Shock! Intermediate team dumped out of championship by unfanced Annaghdown in Quarter final

Kilnadeema/Leitrim 0.14 Annaghdown 0.16

Extreme disappointment was felt by all Kilnadeema/Leitrim Intermediate players, management and Supporters when they crashed out of the 2008 championship in the preliminary quarter final with Annaghdown in Pearse Stadium, Salthill on Sunday September 28th. having training extremely hard  for this championship under the management of John Whelan and with the 2007 League trophy safely won and put in the cabinet only a few week ago, their was extreme confidence that a really good run in the championship was possible. With the game having been fixed for Pearse Stadium, their was great excitement about playing in top stadium for the very first time. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were first to score when Tom Tierney shot over an early free. Former Annaghdown underage star Adrian Murphy soon replied with a point from play. The Corribsiders were soon one point ahead when Fergal Coleman pointed on eight minutes. Annaghdown were very lucky to have a gifted free taker in Con Butler and like Tom Tierney was kept busy all day. Con got the first of his free's after eleven minutes which he duely pointed. Tom Tierney replied four minutes alter with a similar score. It was noticeable that Annaghdown had already taken a major grip on the game and were showing great speed, movement and commitment all over the field. They added two further points in the next two phased of play, first with a Butler free and a Ronan Leonard point from play to open up a three point gap. The first score from play for Kilnadeema/Leitrim did not arrive until the ninetieth minute, but what a point it was from David Tierney after making a great run at goal. Brother Niall soon added another point from play after been set up by both David and Tom. With only a point between the sides now the game moved into another gear, especially for Annaghdown as they put a lot of pressure on the Kilnadeema/Leitrim defence and soon added two Con Butler pointed free's. With the first half growing to a close, Kilnadeema/Leitrim closed the gap again to a point, first Tom Tierney pointed another free and a great point from play by David Tierney. With the game well into to injury time Annaghdown lifted their performance again and struck over two further points from a Butler free and a brilliant point from county senior footballer Niall Coleman. The real highlight of the first half was reserved until the very end of the half when Adrian Murphy brought a point blank save out of Mark Herlihy to keep his side in the game on a half time scoreline of 0.06 to 0.09. Kilnadeema/Leitrim introduced two substitutes at half time namely Sean Burke and Enda Fanning. Ronan Leonard soon opened up a four point gap with a point from play straight from the throw in. Tom Tierney replied with a point from a free before Carl Leonard shot over a wonderful point for Annaghdown. Con Butler then stretched their lead to five with another point from a free before David and Tom Tierney took over. First David shot two inspirational points from play in what was his best performance for a long time, before Tom pointed brilliantly from play out near the sideline to leave just two points in the game again. Fergal Conneely was now introduced as Kilnadeema/Leitrim finally began to look like possible winners. David Tierney then scored another great point from play. Con Butler increased Annaghdown lead again with another point from a free from midfield  before Tom Tierney did likewise on 16 minutes to leave just the minimum between the sides and it was all levelled up again a minute later when as Tom Tierney pointed another free on 0.13 each. It was now that Annaghdown really showed there hunger and greater drive foe home and they were soon two up again through a Butler free and a Adrian Murphy point from play. Fergal Coleman then added another point after 26 minutes to put a goal between the team. Sean Burke finally got another name on the scoreboard for Kilnadeema/Leitrim with a point from play after 28 minutes. Try as they might Kilnadeema/Leitrim could not get that vital goal and they looked certain to score when David Tierney set up brother Tom who was in on goal only for Annaghdown to make a great block down as the dream was brought to an end for another year with the final whistle and score board reading 0.14 to 0.16 in the men in Maroon's favour. What really went wrong on this occasion is not certain but the vital hunger needed to win top championship matches sadly seemed to be missing by many players, some of whom are near the end of their career's. For John Whelan and his selectors and trainer John Rock they deserved better for all their brilliant work through out a long year. It it can be picked up again it is hard to know, but life must go on and with many fine young players now coming through the club the future is still very bright and their will be better days ahead.

Scorers: Tom Tierney 0.07, David Tierney 0.05, Niall Tierney 0.01, Sean Burke 0.01.

Lineout: Mark Herlihy, Patrick Deely, David Spellman, Ruairi Conneely, Eamon Hyland,  Aiden Spaight, Brian Gardiner, Ramie Larkin, Michael Flanagan, Liam Geargthy, David Tierney, Niall Tierney, Michael Regan, Tom Tierney, Brian Daniels.
Subs used: Sean Burke, Enda Fanning, Fergal Conneely, Ruairi Costello.

David Tierney strikes the ball as Niall Coleman of Annaghdown closes him down