Killavullen wrestle back control and win, in the second half.
April 19, 2025
In the best game encountered in the Red FM County Hurling Division 7 league, thus far, Killavullen had to wrestle back control in a ding-dong arm wrestle with the team from the Carbery division, and the village of Castletown-Kinneigh before emerged victorious by four points. Space was at a premium and the pressing of our opponents had us in all sorts of bother in the opening period. The game was played in Killavullen in front of an appreciative crowd.
Padraig Looney opened the scoring for us early in the first half, but O Mathuna’s fought back tenaciously with a point of their own. Colm O Mahony score a great point over his shoulder and O Mathuna’s goalkeeper pulled off a great save to force the ball out for a 65 Metre shot that Jamie converted. O Mathuna’s replied with a close in free and then equalised with a free, from midfield. Padraig Looney was unlucky that a snapshot from him, on the ground just went to the right of the post but the same player then scored the next point from out of the wing. O Mathuna’s fought for every possession though, and their in-your-face pressing was causing us a certain discomfort on the ball. Colm Looney fetched a high ball, and Killavullen were desperately unbulky that his off load to Colm O Mahony and shot ended to the left of the post. One was to think, that the spurning of these chances would come back to hurt us. Owen Magner pushed us further ahead with a great point, when he cut in from his wing to a breaking ball. O Mathuna’s responded with another free and then drew level with a point from open play. They were after gaining a foothold in midfield though as the half came to a close, and using their advantage well to set up another free and then a point from play to be leading at the interval 0-08 to 0-06.
Our west Cork opponents certainly did not journey up to Killavullen to admire the view and scored the opening point again in the second period. Padraig Looney got one back for us, and then Owen Magner, very effective of the day scored a great point, that rallied the home support. O Mathuna’s scored another free though to stay two points ahead, but a great ball, a ball that a forward love, was played in by Michael Cagney into the hand of Colm O Mahony. He strongly fended off the opposing full ball and scored a great goal to give us a one-point lead. The turning point of the game though was the moving of Patrick O Grady to midfield and his athleticism was to prove to be telling. Colm caught another centre, this time the playmaker was Liam Cronin and Colm scored another point. Owen Magner was revelling in the tight marking situation though, and he scored two quick fire points , to push us further ahead, interspersed by a point from open play by O Mathuna’s.
Jamie Magner pushed us further ahead with a converted free, from midfield before Mikey O Connor, added a great point from play, that typified the Killavullen recovery. Killavullen forwards were now the players closing down their direct opponents and forcing turnovers. Patrick O Grady score a lovely wristy point from around midfield, and Colm Hannon, fresh from a strong showing against Milford the night before, in the lower grade of hurling in Avondhu (Division 4) was introduced for Padraig Looney. Jamie added another free for us, before the crowd got distracted with a low flying helicopter, and in that split second Diarmuid O Mathuna’s got a goal back from a free, that cruelly ricocheted off one of our defenders and gave Charlie in our goals no chance. The response from Killavullen was impressive though, with Colm Hannon sent a ball over the ball, and Colm O Mahony scoring another great point. Seamus O Mahony was introduced for Colm Looney and our opponents scored from another free, before Mikey O Connor scored a good point after strong determined play from Brian Cotter, who thundered into the game in the final pivotal 20 minutes. The final score came for our opponents before the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the game. The final score was 1-18 to 1-14, making it four wins from four games, in this very competitive league.
The team and those who scored were;
- Charlie Cremin
- Fionn Magner
- Ronan Barry
- Patrick O Grady (0-01)
- Brian Cotter
- Liam Cronin
- Eoghan Buckley
- Eon Birchill
- Jamie Magner (0-3, 0-02F, 0-01 x 65M)
- Mikey O Conner (0-002)
- Owen Magner (0-04)
- Colm Looney
- Colm O Mahony (1-04, 0-01F)
- Padraig Looney (0-03)
Substitutes utilized were;
- Colm Hannon (0-01) for Padraig Looney
- Seamus O Mahony for Colm Looney
Killavullen GAA effected a shop from the red container behind the goals, village end, that was quite popular and thanks to all who set that up, especially Kevin O Regan, and those that manned in on the day, Sarah, Evelyn, Ella and Kate.
The visiting team were also given teas, coffees and sandwiches after the game and thanks to Denise and Eilish who prepared those.