Killimordaly bounce back from slow start to claim inter crown

Date Published: 07-Nov-2012

Killimordaly 0-17

Ahascragh/Fohenagh 0-14

STEPHEN GLENNON AT KENNY PARK

Late points from Paul Madden (2) and Eanna Ryan secured Killimordaly their fourth county intermediate title – and, more importantly, their senior status for 2013 – at the expense of a plucky Ahascragh/Fohenagh in this entertaining decider at Kenny Park, Athenry on Sunday.

Having lost out on the Mick Sylver Cup to a late Moycullen goal last year, this victory offered a measure of atonement for Tom Monaghan’s charges, although, that said, there were more than a couple of moments throughout the 60 minutes when they must surely have thought ‘not again’.

Ahascragh/Fohenagh – led by the outstanding Cathal and Ciaran Mannion – invested as much in this game as Killimordaly and, indeed, on several occasions, the amalgamated outfit asked serious questions of Killimordaly.

In the end, though, it was Killimordaly’s greater experience that won the day – their ability to fire off those three late points through Madden and Ryan under inordinate pressure ultimately proving the difference.

Indeed, a lesser team may have buckled as early as the first quarter when Ahascragh/Fohenagh came out all guns blazing, playing the type of hurling befitting one of the top senior teams rather than a side playing in their first intermediate decider. It was simply mesmerising.

Kevin Gavin hit the first score in the opening 30 seconds – this, believe it or not, was after full-forward Ciaran Mannion spurned a half-goal chance in their first foray – before the aforementioned Mannion fired over another on the minute mark.

At any rate, as the clock ticked onto 1 minute 40 seconds, Cathal Mannion collected a foot pass from his brother Ciaran and struck over Ahascragh/Fohenagh’s third point to give them a healthy lead with less than two minutes played. It was an incredible opening.

Killimordaly didn’t panic, though, and by the end of the first quarter they had gained parity at 0-5 apiece, with man-of-the-match Paul Madden, the versatile Niall Earls – play and free – midfielder Tomas Madden and Ryan breathing life into Killimordaly’s performance.

The victors were not content to stop there either, and in the second quarter they outscored the county final debutantes by six points to two. Corner forward Niall Earls was very much to the fore, tallying two superb points from play along with a free, while Ryan, Clement Earls and Paul Madden also contributed in this impressive spell.

Consequently, by the half-time mark, Killimordaly – forcing a good tempo and with matters well in hand – led 0-11 to 0-7. It was a commanding lead after a solid first half display.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.