U21’s advance to the semi-final from the vast cauldron of the 4G
November 03, 2019
Killavullen advanced to the county semi-final after defeating Kinsale in a comprehensive manner in the Quarter final of the U21 B Grade Cork County championship, earlier tonight in the 4G pitch adjacent to Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Impressive facility but it lacks atmosphere in its surreal and alien environment and tonight’s game did nothing to change that view.
Mikey O Connor opening the scoring in the 3rd minute from a 65 Metre free, after an earlier effort from Eddie Cotter was adjudged to be wide, though it looked good from the stand. Kinsale equalised in the 4th middle before Jack O Connor pushed us ahead and Mikey then converted another free, after Darragh O Grady had been fouled. Paul O Sullivan scored a lovely point from right out on the wing, in the 10th minute after Eoin Buckley had cleared his lines impressively. Kinsale got their second point in the 11th minute only to see Eddie Cotter send over a long range point, after been found in space cleverly by Liam Fox. A Kinsale attack was broken up by Padraig Looney and his booming clearance was gathered by his brother Colm at the edge of the opposite square, in the 15th minute and despite the ball bouncing very high on the surface, Colm controlled it and drilled it over the bar.
Killavullen were on top in most areas of the field now, and when an attempt at another long range point by Eddie Cotter was partially blocked down, the ball ran through on the hard surface, and Colm pounced on it, and sent a shot along the ground into the net. Mikey scored another free in the 20th minute, and another in the next minute to bring our tally to 1-08 as against 0-02 for Kinsale at this juncture.
Kinsale lost a player to straight red card before Colm Looney then fired an audacious point over the bar in the 21st minute. The game was halted in the 23rd minute when Darragh O Grady sustained an injury that led to him having to be been withdrawn from the field. Kinsale scored a free back before Colm finished off his fine display in the opening half with another good point in the 3rd minute of injury time to leave us leading at the break 1-11 to 0-03.
On the resumption, Kinsale rallied and came more into the game. Our Jack O Connor got injured and was replaced by Cian O Connor. Kinsale began a mini revival with a converted 65 metre free in the 5th minute followed by a point from play in the 6th minute, another converted 65 in the 12th minute and a score from a free in the 14th minute to bring their tally to 0-08. Killavullen were just being too complacent in and around midfield at this stage and the lack of urgency allowed Kinsale come more into the game. After rejigging our forward line momentarily, our management team would have been pleased with the immediate response. Eddie Cotter finished to the net, after bring down a high delivery to himself, and turning sharply firing the ball past their keeper. Mikey O Connor scored from distance but Kinsale got that point back in the 18th minute. Colm rounded his man again in the 21st minute and finished to the net for his second goal of the night to open up an even more impressive margin. Ben Hunter was introduced for Sean Woulfe and immediately, Ben was involved in sending a ball, back out of the corner, for Eddie Cotter to score another point. Mikey scored another free in the 24th minute and Padraig Looney sent a ball high up into the night time sky, and over the bar in the 33rd minute. Kinsale got another point from a young sub that they introduced before the final score of the game was a very impressive goal from Padraig, who simply took off from midfield, used his considerable pace to wrestle free of his pursuers, and finished with aplomb to the net to bring our tally to 4-14 as against 0-10 for Kinsale.
The management team would have been happy with our defensive display, where we were more often than not, out in front of our opponents with Eoin Buckley, Seamus Fox and Fionn Magner looking very commanding, but the other 3 backs and goal keeper did nothing wrong either. Up front we had a lot of possession, and cannot score each and every time, so it would be naïve to be overtly critical, but tougher battles lie ahead.
Killavullen are scheduled to play Whitechurch in the semi-final next weekend, at a time and date, yet to be decided.
- Padraig Cronin
- Patrick Angland
- Fionn Magner
- Michael Fresh
- Seamus Fox
- Eoin Buckley
- Paul O Sullivan (0-01)
- Padraig Looney (1-01)
- Mikey O Connor (0-06 , 0-5F)
- Darragh O Grady
- Liam Fox
- Eddie Cotter (1-02)
- Sean Woulfe
- Colm Looney (2-02)
- Jack O Connor (0-01)
Substitutes
- Mark Nagle for Darragh O Grady - injured
- Cian O Connor for Jack O Connor – injured
- Ben Hunter for Sean Woulfe