Moycullen face the toughest of tests

Date Published: 20-Jun-2008

THE Claregalway Hotel Senior Football Championship gathers pace this weekend with reigning
county champions Killererin hoping to account for plucky Moycullen at the secondtime of asking in this
first round replay.

Led by Padraic Joyce, Killererin bounced back twice from the jaws of defeat to force extra-time and subsequently a replay against the All-Ireland intermediate club champions. One has to feel that Killererin will now finish the job off at Tuam Stadium on Saturday evening, particularly as Moycullen have been depleted by injuries and players travelling to the States for the Summer.

Moycullen came so close to condemning county champions Killererin to the qualifiers in their first round clash, but twice the kingpins bounced back to eventually force this intriguing replay. The failure
of Moycullen to close out that tie could cost them dearly.

Manager Sean O’Dea has since had to contend with four of his panel heading to the States for the Summer, including Kieran O’Connor, Kevin Carr and freetaker Phillip Lydon.

He also has his injury concerns, with Robert Molloy who picked up an ankle injury in the drawn game with Killererin joining Martin Molloy (broken leg) and Pat Lydon (knee) on the treatment table. Tomas Higgins is also exam-tied.

Meanwhile, Killererin can thank the genius that is Padraic Joyce for their second bite at the first round cherry, with the club’s most famous son kicking 10 points (eight from play) in what a superb individual performance.

Add the likes of cousin Nicky Joyce and…