Kilkerley get off to winning ways

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In a tight and intense but largely uninspiring encounter, you felt that a goal would be a team’s golden ticket to victory, and so it proved as an early second-half goal from Cormac Mallon proved crucial as Kilkerley secured victory over St Kevins in the opening weekend of club championship football in Louth.

This tie saw St Kevins adopt a highly defensive approach, getting players behind the ball, and frustrating their opponents for large parts until Mallon’s major.

Early doors, the Kevins’ defensive approach worked, as twin brothers Keelan and Cameron Maher combined for the latter to collect a clever Keelan Maher fist pass over the top, and fire over an equalizing point after 3 minutes, to cancel out a stunning Shaun McElroy strike for Kilkerley inside 90 seconds.

With both sides guilty of lateral and sideways passing, the game lacked penetration and a scoring threat at times. Both teams amassed just 9 shots in open play between them in this first half. However, that did not stop both sides treating those in attendance to some stunning efforts from range.

One such long passage of play saw Kilkerley who had the wind advantage in that opening half, hit the front with a terrific Ciaran Bellew strike from long range, which was followed by an equally stunning Fintan Brady strike moments after Tadgh McEneaney free for Ronan Greene’s side, which gave last year’s Intermediate semi-finalist a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 18 minutes.

The Kevins to their credit managed to haul themselves back into contention, with Cameron Maher kicking over a trademark left-footed strike on the run, before a free from Lee Crosbie left just a point between the sides with 7 minutes left until the break.

Kilkerley saw several first-half forays turned over in a frustrating opening half for them, which included the Kevins turning over their opponents when the ball was taken into contact, which was marshaled by sweeper Seanie Crosbie.

But Emmet's did land the final score of the opening 30 minutes when a clever Fintan Brady foot-pass found Ewan McEntaggart who converted to leave it at 0-5 to 0-3 at half time.

Second Half:

As it panned out, you felt that a goal for either side would swing this contest in their favour which arrived just past the 5th minute after the restart, when Cormac Mallon collected a Shaun McElroy attempt for a point in the square, before firing past Kevins’ keeper Danny Crosbie to give them a five-point lead which they would ultimately not relinquish.

Mallon’s goal was also the second year running that he has raised a green flag in the opening round of the championship for Kilkerley, having also landed a major against Dundalk Young Irelands last year.

Following a Cormac Bellew turnover in defence, Tadgh McEneaney set up Conor Quigley to convert from play as Kilkerley threatened to run away with the contest, leading by 1-6 to 0-3 after 37 minutes.

McEneaney himself was very well marshalled by Louth minor panelist from last year Caoimhin Prout who faired very well on his championship debut for the Kevins.

Despite this, McEneaney landed two points of his own which included being set up by the lively Brian Brady who finished with 35 possessions for Kilkerley.

However, in between those two McEneaney strikes, we were treated to arguably the score of the day and an early contender for score of the championship from St Kevins’ Cian Callan following a delightful effort from a sideline ball.

This magnificent Callan strike led a Kevins revival, with the forward following his sideline point up with a score from play thanks to good work through the hands from Tom Mathews and Seanie Crosbie beforehand.

Crosbie himself fired over an inspirational point from the left flank before more accurate shooting from Callan left just four between the sides at 1-8 to 0-7 heading towards the 60th minute.

The Philipstown side will also look back and rue missed chances to get even closer to their opponents, including a goal-bound effort from Callan which was blocked by the Kilkerley defence, before the same player was later denied by keeper Ultan McEneaney who managed to palm a close range Callan strike onto the post following a blocked Seanie Crosbie effort as the Kevins searched for a goal.

The Kevins will also rue losing Joe McArdle to a black card late on, moments after Kilkerley were momentarily reduced to 14 men after Shaun McElroy received a black card.

But Kilkerley with defenders Cormac Bellew and Ronan Deery producing key turnovers at crucial moments, managed to weather this storm.

A Conor Quigley free ultimately sealed a five-point victory for last year’s semi-finalists who will face Stabannon Parnell's in their next Intermediate championship group game in a repeat of last year's quarter-final tie.

Kilkerley Emmets: Ultan McEneaney; Cormac Bellew, Ronan Deery, Paddy Murtagh; Ewan McEntaggart (0-1), Cathal Bellew, Fintan Brady (0-1); Kieran Murtagh, Ciaran Bellew (0-1); Brian Brady, Shaun McElroy (0-1), Cormac Mallon (1-0); Tadgh McEneaney (0-3) (2f), Conor Quigley (0-2) (1f), Michael Begley.

Subs: Conall Brady for Cormac Bellew (40), Fionn Cumiskey for Begley (45), Michael Kirby for Fintan Brady (51), Dan McKeown for Brian Brady (59).

St Kevins: Danny Crosbie; Sean Powderly, Dylan Maher, Caoimhin Prout; Brian Callaghan, Seanie Crosbie (0-1), Darren McMullan; Joe McArdle, Cameron Maher (0-2); Keelan Maher, Tom Mathews, Patrick Clarke; Caolan McMullan, Cian Callan (0-3) (1 sideline), Lee Crosbie (0-1) (1f).

Subs: Jacob Finlay for Powderly (56).

Referee: Cathal O’Brien (Geraldines).