Killavullen advance to the Junior A Football Championship Final
October 09, 2023
Killavullen advanced to their first Junior A Football Championship Final since the year 2000, with a dominant second half performance that saw off Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels in a Sun soaked Ballyclough yesterday, even though, we are well into October.
A sluggish opening half saw the first score of the game come from Eoin Birchill, who was very influential on that day. Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels equalised from a superb strike from a 45 Metre shot, from Colin O Brien, that sailed with air to spare over our cross bar. Eoin pushed us ahead again in the 12th minute from a free, and Liam Cronin pushed us further ahead, from a close in free, after Eoin was fouled, and sensibly, momentarily passed over the free taking duties. Despite dominating the play for a good portion of the game, we were rocked in the 20th minute when our opponents took the lead with a well taken goal, fielded above our full back, and the forward turned expertly, and hit a low shot into the corner of the net, giving our goalkeeper James no chance.
We responded well though, and Padraig Looney hit a long-range point from distance, that the referee awarded after some hesitation from the umpires. The referee to his credit was up with the play all through the game, and gave a very accomplished display of officialdom. Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels took the lead again in the 25th minute and pressed further ahead in the 27th when Colin, in their ranks scored a close in free. We got the margin back down to one point with a converted free from Eoin, in the 28th minute, and then reached parity in the 31st minute from another free, converted by Eoin again.
At the interval, the U7 players from both clubs played a mini game, in front of the sizeable crowd which was great to see, and well organised on the day, with no delays to the main game.
On the resumption, Killavullen came much more into the game in the middle third, with good play from Liam Fox and Ronan Barry, driving us forward. We took the lead, a lead that we subsequently never requited with a fisted point over the bar from Liam Cronin and added an Eoin Birchill free, after Jamie was fouled in the 8th minute. Eddie Cotter worked his way well in along the goal line, and again sensibly fisted the ball over the bar to push out our lead to 3 points. That lead was added to with a fine point from Liam, when the ball was worked up the field from our defenders and we created an overlap situation. A goal was on, but a point was taken, and that ratcheted up the intensity. Killavullen has a strong bench, and Kian Lane was introduced for Padraig Looney. Eoin added another free in the 19th minute, and Patrick O Grady who went through a show of ball, over the hour fisted another point over the bar, from a tight angle.
0-12 to 1-03 in the 20th minute was the score at this juncture, and we introduced Eoin Buckley and Seamus O Mahony for Jamie Magner and Eddie Cotter. Billy Norris scored a lovely point for us that was a fitting reward to this fine player, whose movement all day long, was focused on maximising space for others. Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels scored two fine points, from distance in the 24th and 25th minutes, but Eoin immediately replied to these from open play with a point back for us. The points won the match for match for us, but Liam Fox, scored a great goal to seal the win. Our opponents drifted off Liam who advanced from his midfield berth, and Liam kept advancing, and kept advancing, and then hit a great derive of a low shot to beat the goalkeeper from 20 metres out.
Rory O Regan was introduced for Billy Norris, and we got the final score of the game, from another Eoin Birchill free. After the sluggish start, the Killavullen management team will have been pleased with their defensive set up, that were tough in the tackles all evening, limited the scores of the opposition. Great as well to see Sean Bartley back starting on the team, after enduring a torrid few months with niggly injuries.
The Final will be against Charleville, formidable experienced opponents and likely to be on the weekend of the 21st or 22nd of this month. With this been Killavullen’s first Junior A final, since 2000, this achievement will bring a bit of excitement around the village, which is very welcome, and must be embraced.
Well done all.
Final Score – Killavullen 1-15 to 1-05 for Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels
The team was
- James Angland
- Cian O Connor
- Fionn Magner
- Sean Bartley
- Patrick Angland
- Liam Cronin(0-03, 0-01F)
- Paul O Sullivan
- Liam Fox (1-00)
- Ronan Barry
- Patrick O Grady (0-01)
- Eoin Birchill (0-08, 00-5F)
- Jamie Magner
- Eddie Cotter (0-01)
- Billy Norris (0-01)
- Padraig Looney (0-01)
Substitutes
- Kian Lane for Padraig Looney
- Eoin Buckley for Jamie Magner
- Seamus O Mahony for Eddie Cotter
- Rory O Regan for Billy Norris
