Two wins from three for the Celts

IFC round 3

Cootehill Celtic 0-15

Killinkere 1-11

Cootehill Celtic lived dangerously before edging home at the expense of Killinkere in a nervy IFC clash at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday last.

In securing their second victory from their three championship outings to date, the Celts made hard work of beating a Killinkere side that were greatly inconsistent in the business of converting hard won possession into the hard coinage of creating scoring chances.

For their part, Cootehill were profligate in overall terms but especially so in the first half when they notched nine wides compared to their opponents’ brace.

The Celts began with a spring in their step and went 0-3 to 0-0 in front before they were stung by a very well-worked Killinkere goal which saw Jason McMahon and Conall Mooney combine to put Emmett Fitzsimons in for a palmed, levelling, goal in the 8th minute.

In avenging their 2023 IFC defeat to the same opposition, Cootehill floated like a butterfly around the middle third but never got to sting like a bee and, as such, the destination of the spoils was in doubt right to the end.

Poor shooting – and a penchant for landing deliveries into the mid-rib of the respective ‘keepers - bedevilled the efforts of both teams to get into their stride and make a consistent impression on the scoreboard in the opening quarter with just four scores being recorded in total during that period.

Killinkere seemed to sense Cootehill’s lack of conviction while on the ball in opposition territory and a point from Alex Sweeney and one from Cian McGovern (20) had the green and golds ahead by 1-2 to 0-3.

Cootehill were at their best in the second quarter as they successfully reeled in Killinkere’s lead with unanswered points from Jake White (free) and a brace from Shane Sexton plus a late free by Enda Hessin leaving the Hoops ahead by 0-7 to 1-2 at the half-time break.

Excellent interventions by Jamie Smith (Cootehill) and Daniel Sweeney (Killinkere) pock-marked the opening five minutes of the second half before Cillian McGahan arrowed over a free (36) to make it a three points game for the first time since the 6th minute.

By the three-quarter hour mark, the Celts were four points in front thanks, in part, to a Cian Smith brace.

Killinkere came alive again in the 46th minute when Emmett Fitzsimons pointed and then Alex Sweeney polished off a neat interchange with Jason McMahon.

Killinkere’s greater work rate and better use of the ball in the middle third continued to show on the scoreboard and with ten minutes of normal time remaining, Cootehill led by just a single point, 0-11 to 1-7.

Then in the 52nd minute, Killinkere secured a turnover of the ball and David Macken fired over to level the match for the first time since the 24th minute.

It was now anyone’s game but, somehow, Cootehill regained the initiative and a White free and a Cian Smith point from play (56) left Killinkere chasing the game once more. On cue, Emmett Fitzsimons fired over a free (58) to make it a two point game.

The dying embers of the game were a frantic affair with Sean O’Connor firing over the black spot for the townies, thus rendering Kevin McCabe’s 63rd minute effort meaningless.

Cootehill Celtic: Jamie Smith; Alan Curran, Ben McGahan, Mark Farrell; Rian Delaney (0-1), Sean O’Connor (0-1), Dean Connolly; Cian Farrelly, Cillian McGahan (0-21, 1f); Kian Cooper (0-1), Enda Hessin (0-1, f), Stevie O’Connor; Jake White (0-4, 2f), Cian Smith (0-3, 2f).

Sub; Diarmaid Carney for C Smith.

Killinkere: Lee Phillingham; Daniel Sweeney, Kevin McCabe (0-1), Shane Ryan; Nathan McQuade, Jason McMahon, Liam McCabe; Fintan McConnell, Alex Sweeney (0-2); Philip Furlong, Conall Mooney (0-1, f), Luke Crossan; Emmett Fitzsimons (1-4, 2f), Damien Sexton, Cian McGovern (0-2).

Subs; Ciaran Cusack for P Furlong; Mark Farrelly for N McQuade; David Macken (0-1) for D Sexton; Ciaran Flynn for C Cusack.