Bradshaw dismissal proves costly for Moycullen

Moycullen 2-9

Kilconly 2-12

Pádraic Ó Ciardha in Corofin

WHEN substitute Kevin O’Donovan kicked over a 57th minute free to bring the scores to 2-9 to 1-10, it looked like Moycullen might have done just enough to snatch a victory. Two minutes earlier, Mark Lydon had scored an inspirational goal to put the West Galway men into the lead for the first time in the game.

Unfortunately for Moycullen, things started to go wrong the minute O’Donovan’s free went over the bar. Gareth Bradshaw, who had been booked earlier in the game, was then involved in verbals with referee James Molloy. A second yellow followed and before the game was restarted, Moycullen were down to 14 men and Bradshaw was sent off for the second Sunday in succession.

When play restarted, Kilconly went on the attack and launched the ball downfield. Midfielder Padraic Moran gathered possession 20 metres out from the Moycullen goal but was surrounded by defenders. The Kilconly-man showed great composure to spot his full-forward in open space and John Kerrigan struck a clinical shot past Seamus Friel in goals.

In an instant, Moycullen had found themselves a man and a point down as the clock ticked towards the 60 minute mark. Still reeling from the turn of events, a poor kick-out after the goal saw Kilconly corner-forward Michael Murphy get possession before racing through on goal and fisting the ball over the bar.

A minute into injury time, midfielder Keith Curley found himself with the ball in front of the Moycullen goals and sent a kick high over the bar to put the gloss on Kilconly’s victory. When the referee blew the final whistle, the men from North Galway’s elation was matched only by the desolation among the Moycullen ranks.

The first quarter of an hour of Sunday’s game gave no indication of the close finish that would follow. Kilconly found themselves six points to the good with Moycullen held scoreless. Michael Murphy opened the scoring with a left-footed effort after two minutes and his brother Adrian doubled their lead seconds later.