THE only disappointing thing after an enthralling local derby in Towney on Tuesday evening was that somebody had to lose.
Kilcar 1-19 Naomh Columba 0-20 (after extra-time)
In the end, following an action-packed hour and extra-time as the sun dropped, it was Kilcar who maintained their place in the County U-21 championship and their neighbours Naomh Columba who were left to wonder what might have been.
Photo caption: Kilcar captain Ryan McHugh, match referee Jimmy White and Kevin McNern, the Naomh Columba skipper at Towney before the County U-21 Championship fixture on Tuesday evening. Photo: Charlie O’Donnell
It was an excellent game. Two teams fighting till the bitter end, not afraid to have a go in an open fare and one that was officiated well by Jimmy White. It was, in many ways, a throwback to a bygone era. From the 40 scores, only six came from placed balls.
When the tills were totted for the end of day’s taking, the one facet that stands out more than most was the personal performance of Stephen McBrearty, who kicked 10 points – eight of which came from play – for Kilcar.
Perhaps it’s easier to start at the end. With four minutes of the second period of extra-time left, the teams were deadlocked at Kilcar 1-17 to Naomh Columba’s 0-20. Paddy Byrne, who was keeping goal for the visitors and had been competent throughout, saw a long range free kick drop just wide of the Kilcar goal.
Then, two minutes later, Â McBrearty’s free at the other end sailed right between the posts and Kilcar had the slenderest of leads. Naomh Columba had pulled a late score through Philip McNern to force extra-time in the first first place, but without the cramped-up Kevin McNern, were unable to force another equaliser. Kilcar’s Conor Carr snatched a breakaway point and finally, Naomh Columba’s challenge was dead.
Kilcar. Photo: Charlie O’Donnell
It seemed like hours beforehand that the contest had started with Naomh Columba racing into an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead and Kilcar’s arrears might’ve been steeper had their goalkeeper Kevin Boyle not saved from Pauric O’Neill on just seven minutes.
The direct running of Brendan Doherty’s team through the likes of Kevin McNern, Christopher Byrne and Ryan Gillespie was causing Kilcar bother at the back, although the Glencolmcille side’s shooting did occasionally let them down, as they kicked seven first half wides.
McBrearty was Kilcar’s talisman, taking responsibility upon himself to kick three of the next four scores for his side to edge his team in front 0-6 to 0-5.
And by half-time, John McNulty’s Kilcar had manufactured a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage, which was quite a decent one in the circumstances.
Goalkeeper Byrne, with his fourth point from a placed ball, opened the second half scoring as Naomh Columba pushed to get back on terms. Eoin McHugh wasn’t deemed fit enough to start for Kilcar but was plonked in at full-forward by McNulty after the break.
Seven minutes into the second half, Conor Doherty’s effort cannoned off the Naomh Columba crossbar for the concession of the point before, two minutes later, Kilcar delivered what appeared as though it would be the game-breaker.
Aodhan McGinley won a clean catch from goalkeeper Boyle’s kick-out before McBrearty set Cormac Cannon off on the gallop. The wing-back smashed past Byrne from just inside of the 21-metre line and Kilcar were 1-12 to 0-10 in front.
But instead of withering, the concession of the goal merely lit the blue-touch paper for Naomh Columba and they responded with their best spell of the match.
In just four minutes, they struck five points with Philip McNern, Pauric Cunningham and Kevin McNern all on the mark to make it 1-12 to 0-15.
Naomh Columba. Photo: Charlie O’Donnell
Kilcar’s response was immediate and Conor Doherty had to be content with a point when Byrne tipped his rasper over the crossbar. Paul Doherty evened it out before, with just five seconds left, Eoin McHugh scored on the turn and Kilcar had eked themselves into a one-point lead, 1-14 to 0-16.
Injury-time was similarly frantic. Pauric Cunningham’s effort at a point to force extra-time veered wide before Kilcar’s Andrew McClean made a block at the feet of Philip McNern. It looked as though Kilcar were going to survive and when McBrearty shot high into the sky it seemed that for all intents and purposes, the insurance point was on its way.
Not so. The shot cannoned back down from the upright and the passage of play concluded with Philip McNern’s last-gasp attempt curling inwards to tie it up again. As referee White blew for time, there was time for those in attendance to catch their breath – Kilcar 1-14 Naomh Columba 0-17.
Three more McBrearty points in the first period meant Kilcar were 1-17 to 0-19 up half-way through extra-time, with Kevin McNern and Gillespie having scored for Naomh Columba. Then, it was level again with all to play for when substitute Conor Kennedy scored.
However, with chances coming at both ends and both sides feeling the pinch of such an energetic encounter, it was Kilcar who prevailed thanks to those two late scores from McBrearty and O’Donnell.
It concluded a thoroughly eventful contest.
Kilcar: Kevin Boyle; Eoghan O’Donnell (0-1), Daniel Lyons, Andrew McClean (0-1); Chris Doogan, Ryan McHugh, Cormac Cannon (1-0); Stephen McBrearty (0-10, 2f), Aodhan McGinley (0-1); Conor Doherty (0-4), Matthew McClean, Neil Sweeney (0-1); Kevin Gallagher, Jason Campbell, Michael Cunningham. Subs: Eoin McHugh (0-1) for K Gallagher (half-time), Aaron Doherty for Campbell (71).
Naomh Columba: Paddy Byrne (0-4, 3f, 45); Conor Carr, Jamie McGinley, Philip Doherty; Padraig Carr, Kevin McNern (0-3), Stephen Jones; Philip McNern (0-2), Christopher Byrne; Pauric Cunningham (0-4), Francis Curran (0-1), Paul Doherty (0-1); Eddie Curran, Ryan Gillespie (0-3), Pauric O’Neill (0-1). Subs: Conor Kennedy (0-1) for Curran (half-time), Pauric Carr for McNern (79).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
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