Strong wind spoils a decent game, for both teams, but we prevail
April 05, 2025
The wind in the No. 1 pitch is Douglas blew straight down the middle of the grounds, and make life difficult for both teams, earlier today, in the 3rd game in the Red FM Division 7 County League. Killavullen were to win out, with a more balanced team performance and garnish two more valuable points, in this very competitive league.
Douglas were first to score but Mikey O Connor equalised for us, after five minutes, and we took the lead with a sublime Jamie Magner free, against the wind, when he kept the trajectory of the ball low and it guided between the low goal posts. Padraig Looney then scored next for us, after Michael Cagney had come out of a ruck situation with the ball, and offloaded a pass to Padraig. We went further ahead when Colm O Mahony reacted best to a ball, which Colm Looney broke down to his full forward team mate. Despite having the best of chances, we did not push on, and Douglas were right back in the game, when their full forward bustled past our defenders and gave Charlie in our goals no chance, from close in. Douglas regained an unlikely lead with a long range free but we equalised from open play from Colm O Mahony after a great delivery to him, from Eddie Cotter. Padraig Looney then added another snapped point from play before the Douglas goal had a charmed life when Colm Looney for once got the better of the full back, and rounded the goal keeper, but saw his shot, taken off balance cleared off the line. Shortly afterwards, Jamie drilled a 65 Metre shot over the bar but we conceded a cheap free on our own 40 metre line, and with the prevailing wind, behind his back, the Douglas sharp shooter nailed a monster of a free. Jamie replied with another free after hard work earned Darragh O Grady a free, which Jamie converted and Jamie arrowed another point over the bar, after Padraig was fouled. We got caught and swarmed in possession and conceded a free that Douglas converted and both free takers then traded frees just before the interval to leave Killavullen leading at the break, against the strong breeze, 0-10 to 1-05.
Douglas opened the scoring at the start of the second half before Killavullen started to cope better with the elements, and stretched their opponents around the field and we got a point from a free from Colm O Mahony, then Jamie from another longer range free, then two from play from Mikey O Connor after clearances into space from Brian Cotter and Eoin Birchill, the marathon man, fresh after an impressive time from Barcelona pulled the Douglas rear guard out of position. We somehow missed a glorious opportunity to plunder our opening goal, when Colm Looney brought out a great save from the Douglas custodian, but two forwards collided into each other in front of the gaping goals, when the ball was in the air, to leave the chance behind us. Jamie added another point, and then Colm Looney got our opening goal, when he and his man, tussled strongly for the ball, and it seemed to ricochet off them, and into the net.
Shortly thereafter we conceded a goal that we should have cleared but dwelled too long about it, and were ponderous, and at this level, such mistakes are punished. Douglas added a fine long range point from their midfielder Killian Doyle whose father chatted amicably with the Killavullen crowd on the bank, and watched the Grand National in our midst. That mini revival was snuffed out by two Jamie Magner frees, and then, the younger of the Magner’s, Owen added to his fine industrious display with two late points, to see out a satisfactory Killavullen win, 1-20 to 2-07.
Killavullen were able to introduce several players onto the team, and Barry Cotter and Joe Cagney played at this level for the first time, while Sean Palmer and Colm Hannon have been used in games in this grade before now.
The team and those who scored were;
- Charlie Cremin
- Eon Birchill
- Ronan Barry
- Brian Cotter
- Eddie Cotter
- Liam Cronin
- Eoghan Buckley
- Michael Cagney
- Jamie Magner (0-10, 0-07F, 0-01 x 65M)
- Darragh O Grady
- Mikey O Conner (0-003)
- Owen Magner (0-02)
- Colm Looney (1-00)
- Colm O Mahony (0-03, 0-01F)
- Padraig Looney (0-02)
- Substitutes utilized were;
- Sean Palmer for Darragh O Grady
- Colm Hannon for Padraig Looney
- Barry Cotter for Colm Looney
- Joe Cagney for Brian Cotter
For historical references, Nick Rocket won the Grand National - hard to watch two different sports at the same time, but somehow, we all contrived to do so.