 14 second-half minutes, a skyscraping shot landed over the bar from the boot of Oisin O'Connell but for third time in a row Fitzsimons brought it back to a one-point game with a well taken point.

As the game entered the final quarter, Ciaran Cusack’s intelligent movement on the inside line for Killinkere resulted in an attacking mark which he converted and for the first time in the game the sides were level.

With big questions being asked, Brian Donohoe’s side came up with the right answer as Cian McCabe sent over a free to edge Castlerahan in front.

With the game now in the deciding period, Killinkere saw a number of chances pass them by with midfielder Ciaran Flynn's shot for goal soaring wide, proving to be the warning Castlerahan needed to push on.

After Cosgrove was fouled, McCabe doubled the Ballyjamesduff-based side's advantage and with five minutes remaining, Enda Flanagan sent over his second of the day to leave three between the sides.

As Castlerahan went into game management mode, they became precious in possession and patiently held on to the ball before eventually a bursting run by Oisin Kiernan saw him send over his second point of the day and seal a four-point victory.

The win ensures Castlerahan will now progress to the quarter finals with a game in hand. For Killinkere, they will need a victory in their final game along with other results to go their way for them to remain in the hunt for the Tommy Gilroy Cup.

Castlerahan: Kieran Daly, Stephen Cooney (1-2), Fergal Reilly, Jamie Reilly, Sean Óg McGearty, Oisín Kiernan (0-2), Paul Cusack, David Wright(0-2, 1m), Cormac Daly, Rory Smith, Enda Flanagan (0-2), Jason O’Gorman, Oisin O’Connell (0-2), Cian McCabe (0-5,4f), Padraig McGahern (0-1)

Subs: Enda O’Connell for J Reilly, Karl Cosgrove (0-1) for R Smith

Killinkere: Jake Norris, Shaun Clarke, Mark Farrelly Jnr, Enda Traynor, Nathan McQuaid, Liam McCabe, Kevin McCabe, James Farrelly, Ciaran Flynn, Neil McCabe, Garry Denning, Jason McMahon (0-2), Ciaran Cusack (1-3,2m), Emmett Fitzsimons (0-6, 4f), Cian McGovern (0-2)

Subs: Alex Sweeney for J Farrelly.