O Mahony bags a hat trick as championship ambitions still intact
August 16, 2025
Killavullen had a comprehensive win over Araglen last night in Ballygiblin to resurrect their Junior A hurling ambitions, ultimately winning by 15 points, but the score line is a tad deceiving and unjust to the spirited effort that Araglen maintained to the end.
Araglen opening the scoring with a pointed free, before Owen Magner got our first point on the night, from his half forward berth. Araglen deployed a a two man full forward line, and brought a player out the field, not quite a sweeper, but more like a third midfielder and left Fionn Magner isolated, and this player scored a lovely point, to give us the lead. Araglen again scored from a free, only for Jamie Magner to score two points from dead ball situations in the 7th and 8th minutes, the second of those was when Darragh O Grady was in on goals, and got hauled down, for a free. On a perfectly still Autumn night, in glorious sun shine, and the Ballygiblin pitch, meticulously mowed by their pitch automower, any indiscretion was punished by two ace free takers on both teams. Araglen got another point from a difficult angle from a free, to cut the deficit. Mikey O Connor rifled over a fine point from distance, and Owen added to his tally with another. We took a firm grip on the proceedings, when Colm O Mahony grabbed a high delivery from the air, and shrugged off his man, to billow the net in the 16th minute of the game.
Araglen, plucky as always though replied, with a converted free, and then a sublime sideline cut to reduce the arrears to 4 points. Jamie replied with another free, before his opposite number and free taker, for Araglen, Jack Kearney did likewise, by the 23rd minute. Mikey O Connor scored a great point, after gathering in space, a fine intelligent clearance from Niall Feaheny, making his first start in Junior A hurling, after been introduced to telling effect in the defeat in round 1. Darragh O Grady, working hard, got a modicum of space to fire over a point, and then in a precursor as to what was to follow, Colm caught a fine centre and added to our tally. Araglen replied with another free, before a long delivery from a free, did not quite reach the intended destination, in going over the bar, and Colm, loitering with intent, in and around the square flicked the ball to the net, to give us a lead at the interval, 2-10 to 0-07.
Brian Cotter, and he just back, during the week, from America and a J1 experience was sprung from the bench, for the second half, and when introduced, simply replied “awesome” – too long in America , Brian. Colm got our second half up and running with another point, before Darragh O Grady added another point. We hit a worrying flat spot, and Araglen took advantage to reel off four points in a row, two from open play, and two, interspersed between those, from dead ball situations, the later scored from a considerable distance out, by the Araglen net minder. Kevin Fox was introduced for Padraig Looney, who had played very well, in midfield for us, on an energy sapping night, in warm sunshine. Owen Magner added a nice point, a clever point, when he was first to react to a breaking ball, in the 15th minute of the second period, to bring our tally to 2-13. Araglen scored another free, but Owen added to his tally with another point, after good work from Patrick O Grady found him, in space.
Araglen got a point back, before Killavullen went on a scoring spree, no doubt conscious of scoring differences in an ultra-tight group. Colm O Mahony scored a point, from a free, and then was unlucky to see a quick ground shot skid just outside the post. Jamie added another fine free, and then Colm, who was a menace to the Araglen back line, all evening, and got inside them again, and held up by the full back, and unable to free his hurley, for the strike, he resorted to kick the ball, and it just went over the bar. Seamus O Mahony came on, for Patrick O Grady, who had given his all. Mikey O Connor added a fine long-range brace of points, from similar situations, on, on the touchline, in front of the crowd, and their cheers, told you, that the ball, was correct in its trajectory, long before the umpires had raised the flags. Colm scored another point, before Araglen got a goal back, when their substitute Shay Russell, hit a strong shot cleverly down into the rock-hard ground, and it spun past Charlie in our goals in a flash, despite his valiant efforts. We replied instantly though, which was commendable, as Colm again, was through on goals, he was held back, but when the goalkeeper picked up the resulting loose ball, he was robbed in possession by Darragh O Grady, and isolated, Colm had a easy task to finish the ball to the net.
Liam Cronin, who had a fine game all night, went on a run up the field, from his customary centre back berth, and drew an opposing player, and then off loaded to Jamie to score a fine point. Mikey O Conner had the last point for us, from distance again, to bring our tally to 3-22 as against 1-13 for Araglen.
The referee on the night, was the affable Justin Murphy, who engaged with the players, and was firm and decisive with his decision making, he had a fine game. The other pool game between near neighbours Clyda Rovers and Kilshannig, ended in a draw, after Kilshannig fought back from a six-point deficit at the interval. What that means, is that Killavullen need to beat Clyda Rovers in the final pool game, to advance out of the group.
That game is on, on the 6th of September – next week, it is football against Deel Rovers.
The team and those who scored were;
Charlie Cremin
Fionn Magner (0-01)
Eoin Birchill
Niall Feaheny
Ronan Barry
Liam Cronin
Eddie Cotter
Padraig Looney
Patrick O Grady
Owen Magner (0-04)
Mikey O Conner (0-05)
Eoghan Buckley
Colm O Mahony (3-05, 0-01F)
Jamie Magner (0-05, 0-04F)
Darragh O Grady (0-02)
Substitutes
Brian Cotter for Ronan Barry
Kevin Fox for Padraig Looney
Seamus O Mahony for Patrick O Grady