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County final
day is a day most Clubs dream about, but very few get to
enjoy at any grade and in Under 14 Kilnadeema/Leitrim have certainly
been put through the ringer a few times with no success to show for
all of 24 years when Kilnadeema won their only title against Liam
Mellows, while Leitrim have no Under 14 title to show on their Roll
of Honour, and so to 2007 and the chance to finally put this right
arrived in Loughrea on Saturday May 26th against East Galway rivals
Killimor (Both teams had qualified out of the same group with
Kilnadeema/Leitrim winning their clash by 5pts). A Hugh crowd had
gathered to support both sides while their was also a big following
for the Feile teams playing before hand. Killimor won the toss and
opted to play against the breeze ( probably the wrong decision in
hindsight) with both teams hoping for a good start and after
Killimor Goalkeeper Conor Mullins saved a goal bound shot, corner
forward Brian Molloy was on hand to crash home a great goal and give
his side a dream start. Brian Molloy who is still Under 12 was to
have a brilliant game right through and a minute later he won
a free which he duly pointed himself. Action was intense at this
stage both sides fighting to gain possession and Killimor giving as
good as they got. 8 minutes after his last score Brian Molloy was on
hand again to point another free after Lewis Mitchell was fouled to
put his side 1-02 to no score ahead. Brian's corner forward team
mate Cillian Dowling who was the star of the semi final win over
Cappatagle added a point from play on 12 minutes as Killimor did
their best to keep the score line down. Right on the stroke of half
time Shane Lawless the Kilnadeema/Leitrim captain was on hand after
a good solo run to slot over another point to close the first half
scoring at 1-04 to 0-00.
While Killimor would be disappointed not to have scored in the first
half, they had to be happy enough at been only 7 points down and
having the breeze in the second half. We thought at this stage that
we were in for a close second half. Killimor moved their star
midfielder Gary Keane to full forward at the start of the second
half in a hope of getting some early scores, but Kilnadeema/Leitrim
moved an extra man back to cover the danger which Colin Moran did
very well. If Kilnadeema/Leitrim had a great start to the first half
then they equally got a great start to the second half when Shane
lawless scored one of the goals of the year to put his side further
ahead. Conor O'Brien, who started the game feeling sick soon added
another point from 40 yards to put eleven points between the sides.
The first score for Killimor finally arrived on 5 minutes when James
McEvoy got in for a simple goal to give his side some hope. Any hope
they had soon vanished though when the ball worked it's way down to
the corner forward position where Brian Molloy took on and beat his
man before scoring a quiet superb goal to make the score 3-05 to 1
goal after 6 minutes. Any chance Killimor had of making a comeback
was ended on 9 minutes when full forward Stephen Bruton broke
through to goal again and put his side 14 points ahead and looking
at one hand on the Cup. Both Killimor Captain Edmund McDonagh and
Gary Keane kept driving forward in the hope of getting of getting a
few goals back, their only reward though were two points on 15 and
16 minutes, one from each player. Kilnadeema/Leitrim had no symphony
for them and finally finished them off with another goal on 21
minutes again from Stephen Bruton to leave the score reading
5-05 to 1-02. Referee Paddy Poland shortly afterwards blew the final
whistle to leave Kilnadeema/Leitrim Under 14 B champions for the
first time ever and their was wonderful celebrations to be seen all
over the pitch by players and supporters alike. This was a special
and wonderful victory for a brilliant team and management which was
lead by Mark Herlihy with great help from Ferdie Whelan, Joe Keane
and Noel Callagy. Gary Keane was presented with man of the match
award even though Brian Molloy among others had an equal claim to
the award. Then we had the very special moment everyone was waiting
for when Chairman Tom Connor presented the Under 14 trophy to Shane
Lawless. A Wonderful tour of Kilnadeema/Leitrim Parish's followed as
bonfires were seen everywhere. Kilnadeema/Leitrim had some fine
performances right through out the team from Dara Donoghue in goal
to Corner forward Brian Molloy. This is certainly a team for the
future.
Scorers: Brian Molloy 2.02, Stephen Bruton 2.00, Shane Lawless 1.01,
Cillian Dowling 0.01, Conor O'Brien 0.01.
Team Lineout:
Dara
Donoghue, Ian Kennedy, Conal Whelan, Stephen Farrell, Dara Curley,
Conor Cunningham, Conor Howard, Conor O'Brian, Colin Moran,
Lewis Mitchell, Niall Haverty, Shane Lawless, Cillian Dowling,
Stephen Bruton, Brian Molloy.
Subs Used: Tommy Mottrom, Conor Flynn, Ryan Murray, Ciaran Callagy. |
