Killygarry edge enthralling battle

Senior Football Championship

Killygarry 2-10

Mullahoran 1-11

Goals win games and the plural on this occasion was crucial as very little separated Mullahoran and Killygarry on Sunday afternoon last. Conor Smith, who was in an enthralling battle with Cian O’Reilly, finished both Killygarry majors through pure persistence as he fought for every inch of space he could find.

With both sides welcoming back key players from a summer away it was clear neither side were at their best but a win for Killygarry will take the pressure off a little after their relegation from division one in the league. Both defences came away with credit as with the exception of Enda O’Reilly, none of the star forwards at either end, hit the heights their talent would lead us to expect.

Killygarry opened the scoring after three minutes when Conor Bates was fouled for Oisin Brady to send the free high and over the bar. Mullahoran won the following kick-out and Cormac O’Reilly headed straight for the Killygarry goal. A neat hand pass played Tom Harten in behind the Killygarry defence and he squared the ball for Enda O’Reilly to palm to the net.

Cormac O’Reilly then extended the Dreadnoughts’ lead after five minutes when he won and converted a free from 50 meters with the wind at his back. In a sprint for possession Conor Smith was fouled and Oisin Brady sent over his second free of the afternoon on his left foot leaving his side trailing by two points after six minutes.

An interception by Gavin Brady set Mullahoran off on a counter attack and Cormac Galligan raised a white flag in his championship debut. Mullahoran were now on top and making it count on the score board. Cormac O’Reilly and Enda O’Reilly frees, after Senan Shiels was fouled, left Mullahoran ahead by five entering the second quarter.

Enda O’Reilly continued to hurt the Killygarry defence with a point off his right foot as the game looked to be getting away from last year’s beaten finalists. Darragh Lovett, who was in a speed battle with Colm O’Reilly, sent a point over off his left foot to end a 12 minute spell without a Killygarry score.

Mullahoran’s confidence was very evident when Cormac McKeogh comfortably sent a 40 meter shot over the bar with the outside of his right foot.

With eight minutes remaining in the half, Killygarry needed, and got, a shot in the arm. Jack Mooney came cutting in from the left sideline with the ball before hand passing to Conor Bates who wisely slipped the ball right to Conor Smith cutting out Dominic Crudden in the Mullahoran goal. Smith, in front of the Mullahoran goal but with four defenders between him and the net, side stepped one and placed the ball with power to the back of the net.

With the gap now closed to three points Mullahoran began to feel the pressure and three minutes later Mattie McKenna kept it on as he sent over his first point. A long range Enda O’Reilly free a minute before the break looked to have given Mullahoran time to breathe but Killygarry had a final burst to come with points from Ross Sheridan and Martin Reilly leaving the minimum between the sides at the break.

Within two minutes of the restart Oisin Brady had the sides level with a point but it was clear that defences were focused on slowing down the score rate. Cormac Galligan won a free for Cormac O’Reilly to convert which edged Mullahoran back into the lead on the seventh minute of the half.

With Mullahoran on the attack Cormac O’Reilly was overturned on the Killygarry 45. The red and blacks broke forward at pace with Darragh Lovett and Conor Smith leading the race. They worked the ball to Smith who punched home for his second of the game giving Killygarry a three-point lead.

Cormac O’Reilly replied with a free within 60 seconds but Killygarry closed up their defence for the following ten minutes to hold on to their two point lead. With four minutes of ordinary time remaining Enda O’Reilly gathered a long early ball into the Mullahoran full forward line and sent over his fifth score.

An Oisin Brady free was cancelled out by a point from Cormac O’Reilly a minute into injury-time ensuring a nail biting final four minutes. Mullahoran pushed hard for the equalising point but the Killygarry defence held strong and when a final counter attacking opportunity presented itself, sub Cian Keaney calmly fisted the ball over the bar to seal a two point win.

Killygarry team: Paddy Galligan, Conor Connolly, Conor Bates, Anselm Lovett, Daragh Kennedy, Cian Reilly, Jamie McDonald, Mattie McKenna(0-1), Daniel Walsh, Jack Mooney, Conor Smith(2-0), Oisin Brady(0-4,3f), Martin Reilly(0-1), Darragh Lovett(0-2), Ross Sheridan(0-1). Subs used: David Talbot for C Bates, Cian Keaney(0-1) for J Mooney.

Mullahoran team: Dominic Crudden, Cian O’Reilly, Colm O’Reilly, James Coyle, Edward Dalton, Cormac McKeogh(0-1), Senan Shiels, Caolann O’Reilly, Cormac O’Reilly(0-4f), Tom Harten, Gavin Brady, Matthew Hynes, Cormac Galligan(0-1), Enda O’Reilly(1-4,1f), Raymond Lynch. Subs used: Ryan O’Reilly for T Harten, Darren Shiels for S Shiels, Sean McKeogh for R Lynch.