All square between Gowna and Killygarry in cracker

SFC quarter-final

Gowna 2-11

Killygarry 0-17

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

With 15 minutes remaining in this match, a repeat of last year’s county final, Gowna had a relatively straightforward free which would have extended their lead to six points, 2-10 to 0-10. The chance was missed and Killygarry came roaring back with six successive points to hit the front and even after Gowna equalised, they led again only for a Cian Madden free to force a draw.

This was a terrific spectacle between two of the top sides. Gowna showed their undoubted quality and their vulnerability in equal measure; the champions are prone to lapses in concentration and they could have been knocked out here against a Killygarry side who also have a penchant for streaky play.

Both sides played some brilliant attacking football at times and in the end, stalemate was probably a fair result.

Gowna were the better team early on, with Robbie Fitzpatrick orchestrating their attacking play in the first half. Tiarnan Madden (free) and Darragh Lovett, with a well-taken mark, traded scores before Gowna put together a run of 1-3 unanswered.

Ryan Donohoe found Conor Madden, who was very good in the first 40 minutes also, for their second point and from the kick-out, Tiarnan Madden blazed inches over the bar.

Tiarnan was involved again in the next score when he released Conor Casey with a perfect handpass and his teammate buried the ball to the net and when Cian Madden played Darragh McConnon in for a good point, Gowna were humming and playing their best stuff of this campaign.

Conor Smith, who was not expected to feature due to injury, gathered a pass and, eschewing a mark, drilled over with the left foot and when Killygarry pinched another Gowna kick-out and strung together a nice handpassing move, Lovett pointed on the turn.

Gowna, playing against the wind, replied with a mark from Fitzpatrick but Killygarry were growing into the game and well-taken scores from Lovett and Ben Mooney cut the gap to three on 21 minutes.

But a hallmark of Gowna’s play when they are going well is an ability to get goals and they struck gold again when Ryan Donohoe and Cian Madden combined well and Darragh McConnon showed a neat side-step before tucking away.

Oisin Brady, who was prominent throughout, showed leadership to send over a free and a huge point from play from 45 metres and when Lovett curled in another super point off the upright and Ben Mooney squeezed over another, it was a two-point game again.

Gowna breathed a sigh of relief when Martin Reilly was off-target with a lob attempt after intercepting a kick-out but Killygarry, who had all the momentum, suffered a blow just before half-time when Darragh Kennedy, who had been playing very well, was shown a black card after a needless foul.

Gowna started the second half with real intent as Ryan Brady drove through from the throw-in and pointed but although his cousin Oisin converted a free at the other end, Gowna took over.

Conor Madden laid off for Brady to point from the edge of the D, then Tiarnan Madden scored a free and, as Gowna forced turnovers, Cian Madden struck a lovely point from play.

That put five between them but a poor free from Conor Madden let Killygarry off the hook and they played probably their best football of the year in the eight minutes which followed.

Brady landed a free – stealing a few yards, as is commonplace with most place-kickers now, then sub Cian Keaney clipped over after a Conor Bates interception.

Gowna replied with a wide and when Lovett swung over a sublime score, Terry Hyland’s men were really purring. Young marksman Keaney pointed again and after brilliant play by Jamie McDonald, Daniel Walsh sent over the equaliser.

Killygarry hit the front on 53 minutes when Martin Reilly laid off for Smith to split the posts and Gowna were shaken into life, Ryan Donohoe responding with an excellent score.

As the rain lashed down, the excitement was ramped up and another brilliant Lovett point saw Killygarry claw back the lead with two minutes of normal time remaining,

Gowna had chances but could only take one, a Cian Madden free, as the sides battled to the end on level terms after an exhilarating contest which was probably the best game of the Senior Championship to date.

Killygarry: Paddy Galligan, Conor Connolly, Conor Bates, Jamie McDonald, Cian Reilly, Anselm Lovett, Daniel Walsh (0-1), Ross Sheridan, Darragh Kennedy, Martin Reilly, Oisin Brady (04, 3f), Ben Mooney (0-2), Jack Mooney, Darragh Lovett (0-6, 1m), Conor Smith (0-2)

Subs: Cian Keaney (0-2) for B Mooney (44), Mattie McKenna for J Mooney (53), David Talbot for D Walsh (59), D Walsh for R Sheridan (60)

Gowna: Ronan Bannon, Mark McKeever, Ryan McGahern, Eoghan Hartin, Fionan Brady, Conor Brady, Tiarnan Madden (0-3, 2f), Ryan Brady (0-2), Ryan Donohoe (0-1), Robbie Fitzpatrick (0-1m), Conor Casey (1-0), Cian Madden (0-1f), TJ Fitzpatrick, Conor Madden (0-1), Darragh McConnon (1-1)

Subs: Andrew Dewart for TJ Fitzpatrick (40), Oisin Pierson for C Casey (48), Cillian Brady for M McKeever (55), Daire Madden for R Fitzpatrick (55)

Ref: Joe McQuillan