Kilconieron book place in Premier Intermediate final with extra time win over Meelick Eyrecourt
This heavyweight showdown always looked set to go the distance as Kilconieron qualified for the Premier intermediate hurling final in Duggan Park last Saturday after getting the better of reigning title holders Meelick-Eyrecourt 3-18 to 1-19.
Goals from Keith Burke, Peter Martin and Eoghan Mulleady were the difference as these two clubs threw everything at each other in scores, challenges and sacrifices. And Kilconieron boss Ollie Bergin will spend this week assessing his walking wounded.
Last year’s relegated senior side are just 60 minutes from returning to Galway hurling’s top flight. And while they’ll face at team they beat by 12 points eight weeks previously, the boys in green will know a resurgent Mullagh are now a much different prospect now.
Meelick-Eyrecourt went down fighting, but 20 overall wides was their undoing. Shane Caulfield opened with a Kilconieron free on two minutes before Finn Gohery sliced a Meelick-Eyrecourt shot just over the bar to equalise four minutes later.
They traded again through Meelick-Eyrecourt’s Nathan Earner and Kilconieron’s Sean Connaughton before the south east Galway side seized the initiative with four points in succession through Niall Fleming (2), Finn Gohery and John Fleming.
Niall Lynch’s team were on top despite a Caulfield brace halving the deficit. Two more John Fleming points, either side of Earner’s free, put Meelick-Eyrecourt 0-9 to 0-4 ahead in injury time.
A critical score came next as Kilconieron, after eight wides, launched an attack and Caulfield forced a stop from James Downey. Burke was on hand for the next effort, hitting the net and Kilconieron trailed by just 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time.
Meelick-Eyrecourt stretched their lead to 0-12 to 1-6 thanks to Niall and John (2) Fleming with Caufield and Sean Burke pointing for Kilconieron. But when Niall Fleming was taken down for a 37th minute penalty which Downey struck low to the net, the boys in blue were 1-12 to 1-6 clear.
Kilconieron’s determination was called upon again. The recently introduced Jack Walsh won a free which Caulfield converted. And when full back Martin darted up field in the 41st minute, this semi-final’s narrative received a major shake-up.
He played a one-two with Caulfield while accelerating to connect with the second goal. Two long range Keith Burke frees levelled at 2-9 to 1-12 entering the final quarter that finished in a 0-4 apiece stalemate.
Finn Gohery, Earner (2) and John Fleming converted for Meelick-Eyrecourt; Keith Burke and Caulfield (3) raised the Kilconieron white flags to finish normal time at 2-13 to 1-16.
Earner and John Fleming put Meelick-Eyrecourt 1-18 to 2-14 up with Caulfield tallying again. But when Mulleady finished his run down the left with a goal on 68 minutes, Kilconieron seized control. Cian Connaughton, Walsh, Keith Burke and Mulleady concluded their account against one more Earner score.
Ian McGlynn (with five assists), Martin, Keith Burke, Caulfield and substitute Walsh were the pick of Kilconieron’s players. John Fleming, Tiernan Gohery, Downey, and keeper Enda Lawless worked hard for Meelick-Eyrecourt.
Kilconieron: S Murray; A Evans, P Martin (1-0), D Keane; O O’Gorman, N Martin, U McGlynn; S Burke (0-1), I McGlynn; K Burke (1-4, 2f), S Caulfield (0-9, 7f), E McGlynn; S Connaughton (0-1), E Mulleady (1-1), S Keane.
Subs used: J Walsh (0-1) for E McGlynn (38), R Burke for U McGlynn (46), C Connaughton (0-1) for S Connaughton (54), L Keary for S Burke (76).
Meelick-Eyrecourt: E Lawless; C Downey, J Rosney, J Burke; T Gohery, J Downey (1-1, 1-0 pen, 1’65), T Fleming; J Hynes, L McDermott; D Burke, J Fleming (0-7), N Earner (0-5, 4f); G McDermott, F Gohery (0-3), N Fleming (0-3).
Subs used: L Duane for Burke (44), S Og Larkin for G McDermott (50), C Treacy for Hynes (60), Burke for N Fleming (70), G McDermott for Earner (80).
Referee: J Keane