Helebert’s 14-point haul helps Gort to big win

Gort 1-21
Kinvara 0-14

IT all comes down to the last day in Senior B Group 1 and a probable straight shootout between Ballinderreen and Gort following Mattie Murphy’s men’s 10-point victory over a game and gutsy Kinvara outfit at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.
The victory places Gort atop the group standings, marginally ahead of Craughwell on scoring difference though with Ballinderreen waiting in the wings knowing all that stands between them and a place in the preliminary quarter-final is their south Galway rivals Gort, there’s sure to be skin and hair flying when these two do battle in 10 days-time.
Gort were full value for their victory here against a Kinvara outfit who really tore into them and posed the 2014 county champions no end of problems, though Gort always looked the likely winners having been able to carve out their scores that bit easier than Brian Carroll’s men.
A superb display of marksmanship by Aiden Helebert (0-14, 0-8 frees) propelled his side over the line, while Gerard O’Donoghue’s 44th minute goal proved vital too in drawing away from their near-neighbours.
Jack Grealish, as anticipated, was the man given the unenviable role of tracking Conor Whelan for the day and credit to the Gort man, he did a fine job in holding Whelan to a point from play, though the Kinvara and Galway star did draw a host of fouls and was unlucky with a couple more efforts that drifted wide of the target.
It was a day where everything had to go right for Kinvara if they were to pick up the win that would keep their championship ambitions alive, but 10 wides and a missed goal chance in either half were always likely to cost them dearly and so it proved.
From a performance point of view, this was a much better showing than what they produced in the opening round. They got their match-ups right at the back with Shane Byrne on Richie Cummins, Shane Kavanagh marshalling either Mike Mullins or Ronan Burke while in the middle of the park, Niall Bermingham and James O’Hara were both heavily involved.
In attack, young Conor Burke had a fine outing alongside Whelan as did Tom O’Donovan and substitute Eanna Linnane, but it wasn’t enough against a Gort side which again lined out without Aidan Harte, though Jason Grealish and Sylvie Óg Linnane both made their return to the fold.
Kinvara opened brightly and led 0-4 to 0-1 after seven minutes with Colm Callanan (two frees) and Whelan (one free) both on target twice.
Gort were level by the water break with Aiden Helebert on target along with Greg Lally but Kinvara’s Barry Britton had the opportunity to goal for his side and send Kinvara in for the first interval in rude health after great work by O’Hara, but Britton’s shot was straight at Kris Finnegan who saved well.

Extended report in this week’s Connacht Tribune