Timely goals help Oranmore fend off Kinvara in B decider

Oranmore-Maree 2-7

Kinvara 0-7

A late goal in each half was enough for Oranmore-Maree to come out on top in this U-21 B county final last Saturday. In a contest that failed to really ignite, the goals proved crucial in a game where both sides’ shooting was out of sorts.

There was a total of 24 wides throughout the game with Oranmore-Maree proving far more wasteful, contributing 17 of the misses. To be fair to both sides, conditions were not easy with a swirling wind and heavy showers reminding everyone in attendance that winter is well and truly here.

Heading into first half injury time, the scoreboard read 0-3 to 0-2 in favour of the eventual victors, with only one score coming from play. Sean McInerney lit up the end of the half with a goal for Oranmore-Maree, giving them a 1-3 to 0-3 lead at half time. Things picked up in the after the break as Kinvara fought their way back into the game. Just a point separated the sides heading into the final 10 minutes when Oranmore-Maree were the recipients of a freak goal.

Eanna Burke lofted a great sideline cut in the direction of the goal and while Sean McInerney did his best to get to the front of the mass of bodies on the edge of the square, the sliotar appeared to beat everyone, including Darragh Kilkelly between the posts and finished in the net. It was a fatal blow for Kinvara who couldn’t summon another fightback and Oranmore-Maree added on another three points before the end of the game.

Oranmore-Maree had the better start to the game when centre-forward Eanna Burke opened the scoring after Marcus Quinn had been fouled after pulling off a great catch in the air. Just before Burke got his side’s second score of the day, Kinvara were given a taste of how difficult things would be for their forwards during the match. Conor Whelan created a good goalscoring chance for himself and just as he looked sure to raise the green flag, Oranmore-Maree’s Niall Geoghegan pulled off a superb hook to snuff out the opportunity.

A free from Whelan got Kinvara off the mark and they were level after ten minutes when Ollie Nolan did well to win back possession before tapping over from 20m out. Another Eanna Burke free, after good work by Sean McInerney gave Oranmore-Maree the lead again midway through the half but it was at this stage that they began to rack up the wides. They hit five wides in six minutes, failing to turn their dominance of possession into a significant lead on the scoreboard.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.