Burke goes on the rampage in easy win for Killimordaly

Killimordaly 2-19

Abbeyknockmoy 0-16

David Killarney  in Ballinasloe

KILLIMORDALY continued their 100% start to the championship on Monday by overcoming Abbeyknockmoy in Ballinasloe with a nine point victory. Full forward Brian Burke (1-11) put in an impressive man of the match performance for Killimordaly whose senior experience proved invaluable against the 2015 intermediate champions.

Both teams came into the fixture with wins in the opening weekend with Killimordaly and Abbeyknockmoy dismissing Kiltormer and Moycullen respectively, but the men from south Galway proved the sharper outfit this time out. Abbey’s shot conversion proved to be a factor with Killimordaly setting a high tempo right from the start which their rivals struggled to live with throughout the 60 minutes.

Brian Burke got the scoring underway for Killimordaly within the opening minute through a 65’ before Paul Flaherty levelled it up a couple minutes later with his first free of the contest from 45 yards. Killimordaly then went three points ahead in as many minutes with two more frees from Burke followed by a great score from corner forward Tommy Madden who gathered an Abbey puck-out in midfield before driving straight between the posts from 50 yards.

Abbey hit back with another free from Flaherty after Coleman Maher was fouled, before Eanna Ryan brought the lead back to three points after a short puck out from keeper Padraig Daly found Declan Connolly who fed Ryan in space who slotted over from 50 yards. Corner forward Darragh Cooney extended the lead with a great score from over halfway before the gap was brought back to three when Damien Rooney converted for Abbey after being picked out by Danny Mullins.

As Killimordaly were starting to get a strong hold of midfield, simple mistakes were preventing Abbey from making strides, with the wind behind Killimordaly’s backs also proving a major factor. Three more unanswered points from Burke, Iomar Creaven and David Concannon, after another quick puck-out from Daly, extended the gap to six points with Abbey now asking themselves how they where allowing their counterparts so much space in key areas.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.