It was back to the rough and tumble of club football after the big occasion in Croke Park last week. This is where Martin Reilly and Conor Moynagh cut their teeth in the game. It was obvious from the start that they were enjoying being back playing with their clubmates. The game started at a lively pace and it was Drumgoon who struck first with a pointed free by Pauric McGorry. Killygarry responded quickly with points by Ross Sheridan and Brian Sheanon. Drumgoon were playing a very tight game, not allowing the opposition any room to move the ball at speed using their normal quick-passing game. They reaped dividends when a high dropping ball into the square was fisted to the net by Keith Fannin. Brian Sheanon responded with a point and the hosts almost achieved the perfect response when a mazy run by Darragh Gannon rebounded off a post. However, Martin Reilly pulled a point back with a wonderfully struck ’45 just a few metres in from the sideline. Drumgoon’s tight game was paying off, keeping Killygarry scoreless for fifteen minutes but they couldn’t take advantage in the scoring stakes. Their only contribution during this period was a converted free by Keith Fannin. Cathal Keaney stopped the rot for the hosts with a fine point from play. Paddy Galligan then made a vital contribution when he diverted a goal-bound shot at full stretch for a ’45. Drumgoon keeper Corey Smith then stepped up to pop over the resultant ’45 for the closing score of the half. The half-time score was 0-5 to 1-3 in favour of the visitors.
Killygarry must have been worried during the break about how they were going to get control of this match. The game seemed to open up immediately for both sides from the start of the second half. Martin Reilly popped over a couple of classy points. Keith Fannin then converted a free but Darragh Gannon then stroked over a point from play. Killygarry looked like they were getting a foothold in the game but then wing half-back Paddy Smith scored a fine point after a strong run. Then Conor Moynagh won a breaking ball in midfield. He set off on a bursting run through the home defence and rifled an unstoppable shot to the net. Killygarry could have buckled under this blow but they didn’t. It was their turn to keep Drumgoon scoreless for fifteen minutes but unlike the visitors in the first half, they scored 1-5 during this spell from play. Brian Sheanon scored two of the points. His strength and workrate was tremendous throughout. Padraig Cahill also scored a rare point but his contributions in defence were immense all through the game. Brendan Murray got the goal when he fielded a ball near the square, swivelled and rifled it to the bottom corner. Cathal Keaney and Martin Reilly added points and Ryan Brady almost put the game beyond reach when his shot went wide off a post. Drumgoon responded with a point by Aogan Farrell but the earlier scoring blitz had deflated the visitors. Ryan Brady was not to be denied when he punched a high dropping ball to the net. He followed this up with a long range point from play. Drumgoon had the last word when Keith Fannin converted a penalty in the last few minutes for a consolation goal.
Killygarry will be worried about how long it took them to take control of this game. They will, however, be encouraged that fifteen of their sixteen scores came from open play while their opponents only had four scores from open play. They will also be looking for more consistency over the sixty minutes. Drumgoon were in touch through the first three quarters but would like to have prolonged that into the final quarter.
Killygarry: Paddy Galligan; Conor Connolly, Eoin Smith, Caolán Kelly; Ross Sheridan (0-1), Padraig Cahill (0-1), Paddy Lynch; Brendan Murray (1-0), Ryan Brady (1-1); Martin Reilly (0-4, 1 ‘45), Andy McGovern, Fergal Clarke; Darragh Gannon (0-1), Cathal Keaney (0-2), Brian Sheanon (0-4). Subs used: Daryll McKenna, Stephen McGovern, Conor Bates, Jack Cosgrave
Drumgoon: Corey Smith (0-1, 1f); Enda McChesney, Tommie McKitterick, Martin Fitzpatrick; Brendan McCabe, Barry Cooney, Paddy Smith (0-1); Conor Moynagh (1-0), Jim McNally; Shane Smith, Pauric McGorry (0-1, 1f), Shane McGorry; Edward Gaffney, Keith Fannin (2-2, 1 pen, 2f), Aogan Farrell (0-1). Subs used: Ian Craddock, Conor Bates, Sean Smith.
Referee: Padraig Sheridan
