By Matthew Wilson
Glenfin 2-11
Kilcar 2-16
Kilcar claimed a fine five-point victory over Glenfin at Pairc Taobhoige on Saturday evening in the Senior Football Championship.
The visitors were much the better side in the opening stanza which saw them enter the interval with a healthy nine-point advantage.
The home side battled back to reduce the arrears in the closing stages but it was Kilcar who prevailed to maintain their one hundred percent record in the competition.
Saturday’s contest was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of the late James and Noreen McHugh.
The first score of the evening arrived after just 20 seconds of play when Kilcar’s Eoin McHugh swung over a superb two-pointed effort.
Shortly afterwards, the Towney men came close to finding the back of the net as Ryan McHugh released Ryan McShane who saw his attempt well saved by Andrew Walsh.
On the six minute mark, the visitor’s lead was extended as Eoin McHugh found range for a second time which saw the orange flag raised.
Kilcar continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, with further points courtesy of Ryan McHugh (two frees), Conor O’Donnell, Stephen McBrearty and Ciarán McGinley leaving them nine ahead after 20 minutes.
It took the home outfit 25 minutes to register their first score of the evening when Oisin McGlynn popped the ball over the bar.
But it was immediately cancelled out as Ciarán McGinley slotted over his second point of the afternoon at the other end.
Immediately afterwards, the Pairc Taobhoige landed the contest’s first major.
A long kick-out from Andrew Walsh broke the way of Karl McGlynn and he darted towards goal before laying it off to Seaghan McCormick who slotted it home with a tidy finish.
Jack Hegarty and Daniel Marley (free) traded efforts before the visitors found a goal of their own.
A good team move concluded with Hegarty tucking the ball into the back of the net, leaving Kilcar with a favourable nine-point lead at the break.
The Glenfin men made a flying start to Act Two, finding their second major just two minutes after the restart.
Odhran O’Connor received the ball inside the square and he showed great composure before rifling it into the roof of the net, reducing the deficit to six.
However, it was soon cancelled out as Mark Sweeney’s charges responded with a goal of their own.
A loose kickout from Andrew Walsh arrived to Oran Doogan who sent the ball the way of Hegarty and he slotted it home for his second major of the evening.
The next four points of the evening were shared two-apiece, with Ross Marley and O’Connor finding the target for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Michael Gallagher and Ciaran McGinley added to the away side’s tally at the other end, leaving them still nine ahead as we approached the final quarter.
The Towney outfit stretched their advantage even further courtesy of placed balls from Ryan McHugh and Hegarty.
However, Shaun Ward soon found the target from a long-range free which saw the orange flag raised, bringing the difference back down to nine.
The next two scores were exchanged between Kilcar’s Brian O’Donnell and Glenfin’s Odhran O’Connor.
As we entered the final five minutes of the contest, Glenfin kicked a number of successive scores to reduce the arrears.
O’Connor, Odhran McGlynn and Shaun Ward (two-pointer) all landed points for the hosts in the closing stages, closing the gap to five.
However, referee James Connos soon called an end to proceedings, making a good evening at the office for Mark Sweeney’s outfit.
Teams
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh; Martin O’Donnell, John Harkin, Eoin McGarrell; Ross Marley (0-1), Jack Long, Oisin McGlynn (0-1); Jason Morrow, Stephen Ward; Karl McGlynn, Daniel Marley (0-1,0-1f), Luke McGlynn; Odhran O’Connor (1-3,0-1f), Shaun Ward (0-4,1tpf,1tp), Seaghan McCormick (1-0). Subs: Dáire Quigley and Frank McGlynn for Marley and Morrow (42 mins), Odhran McGlynn (0-1) for Luke McGlynn (55 mins).
Kilcar: Seanie Boyle; Eoin Cormac, Pauric Carr, Ryan O’Donnell; Ryan McShane, Brian O’Donnell (0-1), Gary Molloy; Ciaran McGinley (0-3), Eoin McHugh (0-4,2tp); Conor Doherty (0-1), Ryan McHugh (0-3,0-3f), Oran Doogan; Jack Hegarty (2-3,0-1f), Stephen McBrearty (0-1), Michael Gallagher (0-1). Subs: Liam McLaughlin for McBrearty (26 mins), Conor O’Donnell for Gallagher (44 mins), Mark McHugh for Doogan (45 mins), Doogan for McGinley (62 mins).
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s).