Junior C  reports 2007

Mullagh prove much too good in second half

Junior C hurling Championship round one played in Killimor on Sunday June 17th
Kilnadeema/Leitrim 1.05  Mullagh  3.16

It is a wonderful sign of the times in Kilnadeema/Leitrim hurling club that they are now able to field three adult teams in the Championship. and the Junior C team opened their campaign in Killimor on Sunday June 17th against Mullagh. They contained many experienced players who had played at the highest grade in previous years with the club, but with the team unable to field their minor players due to the Leaving Cert Exams not yet been complete it was not at it's strongest. While the overall result was disappointing, the first half performance was very competitive and keenly fought. The game all through was light up by the number 15 on both sides Shane O'Looney for Kilnadeema/Leitrim and Mark Finnerty for Mullagh who were both brilliant. Both of these players had the opening scores of the game for their sides, first Finnerty for Mullagh and then an immediate response from O'Looney for Kilnadeema/Leitrim both from play. Niall Connnaughton then put Mullagh back in front with a point from play  on 7 mins. Eric Callanan then added a point from a free for Mullagh before we had the first big score of the day when the for mentioned Shane O'Looney connected with a loose ball in the square to goal after a Michael Geargthy free had dropped short. This put his side ahead for the first time 1.01 to 0.03. We waited 5 minutes before Shane O'Looney scored again, this time a wonderful point on the run. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were on top now in a lot of positions but all this was to change five minutes alter when the defence committed a silly foul on  Mullagh attacker in front of the goals when he was simply going nowhere. The resulting 21 metre free was put in the back of Eamon Coleman's net by Eric Callanan to put Mullagh back in front 1.03 to 1.02. Eamon then made a great save before Mark Finnerty added two more points both from play before Fergal Deely scored a lovely point for Kilnadeema/Leitrim on 27 mins. Mark Finnerty closed the scoring just as he had started with  a point from play  to leave the score board reading 1.06 to 1.03 in Mullagh's favour. If the first half was close and exciting then the second was quiet the opposite with Mullagh taking over all over the field. TJ Lowrey and Ruairi Costello swopted points at the start of the second half before Mullagh took over. A Goal and a point from Mark Finnerty and a point each from Ray Kennedy and  Michael Coen had then ahead 2.10 to 1.04 after 8 mins. John Geargthy then scored  a lovely point for Kilnadeema/Leitrim  a minute later to stop the root. Sadly for him and his team-mates it only got worse as this was his sides last score of the game. It was all Mullagh from here on especially after Michael Geargthy missed a Penalty on 12 mins. Points followed from Eric Callanan, Mark Finnerty and Michael Coen to extend their lead before sub Russell Lynch ) who incidentally started off his hurling career in Kilnadeema National School and played all his under age with the club ) crashed home a third goal for Mullagh on 26 mins. Michael Coen added another point before Mark Finnerty scored two more points, this brought his total to 1.08 in the game all from play. He looks like a player who should be playing in  a much higher grade. For Kilnadeema/Leitrim their will be better days and it was especially good to see Brian Flynn back playing for the club after his two years in America.

Scorers: Shane O'Looney 1.02, John Geargthy 0.01, Ruairi Costello 0.01, Fergal Deely 0.01.
Team Lineout: Eamon Coleman, Stephen Forde, Nicholas Flannery, Martin Corcoran, Brian Flynn, Ruairi Costello, Sean Kenny, Michael Keating, Cathal Nevin, Fergal Deely, Michael Geargthy, John Geargthy, Michael Coleman, Niall Shaughnessy, Shane O'Looney
Sub used: Shane Ready


Gort forwards too hot for Junior C team in one sided game

Junior C hurling championship played in Castledaly on Friday June 29th
Kilnadeema/Leitrim 2.09  Gort 6.12

Hopes of a first victory in the Junior C championship were high after a spirited first half performance against Mullagh in the previous round when Kilnadeema/Leitrim took on Gort in round two in Castledaly on Friday June 29th. Gort are already pointless after two games having lost heavily to both Mullagh and Portumna. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were forced to line out without five of the team which lined out against Mullagh, but did have some of the Minor team available fot the first time. Kilnadeema/Leitrim started well and took the lead after one minute with  a point from play by Minor star Eoin O'Toole. Gort soon got into their stride though and straight away it was obvious they had forwards who could cause damage if given the space. Within 6 mins they had one goal and two points on the board with James Fahy scoring the goal on 6 minutes, sandwiched between were two points from play from Tom Linnane and Brian Quinn before Michael Geargthy replyed with  a point from  a free to leave the score reading 1.02 to 0.02 early on. Another of the young Minors Colm Kelly soon added another point from play and Eoin O'Toole got his second also from play on 15 minutes to leave just  a point between the sides. From here to the half time whistle Gort took over and built up a seven point lead. Points from David Cummins with two, Gerry Nester and Brian Quinn had Gort five ahead before Michael Geargthy replayed with another pointed free. David Cummins at Full Forward was causing a lot of problems at this stage and he scored a second goal for Gort on 30 mins after he struck a great ground stroke to the Kilnadeema/Leitrim net past Goalie Brian Flynn. This left the half time score reading 2.06 to 0.05. Kilnadeema/Leitrim introduced Michael Keating at half time to strengthen up Midfield. Michael Geargthy scored his third point of the game from another free at the start of the second half before disaster struck for Kilnadeema/Leitrim when Gort scored goals for fun with three been scored within 4 minutes all from play from Brian Quinn, James Fahy, and David Cummins to open up a 15 point gap. Fergal Deely momentarily stopped the root with  a point from play on 12 minutes before another goal was conceded to Gort, this time from Brian Quinn again. James Fahy soon added a point to leave 18 points between the teams. Fair play to Kilnadeema/Leitrim they did not throw in the towel and within two minutes they had two goals and a point on the board, first with  a point from Michael Keating and then a double goal rush from Alan Mannion and Fergal Deely  , who lobbed the goalie from out near the sideline to leave the score reading 6.07 to 2.08. from here to the finish Gort went up  a gear again and struck for four points in  a row all from the stick of David Cummins and all from play just like all their other scores beforehand. Alan Mannion did have the final score of the game with  a point from play on 30 mins to leave the final score 6.12 to 2.09. This was an unexpected and disappointing defeat for Kilnadeema/Leitrim who must now pick up the pieces for their remaining three game sin the group. The one good point to come out of the game was the introduction to adult hurling of so many young players for the first time. 

Scorers: Alan Mannion 1.01, Fergal Deely 1.01, Michael Geargthy 0.03, Eoin O'Toole 0.02, Colm Kelly 0.01, Michael Keating 0.01.

Team Lineout: Brian Flynn, Sean Kenny, Nicholas Flannery, Martin Corcoran, Kevin Kelly, Ruairi Costello, Cathal Farrell, Cathal Nevin, Colm Kelly, Alan Mannion, Michael Geargthy, Eoin O'Toole, Stephen Forde, Shane Geargthy, Fergal Deely.
Sub used: Michael Keating

League 2007