Sweeney brothers inspire Killanin to a memorable win
Date Published: {J}
Killanin 0-14 An Cheathrú Rua 1-10 (AET)
Dara Bradley IN Pearse Stadium THE Sweeney twins, Patrick and Cathal, inspired Killanin to record their first senior championship victory since 2006 on Saturday evening when they got the better of An Cheathrú Rua after extra time at a wretchedly wet and windy Pearse Stadium.
Current champions Corofin won’t lose any sleep over these two teams but credit to them, Killanin and An Cheathrú Rua served up an entertaining encounter that had the crowd on tenterhooks right until the final whistle was blown at the end of the second extra ten minute period.
It would be tempting to focus on two missed chances by An Cheathrú Rua’s Ciarán de Paor – the first pressure free-kick a couple of minutes before full-time of normal time, which would have been the winner, dropped short into keeper Patrick O’Halloran’s hands.
The second free-kick from the wing-forward – who in fairness was accurate with all other placed balls – which would have levelled matters again late in the second period of extra time, was skewed.
Championship matches are won and lost on such tight margins but the real story of this entertaining clash is undoubtedly the manner in which Killanin’s centre-forward Cathal Sweeney dragged his side out of the doldrums with two incredible late points that forced extra time.
It’s a shame there was no action replay available in Salthill because these points were absolute beauties. An Cheathrú Rua were heading for victory, 1-8 to 0-9 in front with just three minutes of normal time remaining when Sweeney, who was off-balance in front of the stand down the right flank but still managed to hit a cracker with the outside of his right boot that curled in over the bar.
For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.