Francis Coughlan at Solohead
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams are through to a first Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior A Football Championship Final since 2021 following a four-point victory over Cappawhite in Solohead on Friday evening. Jamie Duncan’s goal just before the break proving decisive at the final whistle. The earlier rain giving way to a lovely sunny evening making conditions ideal.
Kickhams enjoyed the better of the earlier exchanges and possession however they struggled to get the radar working kicking four wides in the first five minutes. Mark Furlong eventually opening the scoring in the seventh minute with a well taken point into the village end.
At the end of the first quarter Kickhams held three points to one lead with Joe O’Dwyer and Jamie Duncan getting on the board. Ciaran Ryan P who got on a lot of early possession for Cappawhite opened his sides account in the eleventh minute. Both defences were on top to turnover possession at vital times which resulted in very little scores.
The opening stages of the second quarter proved very fruitful for the Cappawhite men with a goal and three points in the space of four minutes. Michael P Buckley and Sam Carmody pointed within a minute of each other to tie the game. Lorcan Carr who was full of energy making runs forward immediately restored Kickhams advantage.
Two minutes later Ciaran Ryan P levelled the game again with his second of the evening. In the twentieth minute Cappawhite looked to have really taken control of the game.
A good patient move working the ball through the hands against a packed Kickhams defence ended with Colm O’Dwyer goaling from close range. Cappawhite now led 1-4 to 0-4 but would fail to score for the remainder of the half.
Kickhams would dominate the remainder of the half though Cappawhite could have been closer but for some missed opportunities. By the twenty ninth minute Joe O’Dwyer drew the sides level for the third and final time.
Just before the break Kickhams got a huge boost when Jamie Duncan gathered possession around the twenty-metre line, powering towards goal around the outside of the defenders and shooting a bullet to the net from around thirteen metres. Minutes earlier Kickhams had been denied a goal by some last ditch defending. Kickhams leading 1-7 to 1-4 at the interval.
By the tenth minute of the second half that lead had stretched out to five points with two from the impressive Adam Daly and one from Shane Buckley against one from Cappawhite’s Brian Buckley who was really trying to take the fight to Kickhams. Towards the end of the third quarter Cappawhite introduced Michael O’Neill and he made an immediate impact with a well taken point.
Daire Duggan followed and with ten to play the gap was down to three. Kickhams through were continuing to get numbers back in defence limiting space to the Cappawhite attack. Kickhams found their way again and three points from Adam Daly, Joe O’Dwyer and Elliott Thompson and led by six with about five minutes of ordinary time left.
Cappawhite enjoyed a lot of possession in the remaining minutes as they tried to work goal chances against a packed Kickhams defence, however they could manage just two points from Sam Carmody frees.
Kickhams now go forward to meet defending champions Arravale Rovers in the final.
Scorers & Teams:
Kickhams: Jamie Duncan (1-1), Joe O’Dwyer (0-3, (0-1f)), Adam Daly (0-3), Elliott Thompson (0-2), Mark Furlong (0-1), Lorcan Carr (0-1), Zach O’Halloran (0-1), Shane Buckley (0-1)
Cappawhite: Sam Carmody (0-3, (0-2f)), Colm O’Dwyer (1-0), Ciaran Ryan P (0-2), Michael P Buckley (0-1), David Buckley (0-1), Michael O’Neill (0-1), Daire Duggan (0-1)
Kickhams: Declan Ryan, Aidan Duggan, Paudie O’Carroll, Shane Farrell, Adam Daly, Eddie Daly, Lorcan Carr, Elliott Thompson, Conor Farrell, Sean Cannon, Jamie Duncan, Mark Furlong, Joe O’Dwyer, Shane Buckley
Subs Used: Diarmuid Carr for Zach O’Halloran, Eoin McCormack for Mark Furlong
Cappawhite: Dara McCarthy, Seamus Burns, Mikey O’Brien, Michael English, Daire Duggan, David Buckley, Tommy Costello, Colm O’Dwyer, Michael P Buckley, Kevin Stapleton, Ciaran Ryan P, Brendan Murphy, Anthony Barry, Sam Carmody, Neil Clancy
Subs Used: Michael O’Neill for Anthony Barry, Sean Cleary for Kevin Stapleton, Sean Ryan W for Neil Clancy
Referee: David Grogan (Aherlow)
