Padraig Pearses power past Kilconly to reach Connacht decider
by Sean Guinan Updated: Wednesday, 2nd November, 2011 5:30pm
Padraig Pearses 1-11 Kilconly 1-8
Padraig Pearses' initial venture into Connacht club football proved a successful one when, at resplendent Kiltoom on Sunday last, they emerged much more convincing winners over Galway kingpins Kilconly then the three-point winning margin may indicate.
Having set out their stall as early as the third minute when subsequent top scorer Emmett Kelly cracked home a brilliant goal, Seamus Clogher's charges went on to establish almost absolute control and, by the 26th minute, they had eased into a 1-7 to 0-2 lead.
The Galway champions - whose recent final victory over Oughterard gave them their first title in this grade since 1943 - never got into their stride in that opening period, but did rally somewhat to head for the dressing rooms 6 points in arrears (1-8 to 0-5).
Aided by the second-half breeze at their backs, they came more into the game but, by the end of the third quarter, had added just a paltry point, and that from a free, to their score. Although Pearses also encountered a scoring drought lasting to the 43rd minute, they then added three points in as many minutes. They would not score again before the end and despite the Galwegians posting an unanswered 1-2 (the goal a splendid effort from full-forward Adrian Murphy) it was too little, too late, for Bernard Brady's Kilconly side.
If they had displayed the same scoring ability much earlier, the visitors could have built on their recent county championship success, but on the other hand, Pearses may have taken their eye off the ball approaching the winning line. In this regard, the reds will have learned a valuable lesson for this Saturday's final (Kiltoom, 2pm) against Mayo's Moy Davitts, the Foxford side having edged out Melvin Gaels (Leitrim) in Sunday's other semi-final at Carrick-on-Shannon. Concentration must be maintained for the full sixty minutes against the Mayo men, and such late lapses as occurred against Kilconly will be severely punished.
Notwithstanding this, it must be acknowledged that Pearses' debut in this competition was indeed an auspicious one. The disappointing Kiltoom attendance of no more than 250 were treated to a first half of highly entertaining football, especially from a Pearses fifteen freed from the inhibitions of the county championship campaign. Now in bonus territory, they continued in the vein where they left off in the county final replay against St Dominic's.
Their defence was a resolute unit in which corner-back Cathal Dolphin turned in a stellar performance especially in those pressure cooker final stages, with Niall Daly (who recently added a Cork SFC medal with UCC to his Ros' IFC souvenir) John Connell and Declan Duffy also in excellent form. At midfield, Niall Finneran, following his recent injury lay-off, added strength to a sector where Niall Carty, although not in his usual top form, showed some nice touches, playing a key part in that opening goal.
In attack, man of the match Emmett Kelly, apart from two late untypical wides, was in optimum scoring form - his third minute goal set the tone for his team's subsequent scoring flurry and territorial domination. Wing-forward Michael Duignan also turned in another display of industry and creativity, an early scoring cameo of three points being especially noteworthy, while substitute Cathal Daly and David Grehan laid down strong claims for starting berths the next day.
Kilconly, from the north Galway football heartland, rarely produced (or weren't let) the form which brought them victory over Celebrity Bainisteoir finalists Oughterard in their recent county final. They effectively didn't emerge from the starting blocks in a nightmare first half and their scoring efforts, when they did manage to initiate attacks, were very one-dimensional, relying on the 'big high ball' into the Pearses goalmouth which was dealt with efficiently by the Red's rearguard, until very late in the game.
Corner-forward Padraic Moran by far their best attacker, opened the scoring for the Galwegians thirty seconds in when pointing a close-in free but, minutes later, a move involving Ja Egan and Niall Carty was clinically completed when Emmett Kelly drove the ball to the net. This set the scene for a blitzkrieg of scores from a now rampant Red brigade - Kilconly had a solitary point in reply via John Paul Steede - up to the 21st minute. Seven points were posted by the Woodmount side - 3 (1 free) from Michael Duignan, 1 each from defenders Paul Duke and John Connell and a brace of Emmett Kelly frees.
In the five minutes before half-time, Kilconly rallied somewhat with a trio of points via Padraic Moran (2, 1 free) and Martin Newell, with Alan Duffy on target for Pearses, to leave the Roscommon champions 1-8 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
By contrast, the third quarter was effectively barren territory on the scoreboard, Kilconly pressure only yielding a Moran pointed free. Entering the last quarter, three points in as many minutes seemed to wrap it up for Pearses as sub David Grehan and Emmett Kelly (2, 1 free) were on target. Kilconly, however, weren't finished, with Adrian Murphy breaking through for a goal and a point, the number 14 also blazing wide across goal. Substitute John Kerrigan added another point, but Pearses, inspired by Cathal Dolphin, held on.
Padraig Pearses:
Brian Croffy, Paul Duke (0-1), Paul Kelly, Cathal Dolphin, John Connell (capt., 0-1), Niall Daly, Declan Duffy, Niall Finneran, Niall Carty, Ja Egan, Jason Clogher, Michael Duignan (0-3, 1f), Emmett Kelly (1-4, 0-3f), Aaron Fehilly, Alan Duffy (0-1). Subs: Eamon Donoghue for Egan (H/T), David Grehan (0-1) for Duffy (inj), Conor Daly for Fehilly (49), Shane Mulvey for Connell (52), Paul Moran for Clogher (55).
Kilconly:
Fergus Daly, Michael Newell, Barry Steede, Alan Walshe, Kevin Brady (capt.), Damien Concannon, Barry Concannon, James Fair, Keith Curley, Martin Newell (0-1), John Paul Steede (0-1), David Glynn, Padraic Moran (0-4, 3f), Adrian Murphy (1-1), Colin Concannon. Subs: John Kerrigan (0-1) for Walshe (23), Ciaran Ryan for Glynn (38).
Wides:
Padraig Pearses 8, Kilconly 9.
Yellow Cards:
Padraig Pearses 2, Kilconly 3.
Referee:
Liam Devenney (Mayo).
