Slick Argideen Rangers put Killavullen to the sword
March 23, 2026
On Sunday last, Argideen Rangers made the near 80 kilometres drive from Timoleague to Killavullen a very worthwhile one for them, when their slick interplay and movement off the ball befuddled Killavullen, and they ran out ready winners.
This was the first game in Killavullen’s main pitch for 2026, and the ground was a tad dead, and the grass longer than ideal, for hurling but it was done so, in the idea of preserving the surface as best as possible. Colm O Mahony got the opening score of the game for us, in the first minute but Argideen responded quickly and decisively with a levelling point, in the 3rd minute, a leading point from a free in the 5th minute and a further score in the 11th minute. What was apparent early in the game, was that the half back line of Argideen were very composed on the ball, and that the team worked very hard for each other. There was going to be no soft scores and so it proved. We eked a point back from Padraig Looney but Argideen stretched out the lead to two points again, in the 13th minute. Jamie scored a long range free for us, in the 15th minute but Argideen then took a decisive step-forward in the game, with four quality, unanswered points from open play, before the 20th minute. We were in trouble in multiple areas of the field, and our forwards could not get on clean ball and impact the scoring. We lost Fionn Magner to a muscle injury, and he was replaced by the returning Eoin Birchill. Jamie reeled off two points in a row, from dead ball situations, the latter after particularly good work in a crowded situation from Kian Lane, who pirouetted out of trouble, and drew the free. Again, our West Cork opponents, scored lovely points, from open play, three of them in a row to lead by 0-11 to 0-05 after twenty-five minutes. The goalkeeper from Argideen pulled out a full-length diving save, from a great shot after a fantastic run from Eddie Cotter, that deserved a goal; with a series of deft hand passes, Killavullen carved out a great goal chance, but for the intervention of the keeper. The rebound fell to Finn Killion, and his initial effort was bravely blocked by the resolute Argideen defending but Finn, stayed committed to the cause, and sent a screamer of a shot just over the bar, with real venom. Just before the interval, Argideen stretched out the lead to six points, with a further point, from open play.
Now playing into the village end, and closer to the fine crowd assembled to watch the game, in lovely sunshine, Killavullen hoped for a quick response, but it was Argideen Rangers who scored the opening score of the half, with another well-crafted point. Owen Magner shortened his hurley grip and got his shot away quickly to score for us, in the 2nd minute of the half. Again, our opponents scored from open play before Jamie replied with another converted free. Argideen scored two more points, from open play, and we got one back from Jamie. We lost Kian Lane to an injury, and he was replaced by Darragh O Grady, who made a telling contribution, when he was introduced. Padraig Looney scored a good point for us, after good play from Brian Cotter isolated him. Owen tacked on another point, and we had the lead down to two points, when Mikey O Connor finished expertly to the corner of the net, through a bevy of legs and bodies in a crowed goal. This was in the 14th minute of the half, and for the next seven minutes, the game ebbed and flowed, from one end to the other, but we spurned some chances to add to our points tally, with wides, from shots taken under pressure. The response from the opponents wearing the Maroon jerseys was ultimately decisive– they scored another point, from open play, and then rather fortunately, a long delivery from a free, taken by their goalkeeper, evaded everyone, in our goal mouth area included Charlie in our goals, to register a green flag for them. Jamie responded in a gusty manner with another point from open play, but Argideen cemented their fine reputation with four unanswered points, the first from a dead ball situation, in the 27th minute of the half, and the later in the 29th minute, with two of those majestic strikes from out in the wings with scud missile type accuracy.
Killavullen stayed in the game with a goal, again scored by Mikey O Connor in the 2nd minute of added time, and in the final act of the game, Eddie Cotter finished sharply to the net, from a Liam Cronin delivery, who had dropped a long range free into the danger area in front of their goals.
Too little, too late to affect the outcome of the game, and on this performance, Argideen Rangers must be strong contenders for league honours, though it is early doors yet, and Killavullen had a good deal of work to do, to fine tune their shooting.
The team and scores were:
1.Charlie Cremin
2.Fionn Magner
3.Brian Cotter
4. Kian Lane
5.Kevin Fox
6.Liam Cronin
7.Eddie Cotter (1-00)
8.Niall Feaheny
9.Sean Palmer
10.Mikey O Connor (2-0)
11. Jamie Magner (0-6) (0-4F)
12.Paudie Looney (0-0)
13.Owen Magner (0-2)
14.Colm O Mahony
15.Finn Killion (0-1)
Substitutes
- Eoin Birchill for Fionn Magner
- Daragh O Grady for Kian Lane
- Conor Griffin for Kevin Fox