Louth GAA club | Kilkerley book last-eight place in IFC
Kilkerley Emmets 1-15 Oliver Plunketts 1-12
Fionn Cumiskey inspired a second-half comeback as Kilkerley Emmets overturned a four-point half-time deficit to defeat Oliver Plunketts and book their place in the Louth GAA Intermediate Football Championship quarter-finals at Páirc Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer.
Plunketts went into Louth GAA Saturday’s game knowing they needed to win by three points to move above Kilkerley Emmets, and they appeared well placed at the interval, leading by four points.
However, Kilkerley turned the contest around after the restart, with Cumiskey finishing with 1-3 as Emmets recovered to claim a 1-15 to 1-12 victory.
Tadhg McEneaney opened the scoring from a free, but Plunketts quickly settled into the game. Adam Smith and Killian Nolan were prominent as the Drogheda men moved 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after 10 minutes.
Conor Quigley brought Kilkerley level with a two-pointer, but Plunketts responded strongly through Adam Lambe, Kristian Nolan and Smith to regain control of the contest.
Smith added the only further score before the interval as Plunketts went into the dressing room with a four-point lead.
Half time: Kilkerley Emmets 0-3 Oliver Plunketts 0-7
Their position improved further shortly after the restart when Smith converted a two-point free to stretch the gap to six.
Kilkerley needed a response, and they produced one when substitute Ciaran Bellew landed a two-pointer before McEneaney added a point and Cumiskey struck another two-pointer from distance as the Emmets began to eat into the deficit.
Nolan briefly interrupted Kilkerley’s momentum with a point for Plunketts, but scores from substitute Shaun McElroy, Quigley and Finnan Crawley kept Emmets firmly in contention.
Plunketts then landed what appeared to be a major blow when Robbie Brodigan found the net.
His goal put the Drogheda side 1-10 to 0-11 ahead with around 10 minutes remaining and left them within sight of the victory they needed to advance.
Kilkerley, however, produced their best football when it mattered most. Luke Shevlin started the recovery with a point before Quigley landed a two-point free to wipe out the deficit.
Cumiskey then edged Kilkerley ahead with a point before delivering the decisive score of the afternoon.
The Kilkerley forward found the net to complete a remarkable turnaround, and suddenly Emmets had taken control of a game which had appeared to be slipping away from them.
Smith kept Plunketts alive with another two-point free as they attempted to rescue their championship campaign, but Kilkerley held firm in the closing stages.
The final whistle confirmed a victory for Emmets and completed an impressive second-half recovery after they had trailed by four at the break and six shortly after the restart.
Cumiskey was central to the turnaround with 1-3, including a two-pointer, while Quigley contributed 0-5 and played an important role as Kilkerley gradually worked their way back into the contest.
Smith led the Plunketts challenge, while Brodigan’s second-half goal had briefly put the Drogheda men in a strong position. The result sends Kilkerley through to the quarter-finals alongside Wolfe Tones, while Oliver Plunketts will now face a relegation play-off.
Full time: Kilkerley Emmets 1-15 Oliver Plunketts 1-12
Kilkerley Emmets scorers: Fionn Cumiskey 1-3 (1tp), Conor Quigley 0-5 (1tp, 1tpf), Tadhg McEneaney 0-2 (1f), Ciaran Bellew 0-2 (1tp), Shaun McElroy 0-1, Finnan Crawley 0-1, Luke Shevlin 0-1.
Kilkerley Emmets: Callum Mulholland; Cormac Bellew, Patrick Murtagh, Fintan Brady; Ewan McEnteggart, Kieran Murtagh, Conal Brady; Ronan Deery, Micheal Begley; Oran McMahon, Conor Quigley, Ciaran McGlynn; Tadhg McEneaney, Cathal Bellew, Fionn Cumiskey.
Subs: Shaun McElroy on for Cathal Bellew (14’), Ciaran Bellew on for Cormac Bellew (HT), Finnan Crawley on for Oran McMahon (36’), Luke Shevlin on for Ewan McEnteggart (40’), Rian Hand on for Conal Brady (56’).
Oliver Plunketts scorers: Adam Smith 0-6 (2tpf, 1f), Killian Nolan 0-3, Adam Lambe 0-2 (1tp), Kristian Nolan 0-1 (1f), Robbie Brodigan 1-0.
Oliver Plunketts: Darragh Moore; Barry Reynolds, David McTaggart, Adam O’Connor; Niall Murtagh, Jamie Byrne, Adam Lambe; Shaun Smith, Robbie Brodigan; Killian Nolan, Adam Smith, Cillian Smith; Ben Boyce, Stephen Keeley, Kristian Nolan.
Subs: Gary Keogh on for Niall Murtagh (49’), Jack Taaffe on for Cillian Smith (49’), Ricky Bateson on for Adam O’Connor (59’), Sean Callaghan on for Kristian Nolan (59’), Jack Boyce on for Ben Boyce (59’).
Referee: Paul Burke (Naomh Máirtín).