Clyda Rovers do the double over Killavullen in the U21 grade
October 20, 2025
Yesterday, in Mallow, Clyda Rovers did the double over Killavullen in the U21 grade, winning the hurling equivalent by four points, 2-15 to 0-17 whilst back in February, the same club won the Football equivalent 3-16 to 1-14 before strolling to the U21 B Football championship.
It was a very young Killavullen team, and decimated by injuries to key players, Patrick O Grady, and Joe Cagney, and significant others such as Jamie Magner, Colm O Mahony and Niall Feaheny all carrying significant injuries, from the junior hurling and football campaigns into this game.
Clyda opened the scoring through Ben Nyhan who was very influential on the day and got the second from Sean O Sullivan. We thought that we had a point from a free, from Jamie Magner, but the two young umpires from Clyda thought otherwise. Thereafter, we got a Killavullen person to stand at the post as well, for balance. Jamie did score for us in the 4th minute, and it was chalked down, only for Clyda to add to their tally with a converted free. Colm Hannon got a point back for us, in the 8th minute, but Clyda, playing with the aid of the wind, added to their lead, with the next three points, to be leading by 0-06 to 0-02 by the 12th minute. In the 8th minute of the game, the selectors withdrew Niall Feaheny, who bravely tried to play on despite carrying a shoulder injury, and he was replaced by Oisin Larkin. Jamie scored another free in reply, as did Colm Hannon, after he was fouled himself. Clyda replied with two further scores, before Jamie registered our fifth point in the 18th minute, followed by a point from his brother Owen in the next minute.
We were very young in the back line, and jittery on the ball, and we conceded a soft goal to Clyda in the 19th minute, when we should have cleared our lines, and compounded the gravity of the situation, that we faced with another concession of a goal, in the 20th minute. Clyda tacked on another point to bring that gap out to 9 points, but James scored a free, whilst Clyda scored a 65 metre shot. Charlie in our goals brought off a good save to keep ius in the game, and Jamie got another converted free just before the break, to leave the half time score at 2-10 to 0-08.
Niall Fitzgerald and Chris O Callaghan were introduced for the second half, replacing Liam Martin and an injured Darragh O Connor. The change of ends brought a good response from Killavullen, with better play in our backline, where Conor Barrett was to go on to have a stellar second half. Aided by Tomas Fennell and Barry Cotter, it meant that Clyda had now to fight a lot stronger to gain possession. In the half back line, Eoin O Hanlon had a fine game, as did Chris O Callaghan. We changed the centre back on numerous occasions, by necessity but whether it was Jamie, Colm Or Barry in that position, we got motivation from their endeavors. Jamie led the fightback with four free’s in succession by the 10th minute, leaving a much more manageable four points between the teams. Oisin Larkin got on good ball in the full forward line, and on another day, would have got a score or two. Clyda replied with a converted free, before Colm O Mahony scored an inspirational score, from distance, from out of the wing, and from a position where he was tightly marked. Rallying though it invariably was, we had six wides in this opening 18th minute period, and that was to be our nemesis. Clyda replied with a point from open play, but Jamie from a free, then from open play, and then Owen Magner from a free had the deficit at two points with five minutes remaining on the clock.
Clyda responded strongly though, and Ben Nyhan scored two inspiring scores from open play, from distance for them to settle the issue. Clyda Added another point, and we concluded the game with a point from Owen Magner to leave the final score at 2-15 to 0-17.
Whilst it was disappointing, as it always is to lose, their spirited second half performance from the Killavullen players was heartening to see, and credit to the management team of Niall, Barry and John of getting players back into the fold, that have not been involved for a while.
The team and scorers were;
- Charlie Cremin
- Darragh O Connor
- Tomas Fennell
- Barry Cotter
- Eoin O Hanlon
- Colm O Mahony (0-01)
- Conor Barrett
- Niall Feaheny
- Kian Lane
- Colm Hannon (0-02, 0-01F)
- Owen Magner (0-03, 0-01F)
- Liam Martin
- Kian Murphy
- Jamie Magner (0-11, 0-08F)
- Ian O Mahony
Substitutes;
- Oisin Larkin for Niall Feaheny (injured)
- Chris O Callaghan for Darragh O Connor (injured)
- Niall Fitzgerald for Liam Martin
- Jack Stafford for Ian O Mahony