Late free secures draw for the Stars over improved Lavey

Senior Football Championship round 2

Kingscourt Stars 3-7

Lavey 1-13

Paul Fitzpatrick at Edwin Carolan Park

A free from Barry Reilly with practically the last kick of the game secured a draw for Kingscourt in this highly entertaining clash at Mullagh on Friday night.

Kingscourt won three matches by a point in the group stages last year, having survived extra time in the quarter-final the year before, and they again proved their mettle by snatching a point here from a game in which they started well but were out-played for long spells.

Lavey, who lost the opening round by the minimum margin to Lacken, came out breathing fire and were unfortunate not to get the win after a greatly improved performance, with county man Chris Conroy the stand-out player on the pitch.

Lavey played with the wind in the first half but found themselves trailing by 2-3 to 0-4. A free from Darren Jordan opened the scoring but Kingscourt hit back with a goal when Kevin Curtis found the net after a well-taken mark from Peter Corrigan.

A 45 from Chris Conroy cut the gap to one. Lavey were already profiting off the Kingscourt kick-out, a trend which continued all game, and after Gerry Smith robbed one, Peter Smith pointed with the outside of the boot.

After a well-worked move the length of the pitch, Karl Duke sent over Lavey’s third point in succession but, again, the Stars replied with a goal. A great run from Corrigan created a chance for Jordan Morris, who turned and was gone like a rocket before planting the ball in the roof of the net.

It was one of the rare occasions in the game where the Meath star escaped the clutches of Danny Cusack but when he did, he showed his class.

Barry Tully set Corrigan up for a well-taken point and a free from Morris made it 2-3 to 0-4 entering the second quarter.

But Lavey would dominate from there till half-time, scoring 1-3 unanswered. Jordan looked to be in for a goal but was turned back by good defending from Padraig Faulkner; the ball fell to Paul Gilchreest, who slotted over.

Duke was next to register before Gerry Smith had a goal effort sail inches wides of the top corner. Lavey were humming – ref Kieran McCarville was letting a lot go and both sides were thundering into challenges everywhere.

A 40-metre point on the outside of the boot from Gerry Smith cut the gap to two and Lavey hit the front when they rattled the net on the stroke of half-time. Duke and Aaron McCabe (playing in a deeper role) combined to release Shane Tierney, who tucked away to the bottom corner to leave it 1-7 to 2-3 at the break.

Lavey made it seven points unanswered either side of the interval with a blistering start to the second half. Oran Daly knocked over the first before Conroy started and finished a move, firing over from 35 metres.

Duke set Jordan up for the next and then again provided the assist, this time for Gerry Smith to split the posts with the left.

Suddenly, Lavey were five ahead but Kingscourt responded emphatically with another goal. Alan Clarke, whose switch to midfield helped the Stars get a foothold on their own restart, drove in a long ball to Joe Dillon, whose clever flick found Morris. The ball spilled and Faulkner was on hand to finish superbly to the top corner, soccer-style.

An excellent point from Sean Burke was cancelled out by a fisted Jordan point from what could have been a goal for the New Inns men.

At the other end, sub Cian Shekleton kicked a brilliant score from the left sideline. By now, Morris was struggling with what looked like a calf injury and was hovering around midfield. In his absence from the inside line, Dillon came more to the fore.

Dillon won a free which half-time sun Barry Reilly converted to tie the game at 3-6 to 1-12 but Lavey hit the front again when the ball was shovelled out of a ruck to Gerry Smith and he knocked it over on the turn.

Kingscourt pressed and were rewarded with a late, late free to level the game. The Lavey defenders bitterly disputed the ‘lift ball’ call but it made no difference; the kick was converted and the final whistle sounded moments later to bring the curtain down on a thrilling contest.