Micheál Breathnach survive late drama to claim B crown

Micheál Breathnach 0-13

Kilkerrin-Clonberne-Killererin 2-5

Pádraic Ó Ciardha at The Prairie

A last-gasp save from Micheál Breathnach goalkeeper Evan Ó Márta bailed out his side and saw them crowned U19 B county football champions last Saturday.

While the Connemara side had a number of fine performers over the course of the final, few contributions were as vital and as obvious as Ó Márta’s as he stopped Kilkerrin-Clonberne-Killererin from snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

The potential comeback looked highly unlikely as late as four minutes into added-time. By that stage, KCK had already been reduced to 13 players and were five points down.

Full-forward Seán Donohue gave them hope when he converted a penalty in the 65th minute and he then came within inches of sealing an improbable win. With KCK having won possession from the kickout, David Dunleavy and Cathal Fallon combined to create the chance for Donohue but ‘keeper Evan Ó Márta was out in a flash and deflected the ball wide, the last act before the final whistle blew.

Had KCK managed to claim victory, it would have been very much against the run of play. While they dominated possession for much of the first half, KCK failed to turn that into scores and Micheál Breathnach were much the better side after the break.

The impressive Maidhc Mac Gearailt kicked five of his side’s six points in that second half but the performances of Tomás Ó Curraoin, Séamus de Búrca and Ruraí Ó Curraoin around the middle of the field were instrumental in getting their side on top.

While KCK showed their quality in spells, their shooting let them down and meant they didn’t make the most of their possession. They managed just 1-3 from 13 shots in the first half and didn’t fare much better in the second half, kicking 1-2 from ten efforts – a 30% conversion rate overall.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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