A few changes in personnel but Killavullen win again in Div 1
May 08, 2022
Killavullen, with a fair sprinkling of enforced changes in personnel due to injuries, exams, Leaving Certificates and other commitments, won out against the previously impressive Charleville, earlier today in Charleville, in a game where a referee was necessary from Limerick, due to the shortage in the Avondhu Region. That referee was Mike Sexton, and he was very good, strong, firm, fair and decisive. When a player gave a foul away, what they had done wrong was explained to them, so that there was no uncertainty. Excellent.
We started with a Colm Looney point, before Charleville got one back, but we went ahead, and stayed ahead for the hour when Jamie Magner and Barry Murphy scored quick points, that was followed up by a fine point from way out the field from Padraig Looney, and then another point, from a dead ball situation from Jamie. Our movement, and intelligent runs were creating the space for the forwards and we were playing well, but with the aid of a decent breeze. Charleville got a score from a 65 Metres shot after a Killavullen player touched a ball over the line, and then, our home opponents scored again, to reduce the arrears to two points. Colm Looney, who was brilliant in the opening half, turned his man, and sent a long range point over the bar to open up our lead further.
Danny O Flynn, was orchestrating the Charleville rear guard, and this fine player was given a virtuoso display from his centre back position, and one of his arrow like deliveries saw a Charleville player bearing down on goal. His bullet like shot cannoned off the cross bar and away to safety. We took good head of the warning, and isolated Jamie Magner at the other end of the field, and his shot, high into the top right hand corner was not for saving. Colm, tormenting his man, with pace and power, and no shortage of panache scored another fine long range point, before the same player, bearing down on goal, with Charleville players chasing valiantly, found the left hand corner of the net to open up a commanding lead. Charleville replied with two rapid-fire points, beefore Barry Murphy forced the Charleville player to clear off the line and away for a 65. Jamie converted that opportunity and another before the short whistle, and Charleville had a white flag of their own, to leave the score, 2-10 to 0-06 in our favour at the interval.
Cian O Connor was introduced from the numerically small bench for Pa Cronin, for the second period. Charleville, were playing with the aid of a breeze that had picked up somewhat at the start of this half, kind of threatening rain, that thankfully never materialised. Our opponents scored 3 long range frees in a row to bring them further into the game, before we opened our account from a lovely Jamie Magner point from play, after being found in space, by our junior debutant, Conor Brennan. We were awarded a penalty after Barry Murphy was fouled inside the square, but we did not capitalise of the chance as Jamie’s shot was saved well by the Charleville custodian. We made some amends though, when Paudie Looney and Jamie scored a brace of points from play while Charleville answered one of those back with another converted free. Our back line was being tested more seriously now, but we held firm, with Brian Cotter, excellence personified at the full back berth. Fionn Magner, the elder of the line at 21, and the youthful, but very quick Conor Breenan in the corner very capably assisted him. Outside them, Liam Cronin was very good at centre back, and our strongest line of defence all year did not falter in this instance either with Eddie Cotter and Ronan Barry scarcely putting a foot wrong. Our midfielders are nothing but honest, and Michael Cagney and Liam Fox put in a great effort. Perhaps, the distribution was not all it should be, from this duo, but no lack of toil and endeavour. When a high probing ball from Padraig Looney dropped short of its intended destination, over the bar, Barry Murphy had watched it all the way, and flicked it, in the air, into the net. Class goal, class player.
Padraig scored a great point from the wing, that started in the full back line with a lovely intelligent clearance from Conor, before Charleville got another score back. Cian, strong and brave as always in the tackle was released by Barry Murphy to score a point of distinction before Charleville got the next three points, from play. Jamie got another to being our tally to 3-16 whilst our opponents sent three points over the bar before then, and the end of the game .
3-16 to 0-17 was how the game finished. For an early start to the game, there was a nice crowd in attendance, including one Katie Kehoe from Wexford. Asked for her opinion after the game and keen to make sure, that he would get a good dinner in Castlekevin, Katie said that he was impressed, but said as much, with a wry smile.
Final item, vote for Kristene Hunter in the National Hunt Breeder of the Month for April after Kristene’s heroics with Noble Yeats in the Grand National.
The team was;
- Michael Cronin
- Fionn Magner
- Brian Cotter
- Conor Brennan
- Eddie Cotter
- Liam Cronin
- Ronan Barry
- Michael Cagney
- Liam Fox
- Colm Looney (1-04)
- Eoghan Buckley
- Padraig Looney(0-03)
- Jamie Magner (1-08, 0-04F)
- Barry Murphy (1-01)
- Pa Cronin
Substitutes
- Cian O Connor (0-01) for Pa Cronin