Two goal salvo from Colm Looney sees us win again
March 23, 2025
Killavullen picked up two more points in their first home game of the Red FM County hurling league, Division 7, played earlier today in Killavullen. A strappy, cross the field wind made life difficult, as did the pitch which though well presented, was heavy and the ball was inclined to stick in the one spot when it fell from the air, and not run through. It made whoever was out in front for the sliotar the primary winner and a number of frees were conceded by both teams, when the defenders, invariably ploughed into the back of the forward who had stopped with the ball.
Killavullen opened the scoring with a Darragh O Grady point, and this was quickly added to by Mikey O Connor. Jamie then converted unerringly two placed balls from out in front of the dressing rooms, in similar enough positions, but an acute angle. Kilshannig got the opening point of their tally, from a free before Jamie punished every indiscretion from the Kilshannig rear guards with five points in a row, from frees. Colm Looney forced a great, full length diving save from the Kilshannig custodian, after Owen Magner had teed up Colm after a sharp turn, and quick off load of a hand pass. Charlie in our goals has to be alert to a Kilshannig shot that came through a crowd but was capably handled by Charlie when the end shot was straight at him.
Mikey O Connor added another fine point from play, and his general play forced Kilshannig to redeploy Bill Curtin, from midfield to centre back to try and thwart his influence. Colm Looney added a fine point, after clever interlinked play from the Killavullen forwards, whose touch was sharper than their opponents, probably due to playing hurling right up to December in 2024. Kilshannig got another point back from a free, but Jamie cancelled that out shortly thereafter with another free. Colm Looney was causing all sorts of problems for Kilshannig in the full forward line, and he scored another point, before the warning was not heeded, and it caught a high ball above his man, turned quickly and gave the Kilshannig goal keeper no chance, to raise a green flag. Owen Magner completed the scoring of the opening half, to leave Killavullen well in the ascendancy, 1-14 to 0-03.
Padraig Looney was introduced to replace Michael Cagney in midfield for the second half, and the scoring of the Looney brothers continued with another point from Colm. Colm O Mahony then added to our tally before Kilshannig came back more into the game, with three frees, conceded in quick succession. The intensity of the game from Killavullen had dropped considerably, and the dominant middle third, and especially the half back line of the Cotters brothers, and Liam Cronin, waned a deal. Colm O Mahony fired a nice point over his shoulder and Sean Palmer was introduced for Ronan Barry. Kilshannig added two more scores, the initial one of the brace from a dead ball situation, before Jamie added another free, then Paddy Walsh, scored for Kilshannig and Mikey O Connor replied for us. Further changes in Killavullen personnel before the end of the game saw Colm Hannon, Sean Woulfe and Joe Cagney introduced. Kilshannig got a further two points, but Colm Looney then scored a identikit goal to the one that he got in the opening half, catching a delivery in the air, close in on goals, and finishing to the net. Kilshannig added five points in a row, but the die had been cast earlier in the game and Killavullen finished off with a free from Jamie.
2-20 to 0-16 was the final score – the management would be delighted with the start to the game, but the drop off in application will not sit well with Pat Heffernan, and Niall Hanrahan, the Killavullen management team, whose core demands is a strong work ethic.
Still – two games, four valuable points in our initial foray into the county leagues, is not to be discounted
The team and those who scored were;
- Charlie Cremin
- Fionn Magner
- Eoghan Buckley
- Patrick O Grady
- Eddie Cotter
- Liam Cronin
- Brian Cotter
- Michael Cagney
- Ronan Barry
- Colm O Mahoney (0-02)
- Mickey O Connor (0-03)
- Darragh O Grady (0-01
- Owen Magner (0-01)
- Jamie Magner (0-10 0-09F)
- Colm Looney (2-03)
Substitutes utilized were;
- Padraig Looney for Michael Cagney
- Sean Palmer for Ronan Barry
- Colm Hannon for Owen Magner
- Sean Woulfe for Colm O Mahony
- Joe Cagney for Mickey O Connor