Defence of our Avondhu crown starts well.
August 19, 2024
Killavullen opened up their Junior A Football championship crossing the same white line as they finished the last championship, in Buttevant on Saturday afternoon. Drizzly conditions surrounded Buttevant, but mainly withheld for the duration as we embarked on our 2024 championship conquest.
We opened the game in a sluggish manner hitting a number of wides, however a long, lung bursting solo run by Eddie Cotter fed Seamus O’Mahony who pointed our first score of the game. Liam Cronin followed up with a fine score off his weaker left leg. Great work in the middle third by Liam fox and Eoin Birchall ended up in a bullet Jack O’Connor goal after being played through by Jamie Magner. Patrick O’Grady contributed with his trademark score from the left hand side of the pitch opening up a 1-3 to 0-0 after 25 minutes. Ballyclough opened up their account with a free to which we replied with a Jack O’Connor score from a tight angle. We traded frees at the end of the half to make a score of 1-5 to 0-2 at the break.
The second half commenced with a fine Padraig Looney score followed up again by a cracker from well out wide from Patrick O’Grady. Eoghan Buckley was proving to be a nuisance to the Ballyclough kick out and won ball after ball in the air. On the other flank Paul O’Sullivan was catching Mike Walsh’s arrows of a kick-out and bombing forward which created our next score of the game, feeding Seamus O’Mahony who fisted over. Akin to the hurling 2 weeks ago. In a game where our forwards stole the headlines our backs were touch tight. Brian Cotter marshalled the dangerous Damien Buckley very well, and time after time Cian O’Connor and Fionn Magner would be out in front of their men to win the ball. Padraig again hit the target from range to have the score 1-11 to 0-4 at 45 minutes. Eoin Birchall kicked our next two scores, a beauty from play and a free to strengthen our lead. The two Sean’s, Bartley and Palmer and Colm O’Mahony were introduced to ensure a strong finish to the game, as were Owen Magner and Ultan Cottey who combined brilliantly for Owen to be awarded a free, which Birchall slotted. A Damien Buckley free was matched by a thundering boot by Liam fox from the 45 to have the score 1-15 to 0-5 at the final whistle.
It was an uplifting performance, and a fantastic response from the League final to ignite the defence of our championship. Attentions will now turn to Kilshannig in 4 weeks time, where a win for us would top us the group, and gives us the chance of going into a Semi Final.
Team was
1 Mike Walsh
2 Cian O’Connor
3 Brian Cotter
4 Fionn Magner
5 Paul O’Sullivan
6 Liam Cronin 0-2
7 Eoghan Buckley
8 Liam Fox 0-1
9 Eoin Birchall 0-4 (0-3 F)
10 Jamie Magner
11 Padraig Looney 0-2
12 Patrick O Grady 0-3
13 Seamus O’Mahony 0-2
14 Jack O’Connor 1-1
15 Eddie Cotter
Sean Bartley for Cian O’Connor
Sean Palmer for Seamus O’Mahony
Colm O’Mahony for Jack O’Connor
Owen Magner for Eoghan Buckley
Ultan Cottey for Eddie Cotter