Goals the key in ousting defending champions

Inagh-Kilnamona 4-10   Crusheen 1-17

Two goals in the opening 10 minutes of each half played a major part in Inagh-Kilnamona’s victory over defending champions Crusheen in this senior championship quarter-final tie at Cusack Park on Saturday evening.

 

In a lively and entertaining contest that produced some excellent scores, these goals put an end to Crusheen’s dream of a third title in a row. That said, the result was in doubt right to the final whistle and the champions had two chances to level the game before Niall Arthur put two points between the sides in the fourth minute of injury time.

Inagh-Kilnamona manager Paul Gannon was, understandably, thrilled with the result. “We are absolutely delighted. It was a fierce battle, a fierce hard struggle. Four goals is a lot to get and it is what won us the game in the end,” he said.

“We are working hard, the guts of two years have gone into this and Ken [Ralph] has great work put in with the team,” he added before sounding a note of caution. “Let’s not get carried away. It’s one win and it’s a huge win but there is a lot of work to do again for two weeks’ time.”

Asked if he had any preference as to whom they will play, he simply replied, “We will play whoever comes through the replay.”

Crusheen manager Michael Browne admitted it was disappointing. “We played fantastic hurling. We conceded four goals and that has never happened since I have been involved. It was one of those days when they opened up our full-back line in particular. They played well and are worthy victors.

“It wasn’t for the want of trying that we lost today. A tally of 1-17 would win most games but the difference was at the other end. They got the four goals. Maybe you could survive against two, possibly against three but the fourth one killed us,” he said.

“I can’t let the occasion pass without paying tribute to the fantastic bunch of guys we have in Crusheen. They are such a special bunch of players from a tiny place with a small population. We have got so much joy, pleasure and enjoyment from the last couple of years. That’s life, that’s sport,” he concluded.

Crusheen started impressively and raced into a three-point lead after four minutes. The first sign of a problem came a minute later when, after Donal Tuohy had saved from Conor Tierney, Niall Arthur found the net. Joe Meaney and Arthur then exchanged points before Cathal Lafferty, a problem for the Crusheen defence all evening, found the net after dispossessing Alan Brigdale.

At the end of the first quarter, the champions found themselves three points behind, 0-6 to 2-3, but they hit six unanswered points in the next 10 minutes before Niall Arthur ended 14 scoreless minutes for the winners with a point just before the break. At the interval, Crusheen were 0-12 to 2-5 in front and they hit the opening score of the second half to go two clear.

Then, just as they had done in the opening half, Inagh-Kilnamona struck for another brace of goals and Cathal Lafferty was central to both scores. For the first he won possession and passed to Conor Tierney, who doubled on the ball superbly overhead to find the net. Two minutes later, Lafferty fired low to the corner of the net and now his side were four points clear.

Crusheen weren’t going to give up the title without a fight and they hit back quickly. Jamie Fitzgibbon goaled and Fergus Kennedy followed with a point to level.

They swapped points twice in the next 10 minutes before Inagh-Kilnamona substitute Shane Griffin gave his side a lead they would hold to the end. In the second minute of injury time Pat Vaughan’s 70m from near the sideline was wide of the target and a minute later Jamie Fitzgibbon’s effort dropped short and was cleared by Patrick Kelly. It led to a free for the winners, which Niall Arthur converted from 70m to seal victory.

 

Brian Glynn, Dermot Lynch, Ronan O’Looney, Niall Arthur and Cathal Lafferty shone for the winners. Team captain Gerry O’Grady, along with Pat Vaughan, shone for Crusheen while Ciarán O’Doherty also got through some good work.

Inagh-Kilnamona: Patrick Kelly; Mile Keane, Jamie Davin Dermot Lynch; Damian Lafferty, Ronan O’Looney, Brian Glynn; Haulie Vaughan, Tomas Kelly; Ger Arthur, Eamonn Glynn Eoin Vaughan; Conor Tierney, Cathal Lafferty, Niall Arthur.
Subs: Shane Griffin for G Arthur (42 minutes) and David Hegarty for H Vaughan (63 minutes).
Scorers: Niall Arthur (1-7, 0-5f), Cathal Lafferty (2-0), Conor Tierney (1-1), Eoin Vaughan, Shane Griffin (0-1) each.
Frees for: 11; wides: 8.
Bookings: Brian Glynn (48 minutes).
Crusheen: Donal Tuohy; John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon, Alan Brigdale; Ciaran O’Doherty, Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon; Pat Vaughan, Gearóid O’Donnell; Fergus Kennedy, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Joe Meaney; David Forde, Gerry O’Grady, Patrick Meaney.
Sub: Conor O’Loughlin for P Meaney (58 minutes).
Scorers: Pat Vaughan (0-11, 10f, 1 65’), Jamie Fitzgibbon (1-0), Joe Meaney, Fergus Kennedy (0-2 each), David Forde, Ciaran O’Doherty (0-1 each).
Frees For: 19; wides: 10; 65’s: 1.
Bookings: Fergus Kennedy (six minutes).
Referee: Rory Hickey, Éire Óg.