Kilmihil may regret late misses

Kilmihil 0-8 O’Curry’s 0-8

Had Paul Reidy fisted over the O’Curry’s crossbar, in the last minute of this relegation semi-final in Labasheeda last Saturday, Kilmihil would have secured their senior status for 2011 and would be finished with football for the current season.
Clean through with Kilmihil point up, Reidy opted to roll the ball gingerly beyond Damien Clohessy. The ball hit the post and went wide, keeping O’Curry’s alive and frustrating everyone involved with Kilmihil. Seven minutes before that Reidy had spurned a lesser point chance from in front of goal but one that he should have put over.
All of this aided O’Curry’s who won an injury time free at the far end of the field. If they had to pick a man to hand the responsibility over to, O’Curry’s would never look beyond Ger Quinlan. They didn’t this time either and from a very tricky angle, Quinlan delivered again for his club.
Kilmihil had looked the likelier winners in the opening half and led 0-4 to 0-1 after 18 minutes with Shane Egan kicking all of their scores from frees. Philip Ryan kicked the only score of the opening half from play for Kilmihil, while Quinlan twice and Eoin Troy kicked O’Curry’s three first half scores from play.
If Ollie Quinlan and Eoin Troy had finished lung-bursting runs with scores, they would have been closer to Kilmihil at the interval, who led 0-5 to 0-3 at that stage.
Kilmihil wilted after half time allowing Quinlan who shot an inspirational score, Michael Carmody and Mark Roche to kick O’Curry’s into a 0-6 to 0-5 lead.
Kilmihil needed a forward to take responsibility and Shane Egan did just that, levelling from play ten minutes from time. Four minutes later, Seán Haugh put O’Curry’s ahead, set up by Tom Downes who picked up a break off Quinlan.
Within a minute, however, Kilmihil were back in front when Shane Mangan and Mark O’Connell knocked over crucial scores.
They should have sewn it up at that juncture but they didn’t and now face O’Curry’s at the same venue on Saturday at 3.30pm. Remember Kilmihil had to play without Timmy Ryan who was red carded against Wolfe Tones two weeks ago. Ryan would have been back if the replay was fixed for Sunday week but now he will miss another game which will define Kilmihil’s season.
Last Saturday Tom Downes, Ger Quinlan and Seán Haugh played well for O’Curry’s, while Shane Egan, Mark O’Connell and Mark Coughlan did well for Kilmihil.

O’Curry’s: Damien Clohessy; Seamus Coffey, Brian Troy, Gearóid Lynch; Declan Walsh, Ollie Quinlan, Tom Downes; Ger Quinlan, Michael Foran; Damien Carmody, Michael Carmody, Seán Haugh; Gerald Troy, Mark Roche, Eoin Troy.
Subs: Tadhg Concannon for Seamus Coffey, Jack Scanlon for Gerald Troy, Derek Troy for Eoin Troy.
Scorers: Ger Quinlan 0-3 (0-2f); Eoin Troy (0-1f); Michael Carmody, Mark Roche, Seán Haugh (0-1 each).

Kilmihil: Eamon Ryan; Conor Crowley, Declan O’Shea, Laurence Murray; Rory Molhally, Mark O’Connell, Mark Coughlan; Shane Mangan, David Ryan; Derek O’Connell, Karol Downes, Philip Ryan; Shane Egan, Paul Reidy, Alan Normoyle.
Subs: Anthony Downes for Philip Ryan, Daniel Blake for Alan Normoyle.
Scorers: Shane Egan 0-5, (0-1f), Philip Ryan, Shane Mangan, Mark O’Connell 0-1 each.

Referee: Damien Fox (Wolfe Tones).