Killererin live dangerously but still edge past Bearna

Killererin 1-12

Bearna  0-13

A last-ditch goal line clearance in the 82th minute was all that separated Killererin from entering the losers’ pot after the opening round of this year’s senior football championship. It took extra-time to finally separate the two sides with Killererin edging a classic first round fixture.

The North Galway club must have thought they were doomed to the backdoor when, in the closing seconds, the ball broke to Bearna’s Tom Curran just metres out from goal. Unfortunately for the Connemara men, the wing-back’s shot was miraculously deflected off the line with goalkeeper Alan Fahy appearing to get the decisive touch.

It was a cruel end to the game for Bearna, who had impressed for long periods but Killererin showed great fighting spirit on a number of occasions. Even as the game crept into second half injury time, the six-time county champions found themselves a point down, but a late free from Shane Hughes was enough to force extra-time.

It was Bearna who had the better of the opening exchanges as three quick-fire points from Brian Conneely, Robbie Curran and Paddy Kennedy gave them a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after six minutes. Pat Fallon’s men seemed to settle into the game faster than their counterparts as they won a series of important breaks around the middle of the field on their way to building their lead.

While it took Killererin a little longer to adjust to the pace of the game, it wasn’t long until they had their own period of dominance. Scores from James Hughes and Michéal Boyle got their side level before Gearóid Smyth put Killererin in the lead once again, 0-4 to 0-3.

The game went scoreless for the next ten minutes as heavy rain made the conditions difficult. Both sides then traded scores with points from Tom Curran and Stephen Delaney separated by Michéal Boyle’s second point of the afternoon. In the absence of Padraig and Nicky Joyce, Boyle was Killererin’s main scoring threat from full-forward. Often the only Killererin attacker inside the opposition 45m line, Boyle was using his pace to exploit the space left by his other forwards.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.