KILBRIDE 0-07 RATHVILLY 0-05
AT SPELLMAN Park on Saturday evening Kilbride showed that desire and team spirit can make up for deficiencies in other areas.
With such a small panel of players few would have given this small club a chance of coming out of a tough group.
“A small crossroads team. We don’t mind being written off. We will take every game as it comes,” said corner back, Sean Foley after his side had defeated Rathvilly.
Their one-point win over perennial strugglers St Patrick’s in the first round suggested a troubled season.
“Last year it was tough on us after missing a couple of lads. We did well to stay in it (senior level) after missing them,” pointed out Foley. This year they lost leading scorer Padraig Nolan who was forced to emigrate. According to Foley his absence inspired the players and Stephen Curry and Seamus Gray have been their main score getters with Nolan gone.
“Darragh (Foley) and Joe (Watters) are tagging on a few scores as well. Everybody knew what needed to be done,” explained Foley.
Irrespective of what happens they are one of the success stories of the championship. They could even be looking for a little bit more now.
They deservedly put the county champions to the sword. Their recipe for success is simple.
“That performance came from hard work at the start of the year. Sean O’Brien did a bit with us but he is busy now. Anthony Curry and John Smith are after taking over and driving us on.
“We wanted it badly tonight after being beaten by Kildavin-Clonegal by two points. We knew there would be little in it. We are after training hard for the last couple of weeks.”
Gary Dempsey and Larry Farrell pointed for Rathvilly in the first eight minutes. Signs so that Rathvilly were in the groove?
Apparently not. The next four points came from the intermediate champions of two years ago. Seamus Gray nabbed two. Darragh Foley belted over another while Jason Carroll picked up a flicked pass from Gray and pointed easily.
In the 21st minute Rathvilly lost Brendan Murphy with an ankle injury. His loss was significant but at the time of his departure he certainly was not the dominant figure.
“Brendan picked up an injury to an ankle. We couldn’t risk him,” said selector, Martin Deering.
At half time Kilbride led 0-5 to 04. Rathvilly raised the intensity at the start of the second half. Ken Doyle pointed but Alan Kelly saw his powerful shot well saved by the Kilbride keeper.
“Derry O’Toole pulled off a brilliant save. He is very committed. He is first there to training and last to leave. He has been pulling off saves like that for us down through the years whether it is junior, intermediate or senior,” said Foley.
Another Rathvilly goal chance was missed. Larry Farrell could have pointed but went for the jugular. He was unsuccessful. Deering felt they were crucial turning points.
“The goal chances cost us. If we had taken those points the goal chances could have come later. That left Kilbride in the game,” he said.
It was unbelievable to think that Rathvilly would fail to score for the remainder of the game. Kilbride fared little better but they had the bit between their teeth. Two Seamus Gray frees in the last ten minutes gave them an unlikely but deserved victory.
Deering was taking nothing away from Kilbride but he did hint at a level complacency within the camp.
“It was a game we were expecting to win but we didn’t perform. We were flat all night,” he said.
He is not sure what mental damage has been done.
“We are going to have a job now. We are going to have to lift them. We can’t blame anybody else but ourselves.”