Kilrush 3-13 Monageer 3-4
After recent years of close calls and heartbreak in both football and hurling county semi-finals, Kilrush finally got the Rackard League county title their efforts deserved when they overcame Monageer in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol in Wexford Park on Thursday last.
With the cup finally within touching grasp, one would have suspected some early nerves from the Gorey District boys but instead they powered into command from early on in this final. Within two minutes skilful midfielder Seán Kirwan had two points to his name and Kevin Kenny was unlucky not to score a great individual goal when he was pulled back for overcarrying. Another goal chance came along soon after and this time Ciarán Regan made it count when he placed the ball into the bottom corner in the sixth minute after picking up a breaking ball. Kevin Kenny brought the lead to six points when he slotted over a well taken point.
Monageer briefly rallied and almost got a goal through Art Sinnott but he was bravely blocked down by Jack Nolan who injured himself in the process. With eight minutes to go in the half, Kilrush upped the ante and began to carve the Monageer defence open with some delightful attacking play. Kevin Kenny scored two good points within seconds of each other and then Jack Nolan scored a peach from way out the field to get the crowd going. Ciarán Regan went on a mazy run and tapped over a nifty score off a short grip and Seán Kirwan got another two scores in quick succession, one coming from a free, another coming after Tomás Kirwan set him up with a great pick and flick. The killer blows came just before half time. Tom Kinsella did not hesitate to take his goal chance when a long ball into the square came off the crossbar and Kevin Kenny continued in fine form when he first scored his fourth point of the day, and then scored his second goal after Tomás Kirwan again used an inventive scoop to create the chance.
With the scores at 3-10 to 0-0, the halftime break was exactly what this Monageer side needed and they came out in the second half visibly determined to do themselves justice. Their intent was clear when within the first two minutes Micheal Doyle forced a fine save from Adam Quinn and then Micheal Gahan chose to go low and hard with a free. Monageer had to be content with a point from a Micheal Gahan free after this early period of pressure.
As the half continued it was clear that Monageer now had the upper hand in this match and they kept the scoreboard ticking with two more Micheal Gahan points and a point from Micheal Doyle. In the seventh minute, Seán Kirwan helped to settle Kilrush nerves when he got their first score of the half. Both sides then had goal chances as the game took on a balance and after several missed chances Monageer finally landed a blow when Micheal Doyle shook off three defenders to rattle the Kilrush net. They could have had another goal moments later but Adam Quinn did well to stay calm and save a Pauric Walshe shot and then sweep the ball away from the goalmouth scramble. With the end in sight, Kilrush were not to be undone and the hard working Ciarán Regan steadied the ship with a driving score and Tom Kinsella collected a break near the Monageer goal to score another insurance point.
Like the final sting of a dying wasp, Monageer decided to go out with a bang and that they truly did when Pauric Walshe finished with a flourish by goaling twice in the final moments. His first goal came after he fielded the ball and turned to finish superbly into the net and then soon after he scored his second goal following an impossibly long solo run that he finished by drilling the ball into the net.
Unfortunately it was too little, too late as the strong first half performance that produced a nineteen point lead was always going to see Kilrush through to the end and as the final whistle went it was with great delight that joint captains X, Y and Z stepped up to receive the cup on behalf of the Kilrush Rackard League team for the first time since 2000.
~Seán Óg Whelan
Kilrush: Adam Quinn, Ronan Dillon, Garett O’Connor, Jack Nolan, Eoin Doran, Peter O’Neill, Seán Kirwan, liam Sheehan, Tomás Kirwan, Kevin Kenny, Ciarán Regan, Jack Regan, Tom Kinsella, James Doran, Liam Ascott, Edward Wilson, Ollie McLellan, JJ Clarke, Danny Kehoe, Paul Doran, Ciarán O’Hara
Monageer: Seán-Luc Ahuir, Jack Doran, Noel Rowsome, Ronan O’Leary, Aaran Breslin, Aaron Miller, Conor Dolan, Micheal Gahan, Alan O’Neill, Pauric Walshe, Daniel Bruce, Micheal Doyle, Darren Kelly, Art Sinnot, Colum Dickenson, Eoin Dolan, Peter Gahan