Carter’s goal helps in-form Killanin men keep Co title hopes alive

Killanin 3-9

Leitir Móir 2-10

THE business end of the senior championship was reached last weekend, and although this clash between Killanin and Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir was the only remaining preliminary quarter-final left to be played, it was a rip-roaring game of football.

Leitir Móir led for large spells, but at the end, it was Killanin who emerged victorious to face Salthill-Knocknacarra in the last eight proper. As a spectacle, it had a bit of everything. Momentum shifts and significant moments occurred aplenty as five goals were scored, but not without controversy.

The controversy surrounded Johnny Heaney’s second half goal and whether the ball had gone over the line, but the most important of the majors registered was Damien Carter’s brilliantly flicked effort in the 57th minute. It was the score which would send Killanin through, despite Patrick Mark Ó Fáthartha sending a late goal shot agonisingly wide of the Killanin net.

As Cavan referee Joe McQuillan was trying to control a feisty affair in Croke Park, Caltra official Martin Faherty was handling an intense game in Pearse Stadium. While it was tough, the contest wasn’t nasty, although Faherty was mostly correct in producing seven yellow, two black and one red card. The shade of red was shown to Leitir Móir midfielder Antoine Toto Ó Gríofa eight minutes from the end, and was to be important factor in the closing stages.

A clear feature of both senior championship matches played in Salthill last Sunday was the impact made by players with inter-county experience. Johnny Heaney played well for Killanin, but it was the twins Cathal and Patrick Sweeney who dragged their club over the line in this affair.

Cathal continuously drove forward from centre-half back, and it seems at times as if his energy levels are boundless. Although Patrick didn’t quite manage to equal the haul of 4-3 he put up against Killererin when Killanin were last in Pearse Stadium, he did score 1-3 and was a brilliant outlet for his team-mates at full-forward in the second period.

Defeat was cruel on either team after such an enthralling match. Leitir Móir did themselves proud, and it was evident that their narrow victory over Caltra the previous weekend aided them greatly in the first period. Killanin were three weeks removed from that win over Killererin, and Leitir Móir raced into a 2-5 to 1-1 lead by the 15th minute, and held a 2-6 to 1-5 advantage at half-time.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.