THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2013 U21 F.C Semi-final Graigue v Killeshin/Crettyard Sat 2-11-13 Killeshin/Crettyard 5-9 Graiguecullen 2-12 KILLESHIN/CRETTYARD are one step away from creating history as they triumphed in a seven-goal thriller against neighbours Graiguecullen in BillDelaneyPark on Saturday. This is the second time in 2013 that Killeshin/Crettyard have toppled Graiguecullen in an underage affair as, over a month ago, they beat the Barrowsiders at the same stage of the minor football championship. Four years after Killeshin/Crettyard contested minor and under-21 B finals, they have repeated the trick in the A grade. The foundation for this victory was firmly laid in the first half as four goals gave the men in green a comfortable advantage. Eoin O’Shea and Dale Byrne traded a brace in the opening stages but Killeshin/Crettyard were playing with the aid of the wind in the first half and they notched their first goal through Stephen Attride. Evan O’Carroll and Eoin Lowry were the stars of the show for the victors and between them, they accounted for 3-3 of Killeshin/Crettyard’s first half tally. Lowry converted a penalty before O’Carroll showed great strength to shrug off Wayne Humphries and find the net. There was still time for Lowry to smash home his side’s fourth goal of the half to leave 12 points between the sides. However, Bobby Doogue gave the Barrowsiders hope before the half time whistle. Lee Timmons and Pádraig Murphy combined for Doogue to leave the half time score at 4-5 to 1-5 in Killeshin/Crettyard’s favour. Jeff McDermott opened Killeshin/Crettyard’s account in the second half but their opponents, playing with the wind, completely dominated the third quarter of the game. Dale Byrne (2), Danny Alsybury (2) and Lee Timmons split the posts before a defensive mix up between Kevin Ryan and Adam Brennan allowed Aaron Forbes to tap the ball into an empty net, reducing the deficit to just two points. However, Killeshin/Crettyard re-introduced Stephen Attride, who had been substituted in the first half, and just as he had done against The Heath two weeks ago, he changed the game. Attride turned over a Graiguecullen attack before feeding Eoin Lowry who crossed to Evan O’Carroll and he beat Jimmy Bolton in the air before finding the bottom corner of the net. A Dale Byrne double reduced the arrears to three points as we entered the final ten minutes but this was as close as Graiguecullen would get to their neighbours. Eoin Lowry was named as minor player of the year last week and he reinforced that decision by firing two crucial points in the closing stages which sandwiched an Evan O’Carroll free as Killeshin/Crettyard professionally saw home a thrilling victory. Unlike the minor decider of last month, Portlaoise are the final obstacle in the way of the Killeshin/Crettyard juggernaut. The Town defeated St Joseph’s/Barrowhouse in the other semi-final and they will be seeking to deny the Carlow border club an historic minor and under-21 double. KILLESHIN/CRETTYARD: Adam Brennan; Brian Lowry, Kevin Ryan, James Davis; Eoin Farrell, David McDermott, Jeff McDermott (0-1); Eoin Brennan, Ruairi Mannion; Cormac Murphy, Stephen Attride (1-0), Mark Lyons; Eoin O’Shea (0-2); Evan O’Carroll (2-3, 0-2f), Eoin Lowry (2-3, 1-1f). Subs: Aaron McGrath for Attride (20m), Stephen Attride for O’Shea (35m), Cormac Phelan for Farrell (50m), Ronan Phelan for Lyons (53m). GRAIGUECULLEN: Paddy Branagan; Jamie Malone, Wayne Humphries, Eoin Alsybury; Pádraig Murphy, Jimmy Bolton, Gearóid Cuddy; Dicey O’Reilly, Lee Timmons (0-2f); Barry Regan, Danny Alsybury (0-3), Bobby Doyle (1-0); John Branagan, Aaron Forbes (1-0), Dale Byrne (0-7, 4f). Subs: Julian Strain for Regan (37m). Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Courtwood)
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:48:48 +0000
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