Killanena get first taste of the big leagues

Killanena  0-10

Smith O’Brien’s  1-7

History was made on Sunday when Killanena played in the senior hurling championship for the first time. For a long time it looked as if it would be a truly memorable day for the 2010 intermediate champions but Smith O’Brien’s pointed twice in the closing minutes to earn a share of the spoils.

Missed chances, wrong options and poor striking are all part of first round games and there were plenty of errors from both sides when they clashed before a good attendance at Scariff.
Playing against the wind in the first half, Killanena made a great start and raced five points clear after just nine minutes. Smith O’Brien’s problems increased four minutes later when they were reduced to 14 men. Liam Walsh was red carded following an off-the-ball incident which left Enda Collins needing attention and put him off the pitch for eight minutes. Referee Fergie McDonagh dismissed Walsh after consulting with his umpires.
Three Mark Flaherty points, the first two from frees, had Killanena three clear after five minutes. Mikey Noone and Colin McNamara added to their side’s tally by the ninth and Smith O’Brien’s had to wait a further ten minutes before opening their account.
A good delivery from midfield was won by Anthony O’Sullivan who slipped inside his marker before shooting past the advancing David Noone for the game’s only goal. Prior to this they were guilty of quite a number of misses from both play and frees. They registered 10 wides in the opening half.
Mikey Noone replied with a Killanena point but the Killaloe side finished the half strongly with points from O’Sullivan, Kevin Walsh (free) and John Cusack to leave the sides level at 0-6 to 1-3 at the midway point.
Killanena started the second half as they had the first and a Fintan McNamara point put them back in the lead. They should have gone further ahead in the fifth minute of the half but teenager Padraig Brady saw his kicked effort go wide after he had created a great opening.
A Mark Flaherty effort from a 60m free put them two clear 12 minutes into the half. They looked to be about to extend that advantage at the mid-point of the half when Brady put Flaherty clear with only Killaloe goalie Jonathon Hayes to beat, only for referee McDonagh to penalise Brady for throwing the ball.
As was the case in the opening half, Smith O’Brien’s had to wait until the 19th minute for their opening score, a point from a Kevin Walsh free which left the minimum between the sides.
The standard of hurling may not have improved but there was no shortage of excitement in the closing stages. Flaherty landed a huge effort from a 110m free but this was quickly cancelled by a John Cusack free. A Flaherty effort from play put two between them again with as many minutes remaining but within seconds, Trevor Howard scored to leave the minimum separating the sides again. A minute from time Dean Sinnott hit the leveller.
Four minutes of injury time were played and in the last of these Smith O’Briens were awarded an 80m free. John Cusack’s effort into the wind dropped short and seconds later the final whistle sounded.
While the game won’t be remembered for the quality of its hurling, there was plenty of honest endeavour from both sides. Seamus Gleeson, Michael Culhane and Pat Vaughan worked hard throughout for Smith O’Brien’s while Alan McNamara, Joe Clancy, Enda Collins, Mikey Noone and Mark Flaherty played prominent roles for Killanena

Killanena: David Noone; Alan McNamara, Joe Clancy, Pat Noone (c); Enda Collins, John O’Mara, Barry Noone; Mikey Noone, Gerry McNamara; John Noonan, Fintan McNamara, Noel Sheedy; Colin McNamara, Mark Flaherty, Padraig Brady.
Sub: Stephen McMahon for C McNamara (46 minutes).
Scorers: Mark Flaherty (0-6, 4f); Mikey Noone (0-2); Colin McNamara, Fintan McNamara (0-1) each.
Frees for: 15; wides: 9
Bookings: John O’Mara (50 minutes).
“We started well against the breeze and they had a man sent off so some will see this as a point lost for Killanena. We came here today looking to put in a good performance and we did that. We can’t ask any more. Killaloe had the better of the second-half exchanges. They played better against the breeze and I think that a draw was a fair result,” Colman Houlihan, Killanena manager.

Smith O’Brien’s: Jonathon Hayes; Michael Culhane, Seamus Gleeson, Aidan McKeogh; Micheál Ryan, Pat Vaughan (c) Shane Tuohy; Trevor Howard, Seanie Conway; Kevin Walsh, Brian McInerney, Liam Walsh; Mark O’Halloran, John Cusack, Anthony O’Sullivan.
Subs: Mark Stritch for McKeogh (half-time), Dwane Sheedy for Conway (40 minutes), Dean Sinnott for K Walsh (50 minutes), Stephen McCarthy for O’Sullivan (51 minutes), Kevin McEvoy for M Ryan (52 minutes).
Scorers: Anthony O’Sullivan (1-1); John Cusack (1f); Kevin Walsh (0-2f); Trevor Howard, Dean Sinnott (0-1) each.
Frees for: 17; wides: 12; 65s: 1
Bookings: Liam Walsh straight red card (13 minutes).
“We had a mountain to climb in the second half. We went down to 14 men early in the game and there was a big breeze there. We are happy enough to come away with a draw. Killanena will be disappointed that they didn’t get the result. We have to go back to the drawing board now. There is a long way to go in this championship,” Christy Rosney, Smith O’Brien’s manager.

Referee: Fergie McDonagh, St Joseph’s