Kilmurry juniors deliver on and off the field

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9   Moy 1-5

DELIVERING the appropriate words at the opportune time is a skill that requires judgement and common sense. Kilmurry-Ibrickane junior B championship-winning captain Conor O’Doherty delivered for his team and their community when accepting the cup on their behalf in Doonbeg last Saturday afternoon.

Patrick (Padjoe) Murrihy passed away during the year and his absence and the loss felt by his team-mates was touched upon by their captain. O’Doherty also found meaningful words for a devastated Moy team, who fought gamely until the end. 

Had they availed of some of their first-half chances, perhaps they would have eclipsed Kilmurry and ensured they would start 2013 a junior A club. About 10 minutes before half-time they hit the side netting with a decent goal chance, which helped Kilmurry retain their advantage, which was 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time.
Michael Frawley and Thomas O’Doherty pointed in the early minutes for the winners, while Frawley and Paul Lynch added their remaining first-half points.

Alan Sexton, Thomas Garrahy and Noel O’Brien were on target for Moy in the opening half.
With the crowd building throughout the second half, ahead of the senior county semi-final replay, the intensity levels rose significantly.

Shortly after, Stephen Downes pointed Kilmurry 0-5 to 0-3 ahead, Moy midfielder Damien Finucane goaled for his side.

However a quartet of points from Michael Frawley (two), Thomas O’Doherty and Thomas Power, re-established Kilmurry’s dominance. They led 0-9 to 1-3 midway through the second half.

From there on, Moy dominated possession but were unable to translate that onto the scoreboard. Thomas Garrahy pointed a free while the excellent Damien Finucane put over a superb score in the closing minutes. That reduced the deficit to a single point and Moy threw everything at their opponents.

Three minutes into injury time Alan Sexton kicked a wide for the losers and that was their last hope of forcing a replay.

Although defeated, Moy can at least be proud of the fact they gave it everything, while Kilmurry will now have teams competing at senior, intermediate and junior A level in the respective 2013 championships.

Kilmurry Ibrickane: David Galvin; Andrew O’Connor, Michael Walshe, Michael O’Doherty; Thomas O’Doherty, Barry Lynch, Paul Murphy; Andrew Darcy, Conor O’Doherty (captain); Nigel Donnellan, Paul Lynch, Michael Frawley; Michael Talty, Thomas Power, Michael Moloney.
Subs: Brendan McNamara for Nigel Donnellan, Stephen Downes for Paul Lynch, Andrew Clancy for Michael Talty, Eamon Bracken for Thomas Power and Ciaran O’Neill for Paul Murphy.
Moy: George Benn; Stephen Pender, Brian Curtin, Patrick Hohey; Michael Flanagan, Willie Curtin, Brendan Hayes; Damien Finucane, Alan Sexton; Thomas Garrahy, Pádraig Killeen, Noel O’Brien; Peter Gunter, Séamus Conway, Eamon Moore. 
Subs: Noel McNamara for Peter Gunter.
Referee: Brian Keniry (Killimer).