Whelan and Bermingham to the fore as Kilnadeema-Leitrim falter

Kinvara 1-16

Kilnadeema-Leitrim 1-14

Pádraic Ó Ciardha in Loughrea

KILNADEEMA-Leitirm missed out on a chance to secure their senior hurling status for next year as they came out the wrong side of a surprise two-point defeat to Kinvara in Loughrea last Sunday.

The result now means that Kinvara’s fate is in their own hands and a win against Beagh this Saturday will see them avoid dropping straight back down to Intermediate.

While there wasn’t much between the sides, Kinvara did just enough to take the spoils. Conor Whelan was well-marshalled in the first half but his influence grew in the second 30 minutes and he got scores at crucial stages.

It was Whelan who opened the scoring but both teams struggled in the opening quarter. Kilnadeema-Leitrim were the better side in the early exchanges but they hit five wides in the first 13 minutes.

The teams were level, 0-2 apiece, in the 15th minute when the contest sparked into life. A superb block by Keelan O’Rourke allowed Kinvara to go on the attack and while James O’Hara’s shot from distance dropped short, Tom O’Donovan was on hand to gather before rounding the ‘keeper and striking to the back of the net.

Kilnadeema-Leitrim hit back just after the water break with a goal of their own. Liam Kelly saw his free come back off the upright but Jack Kenny was the only man alert to the rebound and was on it in an instant to draw the sides level again, 1-2 each.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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