Kilnadeema/ Leitrim 0-10 Kilbeacanty 0-9 It’s Monday morning and the defeat of the Intermediate team by the narrowest of margins is still very raw, one can only imagine what the Management and players must be going through as the run the game over and over in their heads with all the ifs buts and maybes been played out over and over again. When Ross stood over the last free with time up we all hoped that after the lads had given it all on the day they would at least get another shot at it but sport can be cruel and as the free tailed to the left and wide the dream of progression to uncharted territory died a death also. It is of little consolation to the players and Management that the progress made this year has been fantastic and that even in defeat the manner in how they went out of this year’s competition showed great character and it gave the people in the parish great pride in their team. If you are going to lose then go down fighting and there was little doubt that Kilbeacanty died with their boots on. In the early stages of this game Kilbeacanty rode their luck a bit and had Nick Bailey in the goals to thank for a number of great saves including one in the first minute when he parried a shot from the Kilnadeema/ Leitrim full forward . But it was Kilbeacanty who struck the first score when Stephen Carey pointed from play after good work from Enda Craddock and Alan McCarthy and Carey then struck a wonderful point from the right side line to put Kilbeacanty 0-2 to 0-0 up. Kilnadeema/ Leitrim then got off the mark when their wing forward scored from play and they were level shortly after when their other wing forward scored from play also. At this early stage it was clear Niall Donohue was up for this one and he cut out a certain goal chance tracking the Leitrim wing forward and making a vital interception before Nick Bailey dealt smartly with the loose ball. Alan McCarthy put Kilbeacanty back ahead after picking up a breaking ball after a long free from Donohue but Kilnadeema/ Leitrim hit back with their first point from a free to leave it at 0-3 a piece. Ross then scored Kilbeacanty’s first point from a free with 15 minutes gone and even though scores were scares the intensity was high and Kilnadeema/ Leitrim looked well rattled with Kilbeacanty playing well with Nick Bailey, Stephen Carey, Enda Craddock and Niall Donohue in particular making major contributions . The Kilbeacanty goal again lived a charmed life with Nick again pulling off a fantastic save and then the Kilnadeema/ Leitrim corner forward rattled the cross bar from the follow up shot. Ross then put Kilbeacanty 0-5 to 0-3 up from another free after Florence McCarthy was fouled but this was to be Kilbeacantys last score of the half and Kilnadeema/ Leitrim laid the foundation for victory as they tagged on 4 points without reply before the break with Kilbeacanty indiscipline resulting in 3 from frees and 1 from play to leave the half time score 0-7 to 0-5 Kilnadeema/ Leitrim advantage. Kilbeacanty started the second half well and Ian Byrne who had just been introduced for Cathal Fahey at half time won a free which Ross converted and Kilbeacanty drew level when Donohue landed a monster free after been fouled himself. Kilbeacanty backs were well on top at this stage and Florence and Enda Craddock were winning the Midfield battle and in hindsight this was their opportunity to push on but the forwards were finding it hard to convert their chances and a point from play from Florence McCarthy after good work by Enda Hughes was scant reward for the amount of possession they had in the opening quarter of the second half. Kilnadeema/ Leitrim had weathered the storm and hit a purple patch of their own landing 3 points in a row from a free a 65 and one from play to go 0-10 to 0-8 clear with 3 minutes to go as they pushed for the line. Kilbeacanty as mentioned to their credit did not give in and Ross reduced the margin to 1 again with a smart point from play and Kilbeacanty continued to fight tooth and nail and it looked like they might get their just reward when they got that free with time up after Niall Donohue was fouled on his way out of defence. The free itself was a difficult one add to this a short delay as well as the circumstances of it and you could understand the pressure on Ross .The distance was right but it just went inches to the left and wide , Ross has been outstanding from placed balls all year and it was unfortunate that this was the one that was missed but then as said before sport can be cruel and it was The final whistle went shortly after and Kilnadeema/ Leitrim had won the game by 1 0-10 to 0-9. The team played very well as a unit on Saturday and only conceding 0-10 was major achievement The forwards found it difficult to get scores but the work rate was never in question On the day Nick Bailey was fantastic in goals and provided that hard work and dedication can go a long way if your prepared to put it in with not only his shot stopping been top class but his distribution and puck outs as well John Fordham and James Carey both did well in defence as well In Midfield Enda Craddock was the outstanding player on view and he typificied Kilbeacantys approach all day with a massive work rate ,winning the dirty ball and driving at the Kilnadeema/ Leitrim defence time and time again.Craddock was well supported by Florence McCarthy and up front as mentioned previously all the forwards worked hard and it looked like Stephen Carey was going to take on Kilnadeema/ Leitrim on his own in the early stages but Kilnadeema/ Leitrim realised the danger he showed and cut out the supply of ball to him but he battled on well without much possession for the rest of the game. Finally…. Niall Donohue… what can I say??Any words I would use would be an injustice What a game he had, the best performance by one man in a Kilbeacanty jersey I ever seen anyway. Time and time again he was the rock on which the Kilnadeema/ Leitrim team faltered on. Niall was powerful going forward and covered all alone the half backline as well as numerous interceptions on the full back line he took punishment and just got on with it. I Don’t want to go into the Galway management thing but if their Galway management thought there were better than him available to them this year shame on you, Niall proved his point on Saturday to all in Loughrea. Credit must go to the Kilbeacanty Team and Management first of all on reaching the knockout stages for the first time in a number of years but more importantly in restoring the pride in the team’s performances and once the disappointment of losing by such small margins starts to fade you should be very proud of your achievements this year. This year has proven that ye can compete with the best teams in the intermediate championship and has given you an awareness of what it takes to get to the next level .That however is the important point the next level, The hope is that this is only a launching pad for the years to come. Hard luck lads but well done on your year so far. Team was Nick Bailey, Pat Fahey, Declan Hughes, Mike Coen, James Carey, Niall Donohue(0-1 free), John Fordham, Enda Craddock, Florence McCarthy (0-1) ,Noelie Glynn, Enda Hughes, Alan McCarthy(0-1), Cathal Fahey, Stephen Carey(0-2), Ross O Donnell (0-4 0-3 frees) subs I Byrne for Cathal Fahey (HT)
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 11:04:08 +0000
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