Kildavin-Clonegal hold off late Clonmore comeback
Jake Nolan (Kildavin/Clonegal) scores a vital goal against Clonmore in during the Talbot Hotel IFC quarter-final Photo: Pat Ahern
Kildavin-Clonegal survived a late rally to overcome Clonmore in the intermediate football quarter-final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
The eventual winners looked as if they were going to sweep their rivals off their feet when they dominated possession in the first quarter. Joe Roberts led the way and by half-time he had nailed a two-pointer from play which helped bring his first half total to 0-5. Jake Nolan scored a Kildavin-Clonegal goal on 16 minutes after he took the pass from Donal Hickey.
Clonmore finally found a gear. Enda McGrath scored two points and Jordan Tallon’s two-pointer from play saw the momentum changing. At half-time, Kildavin-Clonegal’s early ten point lead had come down to 1-8 to 0-6.
Minutes after the restart, David Mulvaney deflected a high delivery to the Kildavin-Clonegal net at the scoreboard end of the ground. Shane McGrath and Daniel Cronin exchanged points as Clonmore hung on and tried to get bak into the game.
When Joe Roberts saw his penalty come back off the left-hand upright, Clonmore came again and a free from Aaron Kelly and a two-pointer from Tallon which left only the minimum between the sides. Kildavin-Clonegal won a crucial ball and after going forward, Daniel Murphy knocked over what proved to be the insurance score.
J Roberts 0-7 (1-2p 2fs), J Nolan 1-0, C Scott, N Hickey (2p), D Murphy, D Cronin 0-2 each.
J Tallon 0-7 (1-2p, 2-2pfs, f), D Mulvaney 1-0, E McGrath 0-2, S McGrath, S Murphy, A Kelly (f), T Pollard 0-1 each.
Conor Hendrick; Gavin Byrne, Philip Byrne, Lorcan Kinsella; Liam Roberts, John Kirwan, Ciaran Scott; Niall Hickey, Pauric Hickey; Daniel Murphy, Jake Nolan, Liam McGuill; Joe Roberts, Donal Hickey, Daniel Cronin. Subs: Jack Byrne for D Hickey (43).
Jordan Kane; Cormac Connolly, Anthony Kealy McDonald, Shane Murphy; Billy Lawlor, Matt Cullen, Lee Doyle; David Mulvaney, Luke Connolly; Paddy Gahan, Enda McGrath, Tom Pollard; Eoin Connolly, Jordan Tallon, Shane McGrath. Subs: Jake Hickey for L Connolly (48), Conal Cullen for S McGrath (48), Aaron Kelly for E Connolly (50).
Sean McCormack (Fighting Cocks).
