Opening night win in Div 1 Football League
February 27, 2026
Killavullen and Ballyhooly served up a very entertaining game of football earlier tonight under the magnificent lights and brilliant surface on the main field in Ballyhooly, that is a credit to all involved in that club. It was a typical start of the season affair, both clubs not lacking in endeavour, not always familiar with the new rules of the game, loads of coughing up possessions all too easily but Killavullen came away with the win.
We got the opening score of the game from Padraig Looney from a free in the opening minute, and the same player tacked on another point, for us, from open play, in the 3rd minute. Mikey O Connor scored a fine point for us in the 4th minute, and generally, we were good value for that lead, having had the lions share of possession, and minding the ball well. That lead was wiped out in the 7th minute of the game, when we lost the ball in a tackle coming out of our defence, and got turned over all too easily to allow Ballyhooly score, right down the middle of our defence. Harsh on us, but we found ourselves behind in the 8th minute when Ballyhooly tacked on a point from open play. Owen Magner scored for us, in the 11th minute of the half to bring parity to the game, and we went ahead again, when Padraig scored a free for us, in the 16th minute of the half. Bizarrely enough, that was the final score of this period of play, and whilst both teams had opportunities, none were taken.
Ballyhooly got the opening score of the second period in the 1st minute, almost immediately from the throw in, but one of the best points of the night, was scored by Sean Palmer for us in reply in the 2nd minute, from distance, after a neat exchanges of passes found Sean who cut in from the wing, and slotted over. Paudie Looney scored another point for us, from a close in free in the seventh minute but Ballyhooly replied from a free, and then from open play, to draw level in the 12th minute. The turning and pivotal point in the game occurred when Colm Looney was lurking in close on goals and pounced quickly when the Ballyhooly net minder spilled a high ball. Credit to Colm for following in the ball though. Kian Lane scored a lovely point from an acute angle, and we introduced Conor Griffin and Colm Hayes for Cian O Connor, and Colm Looney respectively.
We minded the ball well in the 10 minutes that remained in the game and drew Ballyhooly around the field. Paudie kicked over another close in free, and Ballyhooly brought the curtains down on the scoring in the 28th minute with a converted free. The final score was 1-09 to 1-05.
Whilst great to get a win, Killavullen know that they will have to improve significantly in future games, but there is a long campaign ahead, and this was only a good start, whilst acknowledging it was the opening game of the year. Cutting down on the turnovers will be the main aim, for the next game, in a fortnight’s time, against Clyda Rovers.
The team and scorers were.
- Darragh O Connor
- Pa Angland
- Kevin Fox
- Fionn Magner
- Tomas Fennell
- Cian O Connor
- Sean Palmer (0-01)
- Mikey O Connor (0-01)
- Colm O Mahony
- Owen Magner (0-01)
- Padraig Looney 0-05, 0-04F)
- Jamie Magner
- Colm Looney (1-00)
- Kian Lane (0-01)
- Eddie Cotter
Substitutes
- Conor Griffin for Cian O Connor
- Colm Hayes for Colm Looney