Hill and Ahearn grab goals as Killucan claim Division 2 title

Killucan 2-8, Tubberclair 0-12

Two first-half goals paved the way for a Killucan victory over Tubberclair in the All County Football League Division 2 final at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday.

Killucan, a senior club, led from the eighth minute and took the spoils over their intermediate counterparts in what was a strange final – a contest that never really caught fire.

It was 2-3 to 0-6 in Killucan’s favour at the break, and that was largely down to the profligacy of Tubberclair. Killucan swooped for two goals in the eighth and 14th minutes through Devin Hill and Eoghan Ahearn respectively; Hill pounced when Tubberclair’s Kevin Fagan tapped down a Sami Clarke free that was going over for two points, and Ahearn was later at the end of a good move to find the net.

Tubberclair’s main downfall in the opening half was a lack of composure in front of goal, and nine wides proved a major frustration. They went on to register another four after the break, and that ultimately proved a major stumbling block.

Afterwards, winning captain Cormac Boyle accepted the cup from Westmeath County Committee Chairman Frank Mescall and dedicated the victory to the late Stephen Gorman, a Killucan GAA stalwart who recently passed away.

Tubberclair will hope to bounce back, but they have require major improvement in terms of their execution if they are to get past the other big challengers for the Peter Geraghty Cup this year.

This final was far from a classic, especially in the first half, and injuries to three Killucan players made for a pretty fractured affair. They lost ’keeper David Bryan and corner-back Shane O’Malley, while Seán Leech also went off with a facial injury.

Tubberclair took a two-point lead through a Fred Kelleher brace (one free); Finn Duffy had a decent goal chance that he drilled wide, however. That would be the story of the day for Keith Higgins’ charges.

Killucan got their first goal after eight minutes, Devin Hill booting home from close range when Kevin Fagan stopped Sami Clarke’s two-pointed effort from a free. Andrew Flood’s solid save denied Kealan Connell a goal at the other end as Killucan waited to replace the injured David Bryan with Conor Jordan.

Killucan produced a slick move that led to Hill setting up Eoghan Ahearn for their second goal on 14 minutes, the corner-forward finishing from close range. Tubberclair replied with three points from Connell, Duffy (free), and Paul Keegan; Killucan’s Andrew Flood replied with a point. Kelleher converted a free for Tubberclair, but a Hill brace ensured Killucan led by three at the interval.

Killucan added a two-pointer from a Clarke free when play resumed, and the way this game was unfolding, a five-point lead was significant. Tubberclair midfielder Gavin Delaney kicked a superb two-pointer from play to reignite his side’s challenge on 40 minutes; Clarke and Kelleher then traded frees.

A tidy Connell point, following good approach play by Peadar Dolan and James Madden, had the southerners two adrift with seven minutes remaining. A free from Kelleher – another two-pointer – brought the sides level on 56 minutes, setting up an exciting finish, but Clarke’s conversion restored Killucan’s lead. His deft free in added time ensured the Saffrons of a two-point advantage.

Tubberclair applied late pressure, but Darby stood tall in defence, and when Kelleher went for a two-pointed free, Jordan used his experience to fist the ball away under his own crossbar before the final whistle sounded.

Scorers – Killucan: S Clarke 0-5 (2pt f; 3f), D Hill 1-2, E Ahearn 1-0, A Flood 0-1. Tubberclair: F Kelleher 0-6 (2pt f; 3f), K Connell and G Delaney (2pt) 0-2 each, F Duffy (free) and P Keegan 0-1 each.

Killucan: David Bryan; Shane O’Malley, Luke Darby, Darren Finn; Adam Smith, David Weir, Cormac Boyle; Andrew Flood, Conor McKeogh; Sami Clarke, Winston Larkin McHugh, Eoghan Briody; Devin Hill, Seán Leech, Eoghan Ahearn. Subs: Matt Shaw for O’Malley (inj., 2), Conor Jordan for Bryan (inj., 10), Callum McKeogh for S Leech (temp sub, 25), Seán Leech for Briody (h-t), Conor Leech for Larkin McHugh (47), Eamonn Cunneen for C McKeogh (58).

Tubberclair: Kevin Fagan; Stephen McGonagle, Cathal Tighe, Aaron Brady; James Madden, Tom Kelleher, Peadar Dolan; Gavin Delaney, Seán Claffey; Tom Bourke, Finn Duffy, Kealan Connell; Paul Garvey, Paul Keegan, Fred Kelleher. Subs: Oisín O’Meara for Keegan (42), Taylor Slevin for Dolan (42), Charlie Kennedy for Claffey (45), Conor Elliott for Garvey (54), Liam Staunton for Brady (56).

Ref: Alan Coyne (CFCW).

A closer look

Man of the match

It was more of a collective effort than a case of individual inspiration, with Darren Finn, Adam Smith, Andrew Flood, Sami Clarke and Devin Hill all contributing. However, the selection is full-back Luke Darby, who put in a gritty display and cut out a Tubberclair goal chance late on.

Score of the match

Tubberclair midfielder Gavin Delaney showed his forwards where the target was when he kicked a superb two-pointer in the 40th minute from 45 metres.

Turning point

Tubberclair failed to score a goal despite having some good chances – the best arguably for Kealan Connell in the 10th minute – but stand-in goalie Andrew Flood made a crucial save for Killucan.

Match officials

Tubberclair’s Tom Bourke walked a tightrope when he crashed into Seán Leech with a frontal tackle two minutes after half-time. A yellow card rather than a red was shown.