U21 success after composed final display against Clyda
January 01, 1970
Killavullen won their first U21 title since 2006 when they proved too good for Clyda Rovers earlier today in a game that was played in the splendid Buttevant venue.
We opened the scoring with a lovely point in the very first minute from the slinky Darragh O Grady who went out to have a stellar first half. We got the next point from Noah Butler in the 3rd minute but Clyda hit back with a free in the 8th minute. In between, we were denied a good goal scoring chance when Liam Fox was adjudged to have been in the square before the ball and that created controversy in the 10th minute when Clyda finished to the net, in a somewhat similar fashion, but we retaliated in good style when Mickey O Connor scored a point for a free for us in the 12th minute. Clyda extended their lead with another point from play in the 13th minute but again, we did not panic and got two points in return, in the 20th and 22nd minute from the very accurate and influential mid-fielder, Mikey O Connor, both from dead ball situations. Liam Fox scored a nice point for us in the 23rd minute and that was followed by a similar score from Padraig Looney in the 27th minute to open up a two point lead 0-07 to 1-02 . Clyda responded with a converted free but Mikey replied in kind , before the final score of the first half was scored by Eddie Cotter to leave us leading at the interval 0-09 to 1-03.
After the restart we had a number of wides before Mikey scored another free for us in the 5th minute of the second period, but Clyda replied with a free of their own. Jack O Connor then scored a rallying point for us, in the 9th minute and suddenly there seemed to be a renewed impetus in the team with Liam Fox and Eddie Cotter very influential. Patrick Angland., Fionn Magner and Mike Fresh in the full back line, were in a particularly tight mood, and Clyda were finding it hard to gain traction in and around our goal area. Outside them, in the half back line, Seamus Fox, Eoin Buckley and Brian Cotter stifled out numerous Clyda attacks. Liam Fox scored from open play in the 10th minute and the same player earned us a free in the 12th minute that Mikey converted. It was in front of the Killavullen dug out, and Liam blocked down a Clyda clearance, lost his hurley and was still prepared to dive full length without the stick to prevent the clearance. It got better as Liam somehow gathered the loose ball on the ground, and was then fouled and it certainly lifted the spirit in the team. Jack O Connor scored from play in the 13th minute and Eddie Cotter who went through an amount of ball in the second half, scored again for us in the 14th minute to open up a sizeable lead, 0-15 to 1-4.
Paul O Sullivan and Noah harried and blocked and pursued lost causes and we gained inspirational from their antics. Padraig Looney ran himself silly in chasing possession but Clyda are nothing if not resilient and they scored a free and then earned a penalty. The player appeared to be fouled outside the square but cleverly rolled into the square and the shot was dispatched with aplomb to give them renewed hope. That was followed up with another point, and suddenly the margin was down to 3 points, 0-15 to 2-06. Killavullen sprung changes from their bench, and Eoin Buckley was instructional in using some nous to slow the game down, and allow Killavullen to gather their breath. Our goalkeeper was coolness personified, if anything threatened his goal, and cleared his lines well. Jack O Connor scored again for us in the 23rd minute followed by his brother from a placed ball in the 26th and the final score of the game was scored by Jack again in the 27th minute.
In the five plus minutes of stoppage / injury time, Killavullen managed the game well and did not allow Clyda in for a goal, no matter how hard they tried. Afterwards the cup was presented to the Killavullen captain, Eoin Buckley by John Roche, of Clyda and the Avondhu board. Eoin thanked his fellow players, the management team of Dave Brosnan, Tommy Cremin, Barry Murphy and coach, John Hartnett, thanked Buttevant for presenting the pitch in perfect condition, wished well of Clyda and remembered Jerry Roche from Killavullen, brother of John, and father of Ian and Colin in his speech. Eoin also thanked the big, big crowd from Killavullen who were vociferous in their support throughout the year for this team.
Overall, Killavullen would have been well pleased with their overall display, and industry, and their ability to spray the ball about with purpose.
- Padraig Cronin
- Patrick Angland
- Fionn Magner
- Michael Fresh
- Seamus Fox
- Eoin Buckley
- Brian Cotter
- Eddie Cotter (0-02)
- Mikey O Connor (0-07 , 0-6F)
- Paul O Sullivan
- Liam Fox (0-02)
- Noah Butler (0-01)
- Darragh O Grady (0-01)
- Jack O Connor (0-04)
- Padraig Looney (0-01)
Substitutes
- Colm Looney for Darragh O Grady
- Sean Woulfe for Noah Butler
Not used,
- Cian O Connor
- Mikey Looney
- Mark Nagle
- Ben Hunter