Nothing to separate sides as 'cracker' goes to replay

Oughterard 0-9Kilconly 1-6

Cian O’Connell in Pearse Stadium

On a wretched afternoon Kilconly and Oughterard somehow managed to produce a County Intermediate decider which dripped with drama and uncertainty from start to finish in a low scoring, but gripping, game that neither side deserved to lose.

So when referee Frank Kineen, who controlled a tough match sensibly, blasted the full-time whistle it was the most just outcome. Kilconly and Oughterard both could have captured the John Cotter Cup, but when the respective camps analyse the hour’s football they will realise the significant possibilities another day out will bring.

All positive intent early on, Kilconly wanted to utilise the strong breeze that was at their backs in the first half. Whenever possible they launched direct, long deliveries deep and initially Oughterard were experiencing problems with this approach.

Only 32 seconds had elapsed when Adrian Murphy wriggled clear to kick a nifty point for Kilconly, and while Ronan Molloy replied with a third minute free the North Galway outfit were certainly ready and able for the battle that was beginning.

John Kerrigan slotted a routine free before the first key passage of play occurred in the eighth minute. Martin Coady bore down on the Kilconly goal, but Kevin Brady managed to rob him of the ball with a stylish last gasp interception.

Oughterard made tentative appeals for a penalty, but Kineen seemed to make the correct call, and the ball was funnelled upfield. A quick Kerrigan free released John Paul Steede, who attracted the attention of three Oughterard players before slipping in Padraic Moran and the corner forward duly obliged blasting a tonic goal.

As the first half evolved Oughterard improved with Damien O’Reilly, who entered proceedings nursing a worrying hamstring problem, providing a timely reminder of his kicking ability at centrefield probing repeatedly. Daniel Tuck gathered an O’Reilly free to narrow the deficit with a point, but Michael Murphy answered with a left-footed free for Kilconly.

Molloy and John Paul Steeded traded points and when the interval rolled around Kilconly led by 1-4 to 0-3, but with the conditions to favour Oughterard after the restart the issue was delicately poised. 

And it stayed like that until the bitter end because any time a team appeared to be edging towards the title the other would summon a response and Oughterard came thundering out of the blocks in the third quarter.

Conrad Clancy rifled over a point two minutes into the second half as Oughterard slowly narrowed the deficit. Molloy, who remained accurate from frees on a seriously testing day, thumped over two on 41 and 44 minutes to leave only the minimum in it.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.