Semi-final drama as Under 16 team reach county final after extra-time win over Killimordaly

Kilnadeema/Leitrim 2.12 Killimordaly 0.16 aet

Kilnadeema/Leitrim under 16 team recorded a wonderful and tremendously exciting victory, which at times didn't look possible against Killimordaly in the county semi final on Halloween weekend, Saturday November 1st in Kinvara and so qualified for the final against either Liam Mellows or Ahascragh/Fohenagh. The game which was played on a surprisingly good surface after all the recent rain was a very competitive battle all through with Killimordaly on top for much of the opening half only for Kilnadeema/Leitrim to storm back into it in the second period. In the end extra time was required to separate these two brilliant teams. Kilnadeema/Leitrim who playing against a slight breeze in the first half were first off the blocks with two early points, first Dara Herlihy with a pointed free which was followed by a point from play from Shane Lawless, who started off in great form only for a knee injury later in the half to end his day. Jonathon Craven, who had a brilliant game all through replied for Killimordaly with a point from play two minutes later and his team drew level on 6 mins with a point from midfielder Shane Concannon, again from play. Dara Cooney then put Killimordaly one point ahead with a third point from play. They were winning many of the personal battles all over the field and Kilnadeema/Leitrim were doing well to just hang in there. Killimordaly went two point up after nine minutes with another point from play from Oisin Morgan. Dara Herlihy soon got to grips with the situation as he won possession many times only to be fouled every time. he pointed two of those such free's on 14 and 18 minutes to level up the game again. Jonathon Craven who was giving Conal Moran a tough time in this half  half soon added his second point from play to restore his sides lead again and he repeated this again a minute later to put Killimordaly back in control. Dara Herlihy with his fourth pointed free kept his team in the match at 0.05 to 0.06 after 22 minutes. Dara Cooney with a pointed free put two between the sides again a minute later before Dara McInerney added another point from play for Killimordaly as half time approached to leave his team ahead by three 0.08 to 0.05 going into the dressing room. Certainly Kilnadeema/Leitrim needed to step up considerably in the second half if they were to reach their dream final as one point from play in the first half was very disappointing. Any hope of a good start to the second half soon disappeared as Dara Cooney shot another point from a free to put four between the sides. Dara Herlihy replied with a similar score immediately after before Kilnadeema/Leitrim began to improve considerably all over the field and were now beginning to dominate in key positions. One of those was Alvin Mitchell at midfield who first pointed  long range from play and a minute later put over a 65 to leave just a point between the sides after five minutes. Dara Cooney soon restored Killimordaly's lead of two points with another point from play before the first  real break came to Kilnadeema/Leitrim when Martin Costello, who was now operating at midfield pushed forward to the edge of the square and some how squeezed home a crucial goal to give his side the lead for the first time since the early minutes of the match 1.08 to 0.10. It was now anybody's game and both teams added points from free's through Cooney and Herlihy by the eighteenth minute. Dara Cooney then levelled up the game again with another free and added another point from a 65 one minute from the end of normal time to give Killimordaly one foot in the final. With four minutes of injury time to come their was still hope and it took one piece of magic to save Kilnadeema/Leitrim when Martin Costello took a lineball and slipped a short pass to the unmarked Brian Molloy on the sideline near the 21 yard line and Brian truly shot over a majestic point to level up the game again as the final whistle sounded almost immediately on a score line of 1.10 to 0.13. We were not finished though as extra time was to be played to decide who would get to the final. We hadn't to wait long into extra time for Killimordaly to go back in front when Dara Cooney pointed another free. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were dominating now and it was no surprise when the second goal arrived, this time from Niall Haverty who crashed home a low shot to the net after taking on the Killimordaly defence. This was special for Niall as his dad Richie was a former Killimordaly great. David Concannon then pointed from play for Killimordaly to leave just a point between the sides again before Dara Herlihy showed his true class as he scored a wonderful point from play from near the half way line to leave the score at half time in extra time 2.11 to 0.15. Scores were now very hard to find as Kilnadeema/Leitrim protected their lead with a packed defence. Alvin Mitchell broke this trend though with a wonderful left handed point from play from out near midfield to put a goal between the sides with eight  minutes to play. Seven minutes later Dara Cooney pointed what turned out to be the last score, a point from a free to leave two in it with time running out. Killimordaly fired everything at Kilnadeema/Leitrim in those few final minutes but couldn't get past the defence plus everyone else who came back to help out. The referee Christy Helebert finally blew the final whistle to scenes of great joy on a final score line of 2.12 to 0.16.This was an amazing game that could have gone either way, as Killimordaly will claim imsure. For Kilnadeema/Leitrim their were many fine performances most notably from Conor Cunningham in goals who made one brilliant save in the second half, Conal Whelan who had his best ever game at full back, Colin Moran in the second half and extra time and in particular Niall McGinley who had a wonderful game both in the full back line and later in the half back line. . Both James Conway and Conor Fahey were tremendous in the half back line while Stephen Farrell played very well when moved back to corner back. . Alvin Mitchell was simply brilliant at stages in midfield and was ably assisted by Conor O'Brien who did really well in extra time as a defender. Niall Haverty, Martin Costello, Dara Herlihy and Brian Molloy when introduced as a substitute for Shane Lawless were superb with Steven Bruton and John Callagy always in the tick of the action in the forward line. Cillian Dowling and Ryan Murray did well when introduced.  For Kilnadeema/Leitrim now they have a few big weeks ahead on the training field before the final.

Scorers: Dara Herlihy 0.07, Alvin Mitchell 0.03, Martin Costello 1.00, Niall Haverty 1.00, Shane Lawless 0.01, Brian Molloy 0.01.

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


Kilnadeema/Leitrim centre half back Conor Fahey clears this ball against Killimordaly as Niall McGinley offers support


Dara Herlihy and Shane Lawless in control against Killimordaly

Steven Bruton has all eyes on the ball against Killimordaly

Niall Haverty makes this ball his own against Killimordaly