A game of two halves, and a deceptive wind
April 13, 2025
Killavullen were to be defeated in this Division 3 Football league encounter, against LC Gaels when both teams played out a good game of football, in bright sunshine in Killavullen on Saturday evening, and though it was serene and calm adjacent to the dressing rooms, the people at the other side of the field, said that the wind was deceptively strong, and blowing straight down the pitch towards Monanimy castle. That might explain the collapse of Killavullen from a commanding 2-09 to 0-04 winning situation at half time, to bizarrely losing the game 3-13 to 2-14.
Killavullen started brightly and were dominating the breaking ball in the middle of the field. Our opening score was a goal, set up by Seamus O Mahony and scored nicely and cooly by David Walsh, even before the score board operator was in position. Seamus O Mahony added a point and Ronan Barry added a second point, from open play. Liscarroll – Churchtown Gaels, in their away kit, of red and black got a nice point, from a fine player, who is still a minor this year. Sean Palmer then stretched out our lead further, with a great goal when neat exchanges of hand passes opened up the opposition rear guard, and Sean’s shot from distance, billowed the net. Seamus O Mahony added a nice point from a central position, in front of goals, after Seamus Cronin was fouled in possession. Seamus added another free, but we were guilty of dissent and the ball advanced to our 13 metre mark, and then the LC Gaels player retreated behind the arc, and got a two point score. Harch lesson. Niall Feaheny kicked a great two pointer for us, in reply and our young and inexperienced team were dominating from our half back line, and the overlap going forward was causing no end of problems to our opposition. Sean Palmere was rewarded for another driving run, with another point, and then Dominic Bolster zipped a point over the bar, and the same player was unlucky to see another effort hit the crossbar. Tomas Fennell effected a great block down in our defense when pressed, and just before the break, Seamus O Mahoney added another free, and LC Gaels replied to leave the interval score 2-09 to 0-04.
It threatened rain, that thankfully did not materialize to add great extent, and shortly after the interval, Niall Feaheny kicked another good point for us. LC Gaels though came thundering into the game and scored two-point scores in quick succession to bring their tally to 0-08. They tacked out another point, and our goal was now besieged with LC Gaels efforts on goals, that our full back line and Darragh with a wonderous save somehow managed to keep our goal line intact. LC Gaels were overrunning now in midfield and got two more points, before the inevitable goal game, that Darragh and co. in the defense could do nothing with. Three or four earlier efforts had been repelled, somewhat fortuitously onto the bar etc, so it was no surprise with the goal evolved. Our opposition then got the next score, but in a break out movement, Colm O Mahony was fouled and his brother Seamus scored the resulting free. Another brother, Ian was introduced for David Walsh, and Jack Stafford came on for Dominic Bolster. At the other end, Michael Cagney bravely threw himself at the attacking in the art of shooting to prevent a certain goal, and Barry Cotter got the rebound away. The reprieve was short lived as LC Gaels got a goal with their next attack to bring the game to an even score situation – 2-11 each.
LC Gaels had the momentum though, and got the next point and then another, before a goal to open up a 5-point lead. Killavullen manfully tried to wrestle those scores back, and Seamus O Mahony scored a point before the LC Gaels goalkeeper saved a certain goal from Mikey O Connor. Mikey followed up with a point shortly there after and in a grand stand finish, Killavullen pressed right to the last whistle and were rewarded with an Ian O Mahony point but not enough time to bring this good game to a drawn situation.
The final score was 3-13 to 2-14
The team and scorers were;
- Darragh O Connor
- Thomas Fennell
- Michael Cagney
- Barry Cotter
- Joe Cagney
- Cian O Connor
- Sean Palmer (1-01)
- Ronan Barry (0-01)
- Mickey O Connor (0-01)
- Dominic Bolster (0-01)
- Seamus O Mahony (0-05,0-03F)
- Niall Feaheny (0-03, 1 x 0-02P)
- Seamus Cronin
- Colm O Mahony (0-01)
- David Walsh (1-00)
The utilized substitutes were;
- Ian O Mahony (0-01) for David Walsh
- Jack Stafford for Dominic Bolster