Kilnadeema/Leitrim stay on course for hurling history

Kilnadeema/Leitrim 2-11

Youghal 0-15

THE hopes of Kilnadeema/Leitrim becoming the first Galway club to win the All-Ireland intermediate club hurling title remain intact after they put fancied Cork and Munster champions Youghal to the sword in an intriguing semi-final clash at a stormy Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Saturday.

A term often coined in life and sport is ‘no guts, no glory’ and certainly the Galway champions showed they lacked nothing in courage as they blitzed favourites Youghal in a wind-assisted opening period before they re-acted scenes of the ‘Battle of the Alamo’ to hold onto that lead in the second half.

It’s hard not to be enthusiastic about the way Kilnadeema/Leitrim played. When they needed to turn on the style, they did so with some ease. And when they had to dig deep and get in touch with their innate battling qualities, they were able to do that also. Indeed, their intensity was relentless throughout.

From the Galway team’s perspective, there were so many key moments in this tie – be it the first half goals from Alvin Mitchell and Brian Molloy; Molloy’s free just after the interval to put his side 12 points up; or his placed ball on the stroke of full-time that finally broke Youghal’s unanswered 10-point run.

They were all pivotal but arguably one of the most important plays was defender Mark Kelly’s shuddering challenge on rampaging midfielder Nigel Roche on 35 minutes. Kelly picked up a yellow card for his effort but by opening up his shoulders he sent out a clear signal to Youghal. Thou shalt not pass!

The hefty challenge – which looked borderline really – cost him a yellow card though and when he subsequently picked up a second with 12 minutes remaining, it left 14-man Kilnadeema/Leitrim fighting a battle that was already raging against them. Youghal were beginning to turn the screw.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune