Kilsheelan Kilcash hit their stride to seal direct route to semi-finals

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 2 - Round 3

Kilsheelan Kilcash 1-18

Ballyporeen 0-12

Following a slow start, when they trailed 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, Kilsheelan Kilcash eventually settled into their rhythm and were ahead by three points, 0-10 to 0-7, at half-time in their FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship Group 2, Round 3 clash with Ballyporeen at Ardfinnan on Sunday.

They upped the tempo even further in the second half and were well worth their 1-18 to 0-12 win in the end. Kilsheelan Kilcash were already through to the knockout stages but have now guaranteed themselves direct progress to the semi-final.

Ballyporeen also left Ardfinnan with a result. Already consigned to a relegation battle, they now have two further chances to avoid the drop, meeting Grangemockler Ballyneale in the relegation semi-final, and the losers having one further chance against Aherlow in the relegation final.

It was a remarkable outcome for Ballyporeen in a game that began so dramatically, and potentially so disastrously, for them. In the first few seconds, in the first play after referee Brian Tyrrell had thrown in the ball, Oisín Brennan and Kevin O’Mahony suffered a serious clash of heads as they challenged for the same ball, which left both prone on the ground.

When they were able to get to their feet after two to three minutes, they had to be helped from the pitch, and an already depleted Ballyporeen had to use two of their three available subs before the game had really got underway.

It was a tribute then to their resilience that they opened in such a positive manner and, following two two-pointers, one from play and the other a free, they still led the unbeaten group leaders, 0-6 to 0-4, six minutes from the break.

The effort eventually took its toll, but not before Charlie English, Darragh Brennan, Tommy Sweeney, Conor Sweeney and Jack Kearney had expended every bit of energy.

The early Bally’ onslaught was a wake-up call for Kilsheelan Kilcash and they responded as you would expect from a team with county title aspirations. An early two-pointer from Tommy O’Connor settled them, with O’Connor proceeding to give a superb display.

Not far behind were Mark Stokes, Conor Freaney, Barry Kehoe, Micheál Freaney, Jamie Roche and impressive substitute Senan Butler, and Kilsheelan are now just one game away from a second successive county final appearance.

Following the early drama, they nearly took an early lead when it needed a brilliant save from Ballyporeen ’keeper Kieran Macken to deny Micheál Freaney a goal. When play switched to the other end, Tommy Sweeney got Ballyporeen off the mark with a great two-pointer.

Kilsheelan replied from a Shane Garland 45 and Freaney levelled when put through by Mark Stokes. But Ballyporeen went three points ahead, 0-5 to 0-2, with a lovely point from Darragh Brennan from a tight angle on the sideline, before the county player kicked a two-point free following a foul on sub Anthony Crotty.

Kilsheelan needed Billy Murphy’s two-pointer when it came in the 23rd minute, but Darragh Brennan was on fire for Ballyporeen and made it 0-6 to 0-4 six minutes from the break.

And the Kilsheelan players probably saved themselves from some harsh words from manager Keith O’Brien at the interval with how they finished the half. A huge free from Jamie Roche, closer to the 45 than the arc, tied up the score, before the ace marksman pointed another free for the lead.

Tommy O’Connor added a point and then a fine passage of play ended with Billy Murphy kicking a two-pointer for a four-point lead, that was reduced to three at the interval following a Conor Sweeney free.

But that was as close as Ballyporeen got, and the outcome was virtually decided ninety seconds into the second half with the game’s only goal. Senan Butler kicked a delightful pass into the path of Micheál Freaney, and this time Kieran Macken was unable to stop him finding the net.

Darragh Lyons hit a quick response with a fine point for Ballyporeen, but a Kilsheelan side, now in full flow, with Barry Kehoe winning vital possession around the middle third, hit the next four points without reply.

The first came from Senan Butler, the next from Micheál Freaney, then a Jamie Roche free following a technical breach, and another Roche free after Tommy O’Connor had fisted to the net but the referee had already signalled for the free.

Not all of Kilsheelan’s best moves ended in scores and manager O’Brien will be well aware of the need for a better conversion rate against tougher opposition.

Darragh Lyons, following good play from Darragh Brennan and Christy English, had Ballyporeen’s first score in thirteen minutes, but the momentum was now with Kilsheelan, and points from a Roche free and Barry Kehoe pushed the lead out to nine points, 1-16 to 0-10.

With ten minutes left to play, the game was over as a contest, with the sides sharing the last four points, Darragh Lyons and a Roche free for Kilsheelan, and two pointed frees for Ballyporeen from Conor Sweeney and Darragh Brennan.

A semi-final secured for Kilsheelan Kilcash, and a relegation semi-final for Ballyporeen, ensured that it wasn’t too bad an outcome for either side.

Scorers: Kilsheelan Kilcash: Jamie Roche (0-7, 1x2ptf, 0-4f), Tommy O’Connor (0-4, 1x2pt), Micheál Freaney 1-2, Billy Murphy (0-2, 1x2pt), Barry Kehoe, Senan Butler 0-1 each, Shane Garland 0-1 45. each.

Ballyporeen: Darragh Brennan (0-6, 1x2ptf, 0-2f), Darragh Lyons, Tommy Sweeney (0-2, 1x2pt), Conor Sweeney 0-2f.

Kilsheelan Kilcash: Evan Comerford; Conor Neville, Jason Madigan, Emmet Butler; Billy O’Connor, Mark Stokes, Conor Freaney; Micheál Freaney, Lucas Shiel; Tommy O’Connor, Barry Kehoe, Billy Murphy; Mikey McGuire, Shane Garland, Jamie Roche.

Subs used: Senan Butler for McGuire (32, inj); Sean Ryan for Emmet Butler (47); Shane Egan for Billy O’Connor (47); Colin Roche for Shiel (52); Zac O’Loughlin for Roche (56).

Ballyporeen: Kieran Macken; Seamus O’Callaghan, Noel Vaughan, Eoin Morrissey; Charlie English, Oisín Brennan, Jack Kearney; Kevin O’Mahoney, Darragh Brennan, Darragh Lyons; Tommy Sweeney, Tomás Vaughan, Conor Sweeney; Mikey Maher, Christy English.

Subs: Anthony Crotty for Oisín Brennan (1, inj); Fionnan O’Sullivan for O’Mahoney (1, inj); Sam McGrath for O’Sullivan (58).

Referee: Brian Tyrrell (Clonmel Commercials)