Inagh-Kilnamona 1-14 Kilmaley 1-10
Inagh-Kilnamona bridged a nine year gap when they captured the minor A hurling championship at the expense of their neighbours and great rivals Kilmaley at Cusack Park this Saturday afternoon.
In a game played in very difficult weather conditions of bitterly cold and heavy rain showers, they dominated in the key areas. They led by two points at half time having played against the breeze and by the three quarter stage they had pushed their lead out to eight points and looked set for a comfortable win.
Kilmaley then hit a purple patch and they scored 1-3 without reply to move to within two points of the winners with six minutes to play.
The winners were clearly under pressure at this stage and with two minutes remaining they conceded a penalty. Goalkeeper Ronan Callinan came up to take the free but his effort was turned behind by his opposite number Eugene Foudy. Top scorer and the team’s freetaker Tom O’Rourke pointed the ’65 to leave two points between the sides as the game went into three minutes of ‘added time’.
Darren Cullinan then restored his side’s three point advantage before Aidan McCarthy pointed from a penalty awarded for a foul on Tom Barry, to seal a four point win for Inagh-Kilnamona whose last success in this championship was in 2008.
Keith White, Marc Barry, team captain Cian McInerney, Aidan McCarthy and David Mescall, particularly in the second half, played leading roles in this victory.
Ronan Cahill, Bradley Higgins, Aaron Moloney, Gearoid O’Grady, Cathal Darcy and Tom O’Rourke were prominent throughout for Kilmaley.
Inagh-Kilnamona; Eamonn Foudy; Padraig Devitt, Keith White, Marc Barry; Darren Cullinan (0-1), Cian McInerney (captain), Jason Griffin; Aidan McCarthy (0-6, 3 frees), Cian Shannon (0-1); Conor Hegarty (0-1), Eoin Fitzgerald (0-2), Tom Barry; Matthew Davenport, David Mescall (0-2), Keelan Guyler (1-1).
Subs; Shane Dowling for Davenport; Cillian Roughan for P. Devitt; Evan Devitt for Guyler;
Kilmaley; Ronan Callinan; Sean Crowley, Ronan Cahill, Dara Killeen; Aaron Moloney, Bradley Higgins, Oisin Looney; Gearoid O’Grady, Conor Cahill; John Finnucane, Tom O’Rourke (1-8, 0-4 frees),, Cathal Darcy (0-1); Dara Hickey, Oisin Cahill (0-1), Conor Devitt.
Subs; Enda Haren for Devitt; James McGuire for Hickey;
Referee; Jarlath Donnellan, Wolfe Tones
By Seamus Hayes