Intermediate league title for Kilnadeema/Leitrim after hard fought victory over Moycullen

Kilnadeema/Leitrim 2.13 Moycullen 0.18

Kilnadeema/Leitrim hurling club recorded a wonderful and exciting victory when they overcame Moycullen by the narrowest of margins in the Intermediate League final of 2007 played in Athenry on Saturday evening last the 30th August to  record only their second ever adult title in over twenty years of amalgamation, the last in the championship nine years ago. In a game that was played at a tremendous pace all through, both sides had their moments of dominance. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were the first to have the use of the breeze, but it was Moycullen who got off to the best possible start when Galway senior footballer Mark Lydon knocked over the opening point from play. Kilnadeema/Leitrim who were slow to settle finally found the range when centre half forward Liam Geargthy scored a lovely point from play. Moycullen responded in the best possible way through centre half back Vinnie Faherty who put over the next two points, the first from play after ten minutes and then a long free a minute later. Kilnadeema/Leitrim finally began to get a grip on the game near the midway point of the half and scored 1.05 with reply. First Tom Tierney scored two points, one from play after twelve minutes before the first major score of the game arrived on fourteen minutes when county star David Tierney  set up up brother Tom  who broke through for a vital goal. Michael Regan and Brian Daniels then added two points more points from play. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were now coming at Moycullen in waves and David Tierney shot over a point on eighteen minutes when a goal looked the likely result to open up a six-point gap. Morgan Darcy replied with a pointed free a minute later for Moycullen before David Tierney, who was proving a big handful for the Westerners goaled again on twenty-three minutes with an unstoppable shot past Eric Fox. Morgan Darcy with two pointed free’s kept Moycullen in the game before Liam Geargthy shot over his second point of the game for Kilnadeema/Leitrim from out near the sideline. Gareth Clancy responded for Moycullen late in the half with a point from a lineball before Brian Gardiner of Kilnadeema/Leitrim closed the scoring in the first half with a wonderful point under pressure to leave the score at the break 2.08 to 0.07 in the east Galway side’s favour. Any notion that the second half was going to be easy for Kilnadeema/Leitrim was soon squashed as Moycullen came out all guns blazing and soon had the lead down to the minimum by the half way stage of the second half as Kilnadeema/Leitrim completely lost their shape and failed to score. After missing a 21-yard free in the first minute, Moycullen took off and scored at will. First midfielder Mark Lydon who was now operating in the half forward line shot over a long range free which was added to by a point from Thomas Higgins. Eanna Noone, a member of the Galway minor panel was introduced at half time and he soon shot over a point as Moycullen were now only trailing by three. Morgan Darcy then pointed on ten and sixteen minutes to put just a point between the sides with Moycullen looking like winners Kilnadeema/Leitrim who made many positional changes to try and get their shape back opened their second half account eventually with a wonderful inspiring point from county star David Tierney who would be a likely man of the match at the end. Tom Tierney, who had a quiet first half by his standards soon took off and played a vital roll to the finish in getting his team over the line, first he pointed a free on nineteen minutes before he struck a mighty point from play a minute later and almost immediately he did the same again to open up a four point gap. Moycullen were far from finished though and shot over the next two points from Morgan Darcy and Mark Lydon to leave just two between the sides again. Tom Tierney with a free and Thomas Higgins then exchanged points as the tension became unbearable after twenty-eight minutes. It was then we witnessed the brilliance of Mark Herlihy in goals as he made a stunning save to deny Chris Hurney a certain goal for Moycullen. Eanna Noone with a pointed 65 put just the minimum between the sides again before the final drama unfolded when Moycullen were awarded a free in forty yards out to level the game which Morgan Darcy unfortunately miss hit and the chance was gone as Referee Sean Moran ended the match amid great excitement for Kilnadeema/Leitrim players and Supporters on a final score line of 2.13 to 0.18. This was a great advert for Intermediate hurling in Galway even if the final took ten month to stage after the semi final and will give both teams a great lead up to the championship in a few weeks.

Scorers: Kilnadeema/Leitrim David Tierney 1.03, Tom Tierney 1.05, Liam Geargthy 0.02, Michael Regan 0.01, Brian Daniels 0.01, Brian Gardiner 0.01.

Kilnadeema/Leitrim lineout: Mark Herlihy, Patrick Deely, Kevin Boyle, Sean Burke, David Spellman, Eamon Hyland, Aiden Spaight, Brian Gardiner, Ramie Larkin, Brian Daniels, Liam Geargthy, David Tierney, Michael Regan, Tom Tierney, Niall Tierney.

Subs used: Daniel Burke, Kevin Molloy and Shane O'Looney