Minor challenge back up and running after brilliant win over Mellick/Eyrecoart

Kilnadeema/Leitrim 1.11 Mellick/Eyrecoart 1.07

Having only played done minor championship match by the end of June, which was against An Spiddal, 6 weeks ago, Kilnadeema/Leitrim finally played their second game when they took on Mellick/Eyrecoart on Wednesday July 2nd in Killimor on another very wet evening (the story of the summer of 2008). Dara Herlihy and Johnny Moran with a pointed free each had the teams up and running after 3 mins. Colm Kelly soon shot the first point from play when he took a great pass from Shane Lawless. Full Forward Gary Curley added another point on seven minutes after been set up brilliantly by brother Shane and Aiden Monaghan. With the rain really pouring down now Colm Kelly scored his second point a minute later. Aiden Monaghan made a great run to score a great point on 15 mins. Mellick/Eyrecoart come back strongly and shot three points in the next ten minutes through two Johnny Moran free's and a Malcolm Flannery point from play. Nathum Moran had the final score of the first half, a point from play right on half time to leave the score reading 0.06 to 0.04. Mellick/Eyrecoart appeared for the second half in white jerseys and soon took over in the game. They were ahead after three minutes when Malcolm Flannery goaled to put his side one point up. Dara Herlihy soon levelled up the game again with a pointed free. Johnny Moran did likewise for Mellick/Eyrecoart to put them back in front on 12 mins. Then Kilnadeema/Leitrim really dug deep to get back in front with points from Colm Kelly and a Dara Herlihy free. Johnny Moran levelled it up again on 17 mins with another pointed free. Aiden Treacy with a wonderful point from over 100 yards soon had Mellick/Eyrecoart back in front again. Dara Herlihy who was unerring with his free taking all day soon levelled again after 23 mins. With both teams looking for a winner, a long Brian Gardiner clearance was saved by Enda Lawless in the Mellick/Eyrecoart goal only for Shane Lawless to knock the loose ball into the net for a vital goal with five minutes to play. Substitute Michael Donoghue made certain near the finish with another point from play to leave the final score reading Kilnadeema/Leitrim 1.11 Mellick/Eyrecoart 1.07. Considering the very poor conditions, this was a very good game all through with Kilnadeema/Leitrim just the better team.

Scorers: Dara Herlihy 0.04, Shane Lawless 1.00, Colm Kelly 0.03, Aiden Monaghan 0.01, Gary Curley 0.01, Michael Donoghue 0.01.

Team Lineout: Paul Howard, Damien Donoghue, Kevin Kelly, Cathal Nevin, Brian Gardiner, Stephen Curley, Padraig Stapleton, Mark Kelly, Dara Herlihy,  Colm Kelly, Aiden Monahan, Daithi Donoghue, Shane Lawless, Gary Curley, Nathan Moran.
Subs: Gary Winters, Michael Donoghue, Martin Costello.


Dara Herlihy shows his skill on the ball against Mellick/Eyrecoart