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*Brian Cahill. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Kilmaley fired the last seven points to finally protect their perfect start to this year’s championship in Clarecastle on Saturday afternoon.
Kilmaley 0-24
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-10
Venue: Clarecastle
Despite leading from start to finish, a Doora/Barefield third quarter backlash centred around Cian Barron’s second goal slashed what was a six point second half cushion to just the minimum by the two thirds mark.
With the Parish beginning to smell blood, two further goal chances were expertly snuffed out by a resilient Kilmaley rearguard. So despite a booming Alan O’Neill point from halfway entering the final quarter to again wget within the minimum, Kilmaley managed to weather the storm as their superior spread of scoring options yielded a final flourish through Mikey O’Malley (3), Mikey O’Neill (2), Joe Carmody and Colm Killeen to flesh out the final margin ahead of a month’s break.
In truth, it was a fully merited result albeit that the final margin was a little flattering on the victors who managed to hit eleven first half wides. Kilmaley still managed to keep their noses in front throughout though, even when Cian Barron’s determined run resulted in an excellent solo goal at 0-10 to 1-4 in the 24th minute.
Only two points separated the sides by the break at 0-10 to 1-5 but Kilmaley’s experience proved crucial coming down the final straight to move clear at the top of the Group 1 table.
Essentially, while St Joseph’s didn’t have as many chances or misses as their opponents, they needed to take any opportunity that came their way to really trouble Kilmaley.
Early missed placed balls saw Kilmaley snatch the whip hand as all of their attacking division got on the scoreboard from play by the 23rd minute at 0-10 to 0-4.
They missed more than they scored which was punished when Eoin McMahon collected a puck-out to tee up the powerful Cian Barron to race through and find the net nearing the break.
A booming Darragh McMahon point from his own half subsequently lowered the deficit to just two by half-time as four late Kilmaley wides proved frustrating.
Any perceived pressure was eased on the resumption when Mikey O’Neill’s opening brace in-spired a four point unanswered start that included further point for Joe Carmody and Conor Cleary at 0-14 to 1-5 by the 36th minute.
However, their task was far from over as a pair of Davie Conroy points were garnished by a 41st minute goal when Alan O’Neill’s high delivery was expertly caught and kicked to the net by Cian Barron to kickstart the Parish’s charge at 0-15 to 2-7.
Daire Keane and Mikey O’Malley resisted but with the bit between their teeth, Doora/Barefield looked to go for the jugular only for openings for Conor Tierney and Eoin McMahon to be smoth-ered
An instinctive O’Neill over the shoulder point from distance did leave only the minimum between the sides once more in the 48th minute. However, instead of being game-on, it would actually rove to be Doora/Barefield’s final score as a composed Kilmaley switched the focus back up the other end with points from Carmody and O’Malley entering the final ten minutes.
The leadership of O’Malley and O’Neill was crucial as Kilmaley turned the screw with the final five points in a four minute blitz to complete the first phase of the group stages with a perfect record as they now welcome a bye for Round 3.
In contrast, St Joseph’s search for a first senior win certainly doesn’t get any easier as up next are the back-to-back champions Ballyea who have suffered their own early set-back won’t be in a generous mood to give an inch against their intermediate equvalents in a fortnight’s time.
Scorers for Kilmaley: Mikey O’Neill, Mikey O’Malley (3f) (0-5 each); Joe Carmody, Colm Killeen (0-4 each); Tom O’Rourke, Conor Cleary, Daire Keane (0-2 each)
Scorers for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Cian Barron (2-1); Davie Conroy (0-5, 4f); Jack Hannan, Eoin Lahiffe, Darragh McMahon, Alan O’Neill (0-1 each)
Kilmaley
1: Bryan O’Loughlin
2: Martin O’Connor
3: Colin McGuane
4: Oisin Looney
7: Tommy Barry
6: Cian Moloney
13: Brian Cahill
8: Conor Cleary
9: Sean Kennedy
10: Daire Keane
11: Mikey O’Malley
12: Joe Carmody
18: Colm Killeen
14: Mikey O’Neill
15: Tom O’Rourke
Subs
22: Gearoid O’Grady for O’Rourke (42)
30: Kenneth Kennedy for S. Kennedy (50)
5: Aidan McGuane for Carmody (55)
29: Thomas McGuire for Cahill (61)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Paul Madden
10: Dara Nagle
12: Eoghan Thynne
3: Darragh McMahon
5: Eoin McMahon
4: Frankie Meaney
29: Kevin Dilleen
6: Darragh O’Shea
8: Jack Hannan
11: Brian Guilfoyle
15: Eoin Lahiffe
7: Adam Mungovan
13: Cian Barron
20: Alan O’Neill
9: Davie Conroy
Subs
14: Conor Tierney for Guilfoyle (HT)
21: Cathal Ruane for Dilleen (51)
17: Cian Lahiffe for Nagle (58)
Referee: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)
