Killinkere better Drumlane in highly entertaining clash

Wilton Waste Recycling ACFL Division 2 Rd 7

Killinkere 3-13

Drumlane 1-16

Killinkere went 11 points up a minute into the second half in a bonkers game that saw Drumlane kick the next 11 points in a row to draw the game with nine minutes to go.

Killinkere woke up from their second half siesta to land four of the final five scores of the game to hold on for a memorable win.

Killinkere started off the game well with Cian McGovern and an Emmett Fitzsimons' free opening up the evenings scoring. After eight minutes the home side led by three thanks to a Ciaran Flynn points from open play.

Ryan Connolly then sent over a free after 11 minutes to get the visitors up and running, but Killinkere quickly wrestled back control of the tie. Jason McMahon sent a long ball to the corner which Flynn gathered and cut in along the end line before passing to Peter McCabe who rounded Harry Clarke and tapped the ball to the net.

A couple of minutes later a high ball to the Drumlane square was cleverly broken by Fitzsimons to Flynn who smashed the ball to the bottom corner of the net to leave the home side with an early eight point advantage. Killinkere weren’t done yet as Kevin McCabe sent over a point followed by a Fitzsimons free to leave the gap at ten.

Cormac Flynn added a second point to the Drumlane total on the 19th minute of the game but Jason McMahon added two points in response for the yellow and greens. Ciaran Flynn added a point from play for Killinkere before Ryan Connolly hit his first and only point from play on the 27th minute.

Before the half-time whistle came a shot by Killinkere dropped short, but Fitzsimons caught it with his back to the goal, swivelled and struck the ball into the far bottom corner of the net. With 12 points now between the sides Drumlane needed something before the break to give them hope in the second half.

Drumlane’s Darragh Dolan made a backdoor cut towards the Killinkere goal and with ball in hand he squared a pass to sub Stephen McCann who finished to the Killinkere net. Cian McGovern sent over a point in response for Killinkere to give them a 3-8 to 1-4 lead at the break.

McGovern extended the Killinkere lead to eleven after the break but Drumlane upped their game and took over the ball from that point. Two Ryan Connolly frees and a great point from Gary Tubman narrowed the gap to eight points.

Wing back Liam Belton sent over a point on the eight minute followed by a Connolly free and two points from Cormac Flynn and all of a sudden there was just four between the sides with 15 minutes to go.

Between the 17th and 19th minutes the same trio had raised white flags and left the minimum between the sides.

With nine minutes remaining a Ryan Connolly free levelled the sides but the momentum was about to swing again. A free off the ground by Cian McGovern settle the would be winners down and Peter McCabe opted to fist the bar over the bar with their next attack.

With two minutes of normal time remaining Fitzsimons added a free and in injury time he completed his tally of 1-4 before Ryan Connolly replied with a consolation point before the final whistle sounded.

Killinkere team: Jake Norris, Liam McCabe, Luke Crossan, Philip Furlong, Kevin McCabe (0-1), Mark Farrelly, Nathan McQuade, Paul Brady, Jason McMahon (0-2), Garry Denning, Peter McCabe (1-1), Cian McGovern (0-4,1f), Emmett Fitzsimons (1-4,4f), Ciaran Flynn (1-1), Ciaran Cusack. Subs used: Conall Mooney, James Farrelly, Ryan Cooney, David Macken.

Drumlane team: Harry Clarke, Mark Maguire, Shane Dolan, Francis Lunney, Jake Rogers, Ciaran O’Brien, Liam Belton(0-2), Michael Owens, Dane O’Dowd, Darragh Dolan, Ronan Kiernan, Ryan Connolly(0-8,7f), Cormac Flynn(0-5), Daryl McGurren, Gary Tubman(0-1). Subs used: Stephen McCann(1-0), Ben Monaghan, Killian Tubman