U17 Div 1 League Semifinal – Killygarry 2-11(17), Drumloman Gaels 4-13(25)
It was always going to be an uphill struggle with injuries and absences for this semi-final but the lads put up a brave battle against a team which showed plenty of bravery and talent themselves. Things didn’t start well with Drumloman clocking up an early goal and a point. We looked nervous at the back but the lads settled in and managed to keep Drumloman scoreless over the following ten minutes. Cian Reilly got us off the mark with a point from play when he might have played in Darragh Lovett for a goal chance when he managed to find open space for himself on the edge of the square. Drumloman scored another point but as the game entered the second quarter, Darragh Lovett finished off a sweet team move with a rifled shot low and hard to the corner of the net. Our lads were starting to play much more fluently at this stage but they couldn’t reach half-time without some punishment from the Drumloman forwards. They managed 2-02 in the closing stages but Jack Mooney was unlucky to see a sweet shot brilliantly saved by the Drumloman keeper. Cormac Lynch also made a good save and Darragh Lovett and Jack Mooney gave us heart with the two last points of the half to leave the score at the break – Killygarry 1-03(6), Drumloman Gaels 3-04(13)
Drumloman got two early points in the second half and Cormac Lynch had to be alert again to bring off a fine save. Our lads got into the swing of things again starting with a Darragh Lovett point. Then Jack Mooney managed one of his trademark bursts to place an unstoppable shot in the bottom corner of the net. Jack added another quick point with great lead-up play from Mark McDermott to leave only four points between the sides but we were never able to narrow that gap. Darragh Lovett pointed a free. Then Cian Reilly got another from play with an assist from Mark McDermott again. Darragh Lovett got another when he was put in by Jack Mooney but Drumloman matched these scores. Paddy Breslin made a great block in the goalmouth but Drumloman put the nail in the coffin when they grabbed a goal as the game entered the last ten minutes. Jack Mooney added a point from a free but Drumloman powered on and scored three more points to leave a mountain to climb. But our lads weren’t going to give in easily. They exerted constant pressure on the Drumloman defence in the closing stages but our only reward was two points from Darragh Lovett. Lady luck deserted them on a number of other occasions. Richard Ayodele had an effort cannon off the crossbar and he had another effort pushed out for a ’45 almost immediately after that. Darragh Lovett was also through on another occasion and saw his effort pushed out for a ’45 too.
Our lads were obviously disappointed at losing but they will know from their performance that they will be able to give the championship a good crack when that comes around later in the season. They can be proud of their efforts on this occasion playing at the top level of the game.
Killygarry: Patrick Reilly, Adam Butt, Paddy Breslin, Mickey McCabe, Gerry Murphy, Conor McCabe, Kevin Lovett, Richard Ayodele, Cian Reilly (0-02), Dylan Mulvany, Mark McDermott, James Gannon, Jack Mooney (1-03, 1f), Cillian Moran, Darragh Lovett (1-06, 4f), Ben Mooney, Cormac Lynch, Dara P. Brady, Dylan Glynn, Eoin Gilsenan, Nik Serga, Oscar Brady, Shane McCabe.
