Gritty Performance Yields Deserved Draw
July 11, 2019
With both sides spurning chances late in the game to snatch victory the old adage of a draw being a fair result was possibly most appropriate.
Killavullen Under 14s met Buttevant in the second round of the hurling championship short six of their regular team due to holidays and injury, so there was no doubting the magnitude of the challenge.
In a lively opening that set the tone for the hour Buttevant drew first blood with the opening point. From there our backs got to grips with the Buttevant forwards with Barry Cotter and Tomas Fennell particularly effective in the half back line, supported by solid play behind them from James Lyons and Niall Feaheny.
Eoin O'Hanlon and Fearghal Hogan had a mighty battle all through with their opposite numbers in centre field and ensured a good supply of ball to the forwards, where Stephen Rea and Eoghan Forde looked dangerous up front.
Colm Hannon scored a goal and two points followed by Buttevant's second point, before Shayne Cahill struck for a goal. Buttevant responded with a goal and a point to leave Killavullen leading at half-time 2-2 to 1-3.
A Colm Hannon free increased the margin to a goal shortly after the break, before a goal and a point for Buttevant meant they moved ahead. Shayne Cahill gave us a tremendous boost with a second goal but still we could not pull away.
Darragh O'Connor was having a fine game between the posts with a series of great catches and clearances. Dan Cronin and Jamie Lowe worked tirelessly with the rest of the defence while up front Evan Sheahan kept a lot of ball moving through the half forward line.
A converted free by Colm Hannon was answered with two points from Buttevant. Dara O'Neill and Colm Hayes kept up the pressure inside and a long range free by Colm Hannon found a path to the net to give us a three points lead entering the home straight.
Buttevant replied almost immediately however by raising a green flag of their own to restore parity and it looked as if the game might slip from our grasp when they scored another point. Colm Hannon however held his nerve to convert a final free.
Late drama saw Killavullen almost forcing a goal in a goalmouth scramble but we were glad to settle for a draw at the final whistle, 4-5 to 3-8
Darragh O'Connor, Jamie Lowe, James Lyons, Niall Feaheny, Dan Cronin, Barry Cotter, Tomas Fennell, Eoin O'Hanlon, Fearghal Hogan, Stephen Rea, Evan Sheahan, Colm Hannon (c) 2-5, Eoghan Forde, Shayne Cahill 2-0, Dara O'Neill. Sub used Colm Hayes.