SFC GROUP 1
PALATINE 2-11 KILBRIDE 0-8
ON paper this first round championship game in Dr Cullen Park on Friday night last could well have been considered as the tie of the round.
The draw had pitted young pretenders against a side desperately unlucky not to have had at least one more senior championship title to their credit over the last two years.
Also throw in the not so small matter of two humiliating defeats for Palatine by Kilbride in their last two meetings.
Last year’s beaten finalists would have been determined that enough was enough and that it was time to put the senior championship debutants firmly in their place. Kilbride for their part would have been anxious to lay down a championship marker and get their campaign of to a good start.
Now after reflecting on the outcome it may be fair to say that neither side really achieved their aim. Palatine by dint of their win will be far the happier but were not convincing.
Their manager Declan McGovern knew what was at stake for his side.
“I wasn’t here last year but I am very aware of the history of the two clubs. The first game was going to be crucial,” he said.
“Our league games have been far from impressive. They beat us well in the league. That day it was seven points but it should have been more so it was important for us to win here. Any win would have done but it was nice to have a bit of comfort,” he said.
A nine-point win would suggest that Palatine achieved their aim but really all it showed was the paucity of the Kilbride effort.
The first six points for the winners all came from veteran Brian Kelly even though Michael Brown opened the losers’ account when he raised a white flag in the second minute. Kelly could do no wrong in the eyes of McGovern.
“The ball seemed to break kindly for him and he was comfortable on the ball. With wind assistance all he needed to do was steer it,” he said.
It helped his side to a 1-7 to 0-2 interval lead with John Reid scoring the goal when he swept aside some ineffective tackling to beat Derry O’Toole from close range.
Lee Gordon, who started a senior championship game for the first time, scored the final point of the half while a Pauric Nolan free was Kilbride’s only other scorer in that period.
Stephen Curry, the Kilbride manager, didn’t look for excuses.
“Palatine are a good championship team and have proved it over the years. It took our lads a while to adjust to championship football.
“You can train all you like and tell lads what it is like but until they experience it themselves they don’t know what it is about. That was a good baptism for them tonight. Hopefully they will learn, improve and pick it up as the season progresses,” he said.
With the aid of a strong breeze one would have expected an immediate response from last year’s intermediate champions after the break. But a point a piece from Nolan and Seamus Gray was quickly cancelled out when a quick passing movement between Joe Byrne and John Reid put Patrick Cushen in space and he found the bottom right hand corner of the net.
It killed the game and Curry admitted that even with 20 minutes to go it signalled the end for his side.
“They took their goals well. We got two opportunities for goals but missed them. It might have kept it closer but Pal were far the better team and I have no qualms in saying that,” he reflected.
All but one of Kilbride’s goal chances could be considered in the half-chance category. The best chance fell to Nolan but his fisted volley floated on to the cross bar with Tom Nolan looking back anxiously.
As so often happens to teams looking to get something out of the game the ball fell kindly for the team on top and the chance was lost. Also it didn’t help the Kilbride cause in that on three occasions scoring chances were lost with the ball falling tamely into the arms of the Palatine keeper.
With Joe Byrne, John and David Reid in fine form Palatine moved the ball forward against a hapless Kilbride unit who never really showed the league form which caused so much trouble for some of their more vaunted rivals.
Lee Gordon matched his first-half effort when he came forward from his right-half back position to bisect the posts. Pauric Nolan and Gray pointed but these scores only served to put a look of respectability on the scoreboard.
Palatine had the last two points of the game from brothers Niall and David Reid. The second last point illustrated the gulf between the two sides with at least seven players carrying the ball forward before being dispatched over the crossbar.
Curry tried to remain positive. “The lads need to learn from that. I am not too disheartened. Our lads just need to get up to the pace of the game.”
On this display he has much to do. Injuries to key players haven’t helped his cause. Hopefully he can help to bridge the performance gap between league and championship.
As for Palatine they worked hard all through to get their campaign off to the perfect start but they won’t be getting carried away just yet.
Palatine: Tom Nolan; Dermot McDonald, Brian Farrell, David Kinsella; Lee Gordon (.-.), Joe Byrne, Gavin Farrell; Niall Reid (.-.), John Reid (.-.); David Reid (.-.), Patrick Cushen (.-.), Billy Murphy; Eddie McGarry, Brian Kelly (.-., .fs), Eoin McMahon. Subs: John Kenny for McDonald (..mins), Paddy Carroll for Mc-Mahon (..mins), Pakie O’Toole for B Farrell (..mins).
Kilbride: Derry O’Toole; Jason Carroll, John Fitzpatrick, John O’Neill; Michael Brown (.-.), Eoin Nolan, James Foley; Seamus Gray (.-., .f), Joe Waters; Jack Donoghue, Paddy Waters, Stephen Curry; Brendan Butler, Pauric Nolan (.-., .fs), John Farrell. Sub: Mark Curry for Curry (..mins).
Ref: Seamus Doyle.