All-Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final: Abbeyknockmoy (Galway) 1-13 Creggan Kickham’s (Antrim) 0-9
CREGGAN KICKHAM’S hopes of further All-Ireland glory were dashed by a resolute Abbeyknockmoy in this keenly-contested semi-final at Páirc Tailteann, Navan, on Sunday.
When the 2014 All-Ireland junior champions raced into a three-point lead shortly after half-time, the large contingent of Kickham’s supporters could be forgiven for thinking that they were on their way to further success.
The Ulster champions had survived a shaky enough opening to come good towards the end of the half and a James Carey point on the stroke of half-time left them leading by the minimum at the break, 0-7 to 0-6.
Within 15 seconds of the restart, Donal Carey had doubled that lead and then Conor Small converted a free to leave it 0-9 to 0-6. Those uplifting scores should have been the perfect boost for Kickham’s but instead it was the Galway men who upped the stakes considerably leaving the Antrim men without a response.
A game that had been evenly fought for the most part up to them suddenly started to go against Kickham’s. Amazingly they failed to register another score after that Small point and Abbeyknockmoy registered 1-7 without reply to win handsomely enough in the finish.
It wasn’t that Kickham’s didn’t create chances, but they were forced to go for goals in the closing five minutes in an attempt to close the deficit, but the westerners defended magnificently to keep them out. The woodwork also denied them twice in the closing stages but overall they were unable to lift their game sufficiently to meet the challenge.
Abbeyknockmoy’s finishing let them down on occasions throughout the opening half but such was the closeness of the exchanges that it prompted the public address announcer to remind supporters that, in the event of a draw at the end of 60 minutes, an additional 20 minutes would be played.
The first-half was fast and furious with the Galway side having the edge in play but not on the scoreboard. The sides were level on six different occasions before James Carey’s point had Kickham’s ahead for the first time. Respective corner-forwards Fionnán Garvey and Conor Small exchanged points (both frees) within four minutes of the start.
Abbeyknockmoy were on the front foot but could never quite shake off their tenacious opponents. Kevin Small, Thomas McCann and Sam Maguire all shot excellent scores while sloppy clearances by the Kickham’s defence were punished on occasions by the Galway men who hit eight wides throughout the half.
The full-back line of Aidan Maguire, Martin Johnston and Ciaran Rice did Trojan work throughout that opening half-hour while Thomas McCann was also a tower of strength at centre-back. Just how they managed to collapse so dramatically after earlier showing so much promise was baffling, though full credit to the Galway men in the manner in which they responded to the challenge.
Second half substitutes Paul Flaherty and Craig Kennedy made a massive impression on proceedings for the winners. It was Flaherty who levelled from a free on 38 minutes and three minutes later Garvey regained the lead with his fourth score.
Further points from Brian and Paul Flaherty stretched the lead to three points entering the final quarter. And when Kennedy fielded a lengthy clearance from Damien Rooney and rounded his marker before crashing the sliothar to the net, it left Kickham’s with an uphill battle.
Kickham’s were unable to make any impression in attack and every time a player gained possession, they seemed to be surrounded by three and four opponents. Garvey added another point for Abbeyknockmoy in the first minute of added time and the final chance Kickham’s had of ending their scoring drought fell to Conor McCann but his effort for a consolation goal rebounded off the crossbar.
MATCH STATS
Abbeyknockmoy: D Molloy; T Farragher, J Culkin, R Cooley; T Mullins (0-1), B Flaherty (0-2), B Costello; C Mulry (0-1), D Rooney (0-1); E Blade, C Maher (0-1), D Mullins; B O’Donnell, P O’Donnell, F Garvey (0-5, 0-4 frees); Substitutes: P Flaherty (0-2, 0-1 free) for P O’Donnell (36), C Kennedy for B O’Donnell (40); Yellow cards: B O’Donnell (28).
Creggan Kickham's: J Dougan; A Maguire, M Johnston, C Rice; F McAuley, T McCann (0-1), A McKeown; S Maguire (0-1), R McCann; J Carey (0-1), D Carey (0-1), K Rice; K Small (0-2), C McCann, C Small (0-3 frees); Substitutes: D McCann for Johnston (48), O Duffin for J Carey (54); Yellow cards: D Carey (42), K Rice (43).
Referee: P Murphy (Carlow).
