Two point scores decisive in win over Kilshannig -Div 1 football
March 29, 2026
In cold but dry conditions in Glantane on Saturday evening last, Killavullen played the 2nd team from the host club, and came away with the victory, in the Avondhu Division 1 football league. The wind was against Killavullen in the opening period, and it was deceptive, blowing straight down the field, towards Mallow, and following the trajectory of the Blackwater River, and away from the community centre. Sean Palmer opening the scoring for us, in the 2nd minute, and we had loads of possession of the ball, and sprayed in around the field with purpose. Eoin Birchill, who was hugely influential on the night got our next score from a free, in the 5th minute, after Colm Hayes was fouled, in close to goals. Kilshannig though, took the lead in the 9th minute of the game, when our full back line got cruelly exposed, with some fast accurate direct football. Indeed, it was obvious, that both full lines were vulnerable to the lively forwards, that they were trying to contain. Eoin got a free back for us, after Eddie Cotter was fouled, but Kilshannig responded with a point of their own, in the next minute. Again, Eoin equalised, but this time from open play, after good work from Mikey O Connor and Brian Cotter isolated him. We got caught for holding on one of their inside forwards, and Kilshannig opted to take the ball outside the arc, brought up their goalkeeper and he duly drilled the ball nonchalantly, over the bar. 1-03 to 0-04 after sixteen minutes in the game, with Killavullen having the more possession, but not reflected in the scoreline. For the next eight minutes or so, both teams had chances, but coughed up possession, and no score accrued. We got caught ball watching, from a simple side line ball, in the 24th minute, when the run, of the first person to receive the ball, Donnacha O Doherty, was not tracked, as he burst from midfield, and he cooly finished past Darragh in our goals, using his soccer prowess, to open up a sizeable lead. It was important that we responded, and the response was commendable, Niall Feaheny scored a good point for us, from distance, but a metre or so inside the arc, and we saw a great effort from Eddie Cotter come off the post, and away to safety. Kilshannig got another free, that they scored, and Eoin scored another free for us, to leave the margin in favour of Kilshannig at the break, 2-04 to 0-06.
The touch tight defender that he is, Conor Griffin was introduced for the second half, but the key was to try to arrest the space in the middle, allowing the Kilshannig midfielders time to pick the perfect pass. We got the opening score of the second period, from Eoin again, from a free and we were only a point in arrears when the same player kicked a magnificent two pointer, from well outside the arc, but aided by the breeze. Ronan Barry was influential in the score, as he pushed up, the field, and it was good to have him, back from injury as well. The comeback was completed, when Colm O Mahony scored for us, in the 5th minute of the half, and now, in full cry, we took the lead, with another point, when the Patrician Academy try-scorer who were victorious over Waterpark College in the Munster rugby O’ Brien Cup in a thrilling final on Tuesday on a wet and windy afternoon in Fethard, scored a point for us, the allrounder was Niall Feaheny. Seamus O Mahony was introduced for Colm Hayes and his was unlucky that he did not make an instance impact, when Mikey O Connor intercepted a Kilshannig kick out, fed Seamus immediately, who turned and beat the first defender but credit the Kilshannig full back who made a goal saving intervention, when Seamus was just about to pull the trigger. Eoin scored another two-point score, with the wind behind him, his shot easily carried over the bar. Seamus Fox was introduced for Owen Magner and in the next passage of play, Jamie Magner scored a brilliant point with a long-range effort from his left foot, great score as Jamie is predominantly a right -footed kicker. Eddie Cotter scored a two-point score, that his overall play deserved, and we stretched out that lead with another two pointer, from Eoin. At the other end, we were grateful for alert goal keeping from Darragh, who managed to get a hand on the ball, as it arrowed towards the top corner, from a Donnacha O Doherty expertly struck free kick. Niall Carroll came on for Sean Palmer whose many runs up and down the field, were telling in the final outcome, and Sean, as well as Brian Cotter made those runs relentlessly throughout the game. On another day, with a better final pass, in the one -two’s that an overlap invariably cause, they will be even more influential. Kilshannig got the final score of the game, in the 53rd minute from a free, and the game petered out. Final score – Killavullen 0-18 to 2-05 for Kilshannig.
The team and scorers were.
- Darragh O Connor
- Joe Cagney
- Kevin Fox
- Tomas Fennell
- Brian Cotter
- Ronan Barry
- Sean Palmer (0-01)
- Mikey O Connor
- Colm O Mahony (0-01)
- Owen Magner
- Eoin Birchill (0-11, 0-04F, 3 x 2Pts)
- Jamie Magner (0-01)
- Colm Hayes
- Niall Feaheny (0-02)
- Eddie Cotter (0-02,1 x 2Pts)
Substitutes
- Conor Griffin for Joe Cagney
- Seamus O Mahoney for Colm Hayes
- Seamus Fox for Owen Magner
- Niall Carroll for Sean Palmer
The referee was Dave Twomey who was constantly explaining his decisions, to the players as they grabble with the new rules of football, that has made the game a much more enjoyable spectacle.