Lucky escape for Under 16 team in quarter final with Cappatagle

Kilnadeema/Leitrim 1.13 Cappatagle 1.13

Having not played championship hurling in over two months after qualifying for the Quarter finals in July, Kilnadeema/Leitrim returned to action on Sunday September 28th when they took on near neighbours and great rivals Cappatagle in the quarter final in Kilconieron at the very early starting time of 10.30am. This game turned out to be a real dinger with very little between the sides all through. Kilnadeema/Leitrim got off to the perfect start and looked like they would put this tie away very early. First Dara Herlihy shot over a point from a free after only one minute and doubled the lead five minutes later with a point from play, this after he was made take a 65 three times, scoring the first two attempts, before missing the third. The first real break in the game came five minutes later when midfielder Alvin Mitchell struck a long range free which carried all the way to the net passed a helpless Cappatagle goalkeeper Liam Headd to put his side 1.02 to no score ahead. Cappatagle knew they had to up their performance quickly and they certainly did when first Larry Dolan pointed from play on 10 minutes and then Kenneth Kerrins shot a goal after picking up a lineball unmarked in front of goal. Dara Herlihy shot over his third point a minute later from another placed ball and repeated this six minutes alter to open up a three point lead again. From here to half time Cappatagle took over and shot the next four points. First Darragh Dolan pointed a free and did likewise a minute later. Darragh who at thirteen years of age looks a real prospect for the future then shot over the equaliser again from a free and added his first point from play two minutes later to put his side ahead for the first time. Kilnadeema/Leitrim, who were now under extreme pressure replied with another Dara Herlihy pointed free on 26 minutes to level up the game again. Darragh Dolan had the final say on the scoreboard in the first half as he shot his second point from play right on half time to leave Cappatagle ahead at the break 1.06 to 1.05. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were forced to replace centre half back Martin Costello at half time because of injury with Niall McGinley coming in and doing a great job. Dara Herlihy, like he had done at the start of the opening half pointed a early free before Darragh Dolan replied soon after with a similar score as the game was becoming a real shoot out between the two Dara's. Herlihy equalised again on 7 mins. with another point from a free as the game ebbed and flowed at a great pace. Darragh Dolan shot his third  point from play two minutes later and added a free a minute later to open up the biggest lead of the game for Cappatagle of two points. With his side under pressure to stay in the championship, team captain Dara Herlihy shot over another free just after the half way mark in the second half  and levelled the game two minutes later with a likewise score 1.09 each. Dolan and Cappatagle were not to be outdone and he shot over his fourth point from play soon after. We then witnessed the score of the game when Kilnadeema/Leitrim full forward Shane Lawless shows all the skills of the game to score a wonderful point and level up the match again, this lead lasted only a minute though as Dolan shot over another brilliant point from play. Dara Herlihy steadied the Ship again with another pointed free  and with six minutes to play it was anybody's game. Darragh Dolan had his name stamped all over this game up to now and the thirteen year old soon had Cappatagle ahead again with another point from a free. Dara Herlihy, County under 16 star a few week previous then really stepped up to the mark and soon had the team level again with a point from play and amid great excitement he soon shot over the lead point, again from play and victory at last looked possible.  Nobody told Darragh Dolan though this was the case as he coolly pointed his twelfth point of the game, a free right on the sideline 30 metre's out to tie up a wonderful exciting game again for the last time. Extra time could have been played  but both team were happy to fight another day and rightly so. The final whistle sounded on a scoreline of 1.13 each. This game was badly needed by Kilnadeema/Leitrim as the long break was no  help and also as Cappatagle had a championship game only a week previous to this. Everybody's now looking forward to another great game in the replay with more of the same.

Scorers: Dara Herlihy 0.12, Alvin Mitchell 1.00, Shane Lawless 0.01.

Team Lineout: Conor Cunningham, Colin Moran, Conal Whelan, Stephen Farrell, James Conway, Martin Costello, Conor Fahy, Alvin Mitchell, Conor O'Brien, John Callagy, Niall Haverty, Shane Lawless, Stephen Bruton, Dara Herlihy, Brian Molloy.
Subs used: Niall McGinley, Cillian Dowling, Ryan Murray.

Alvin Mitchell in control against Cappatagle