Kingscourt 1-12 Mullahoran 0-6
Kingscourt’s bid for ACFL Division Four honours received a major filip on Saturday last when a quick-fire start and a timely goal conspired to put a disappointing Mullahoran side to the sword in Virginia.In perfect playing conditions, the game was largely a lop-sided affair with the east Cavan side winning pulling up and, in truth, more than good value for their nine point winning margin.
Mullahoran were their usual gritty selves but faced by a much more experienced, mobile and potent opposition were left playing a game of catch-up they never looked like winning. The Dreadnoughts got off on the wrong foot by falling into 0-0 to 0-3 arrears after only nine minutes and, against a fired-up and utterly determined Stars outfit, laboured badly to hold onto the winners’ coat-tails. Points from Mark McKeon, Darryl Martin and Keith McCabe had Kingscourt in the driving seat as the game got underway.
Mullahoran were up for the fight though and for the guts of the following ten minutes, the would-be losers were the clear winners on the possession front but, alarmingly, all but failed to make it count on the scoreboard. That said, the chasing team was unlucky in the 18th minute when the crossbar came to the aid of Kingscourt. As it was, Dominic Crudden and a brace of Kevin Lynch points (frees) had the Dreadnoughts on level terms with 21 minutes on the clock.
However by the 23rd minute, Kingscourt’s grip on the teller became telling once more. A fine move upfield involving Philip Tinnelly and Ciaran Smith eventually saw Darryl Martin get the chance to find the Mullahoran net which he duly availed of to put the Stars on the winning path.For the next seven minutes, Kingscourt impressed in consolidating the leg-up afforded them by Martin’s goal with their half-back line in particular carrying the game to Mullahoran.
As things panned out, fine unanswered points by Neil McCabe, Darryl Martin, Drew McCabe and Paddy Farrelly for the wind-aided Kingscourt side left Mullahoran threading deep water as they faced into a 0-3 to 1-7 deficit. With a number of experienced senior championship graduates on board, Kingscourt proceeded to demonstrate the nous and the zest and ambition in the second half as they set about extending their 1-7 to 0-4 interval lead.
In a carbon copy of their lack-lustre opening to the game, Mullahoran were caught cold at the start of the second half with Kingscourt dominating the third-quarter and adding a brace of points. Scores from Kevin Shiels and Drew McCabe (free) had Mullahoran reeling but fortunately for the Dreadnoughts, Philip Tinnelly’s 41st minute effort richocheted off the crossbar.
At the other end of the field, a couple of classy saves from Mark Cunningham either side of the three-quarter hour mark prevented Mullahoran from adding to a brace of Kevin Lynch pointed frees. Amazingly, Lynch’s latter effort in the 48th minute marked Mullahoran’s final score of the afternoon as Kingscourt proceeded to coast their way to the winner’s enclosure. In the dying minutes, a beautiful long-range effort from Philip Tinnelly added to Drew McCabe’s earlier free represented the final nails in Mullahoran’s coffin.
Kingscourt Stars;
Mark Cunningham; Lorcan Sheenan, Thomas Wakely, Padraic Burns; Paddy Farrelly, Shane Grey, Philip Tinnelly (0-1); Gavin Sheenan, Ciaran Smith; Sean Farrelly, Neil McCabe (0-2), Kevin Shiels (0-1); Drew McCabe (0-4), Darryl Martin (1-3), Mark McKeon (0-1).
Subs used; Barry Tully; James Cunningham.
Mullahoran;
Gerard Clerkin; Sean Og Brady, Ronan Fitzsimons, Raymond Mulligan; Daniel King, Paul Lynch, Daniel Smith; Joe Cullen, Thomas Nannery; Barry Dalton, Paul Sheridan, Jason Donohoe; Kevin Lynch (0-4), Dominic Crudden (0-1), Barry McArdle (0-1).
Subs used; James Reilly; Dan Mel Reilly; Anthony Sheridan.
