On Thursday evening playing at home, our U14 boys played Westport in the West Mayo A Championship Semi Final.
Kilmeena opted to play with the aid of the strong breeze and had raced into a three point lead within the first ten minutes with scores from Darragh Slattery(free), Liam Moore and Daniel Kelly. Westport replied with a pointed free, before Full-Forward Finley Gibbons scored 2 goals in quick succession. The visitors did manage to breakthrough the otherwise efficient Kilmeena defence for a goal of their own. The lads in black and white were crammed in the opposition’s half for the majority of the first half and kept the scoreboard ticking over with excellent points by Brian Durkan and Ciarán Kilcoyne and a tremendous effort by the hard working Liam Moore from 40 yards out. Kilmeena could have been further ahead if it wasn’t for a large number of wides and shots dropping short. Westport kicked the final score of the opening period to leave the half time score Kilmeena 2-6 Westport 1-2.
Given the strength of the breeze many in the great local support were worried that the margin wasn't big enough ! The early part of the second half was a much tighter affair. Westport hit two consecutive points to leave just 5 points separating the teams. This was as close as the Coveys got with the Kilmeena back six consisting of the Hastings cousins Tom, Donal and Colin, Rian Kilcoyne, Conor Feehan and Captain Harry Sheridan heroically keeping them at bay.
Westport lost a player to a second yellow and soon Kilmeena now playing with the numerical advantage hit the back of the net twice! Firstly, Conal Gill won a low ball, took on his man and rattled the back of the net. Soon afterwards an attempted shot by the mighty Jack Mulchrone dropped short only for Conal Gill to pounce to score Kilmeena’s fourth goal. The away team threw everything they had at Kilmeena in the final minutes but the home side managed to overcome this pressure to secure a famous victory helped by the fresh legs of Gavin Mulchrone and Adam O’Grady and some Cluxton like kick outs by Evan O’Donnell.
Kilmeena Team: Evan O’Donnell, Tom Hastings, Rian Kilcoyne, Donal Hastings, Colin Hastings, Harry Sheridan, Conal Gill, Darragh Slattery, Liam Moore, Conor Kelly, Ciaran Kilcoyne, Brian Durkan, Jack Mulchrone, Daniel Kelly, Conor Feehan Subs used: Finley Gibbons, Adam O’Grady, Gavin Mulchrone
Thanks Ollie for pictures of a memorable evening for all present !
Click here for images from the game.
