Kehoe and Comerford star as Kilsheelan ease to victory over Grangemockler
FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 2
KILSHEELAN/KILCASH 1-13 GRANGEMOCKLER/BALLYNEALE 0-10
Kilsheelan/Kilcash recorded their first win of their year’s County Senior Football Championship with a comfortable six points victory over Grangemockler/Ballyneale at Páirc na nEalaí, Carrick-on-Suir, on Saturday evening. In what was the first meeting of the neighbouring parishes at senior level for many years, the more experienced Suirsiders had too much in hand for last year’s county intermediate champions, the destination of the league points decided long before referee Seanie Peters called time.
With both sides having lost their opening games two weeks previously, it made this clash key for quarter-final ambitions. The result sets Kilsheelan up for a crunch battle with JK Brackens for a coveted last eight spot, while Grangemockler will face Ardfinnan, narrow victors over Kilsheelan on the opening day.
Despite being short quite a few from his wish list first 15 selection, Kilsheelan manager Liam Stokes will be happy that his side controlled things very much from the first quarter onwards. With county hurler Mark Kehoe the main driving force in a hugely energetic performance, they were already four points to the good by the 25th minute when the game’s only goal arrived. Tommy O’Connor set up Liam Freaney for a shot, and while the powerful effort was partly blocked by a defender, the deflection gave David Power no chance between the posts.
At the break Kilsheelan/Kilcash remained those seven points clear at 1-8 to 0-4 and looking very much like winners.
The second half was a more even affair, most notable perhaps for the scoring chances spurned by both sides and two excellent saves by Tipperary goalkeeper Evan Comerford, including a penalty from Manus McFadden in the 48th minute. The scoring went pretty much tit-for-tat, Kilsheelan extending their cushion out to nine points before a quick-fire trio of late points gave Grangemockler a somewhat flattering final scoreline.
Kilsheelan will be happy with this win and the chance to move on and improve against Brackens the next day. Grangemockler are finding the step up in grade difficult and may well be relieved that there are no relegation issues at stake in this their first year back at senior. With a minus 12 points difference after two games, they have another tough task ahead in two weeks time.
Liam Freaney opened the scoring in the second minute for Kilsheelan before Michael Meagher responded with an excellent point from the tightest of angles five minutes in. Jamie Roche had his first of six on the night two minutes later before Michael Meagher levelled matters for a second – and final – time in the 10th minute.
County senior custodian Evan Comerford struck a sweet free from 50 metres in the 14th minute to put Kilsheelan ahead again, an advantage doubled two minutes later when man of the match Mark Kehoe swivelled and sent over a point for an 0-4 to 0-2 lead.
Tommy O’Connor then earned his side a free converted by Jamie Roche in the 19th minute, and soon afterwards an unforced error of handling the ball on the deck, gave Evan Comerford another opportunity to display his superb long-range kicking ability, bisecting the posts from 45 metres out.
The value of a solid free taker was accentuated during those few minutes, as while Kilsheelan were availing of opportunities, their opponents saw two very kickable frees sail the wrong side of the uprights.
Kilsheelan then got a huge boost with Liam Freaney’s 25th minute goal to extend their lead to seven points at 1-6 to 0-2. Thereafter they were never troubled.
Sean Daly and Manus McFadden combined in a one-two move up the field in the 27th minute, with McFadden raising a white flag, but in a similar move in the opposite direction, Tadgh McGuire finished off a Kilsheelan passage of play when slotting over from 20 metres out.
Kilsheelan lost influential centre-back Mark Stokes through injury just before the break, his replacement, Sean Ryan, putting in a solid performance also.
In the dying moments of the opening half Mark O’Meara and Jamie Roche (with a huge punt from 50 metres) shared points leaving Kilsheelan seven up at the break, 1-8 to 0-4.
Point for point it went in the opening minutes of the second period with Brian Walsh and Leon Kennedy for Grangemockler swapping points with Kilsheelan via Jamie Roche (two frees) and Tommy O’Connor.
Then in a bizarre two minutes both sides spurned almost certain goals chances.
Firstly a turnover won by Mark Kehoe sent Kilsheelan racing through and when Liam Freaney pulled the final trigger the ball seemed to go along the goalline, hit an upright, and despite players rushing in and out, the ball miraculously, from a defender’s point of view, stayed out.
Two minutes later, at the other end, an attempt at a point from Ben Comerford came down off the upright into the hands of Leon Kennedy, and with only the keeper – but not just any keeper – to beat, Evan Comerford got down low to his left to superbly deny Kennedy. And Comerford wasn’t finished just yet either.
Sean O’Meara (G/B) and Conor Davin-Power (K/K) then traded points leaving the score at 1-12 to 0-7 midway through the second half. Twelve minutes from time the Charlie McGeever coached Grangemockler were thrown a lifeline in the form of a penalty won by the hard-working Sean O’Meara. Manus McFadden took on the responsibility but this time, diving low to his right, Comerford again broke the hearts of the team in the famous white and green jerseys.
In the dying minutes Jamie Roche stretched the lead to all of nine points with a free won by Mark Kehoe, before Grangemockler, in never say die spirit, hit three on the trot between the 56th and 59th minutes to put a more respectable gloss on it at the death. Those late points were scored by Mark O’Meara (2) and Sean O’Meara (free).
Kilsheelan/Kilcash:
Evan Comerford (0-2F), Conor Neville, Jason Madigan (capt), Emmet Butler, Billy O’Connor, Mark Stokes, Micheál Freaney, Billy Murphy, Jamie Roche (0-6, 0-4F), Mark Kehoe (0-1), Barry Kehoe, Liam Freaney (1-1), Tommy O’Connor (0-1), Conor Davin-Murphy (0-1), Tadgh McGuire (0-1).
Subs: Sean Ryan for Stokes (inj., 29 mins); Michael Bates for Davin-Murphy (54 mins)
Grangemockler/Ballyneale
David Power, James Daly, Conor Hahessy, Sean Daly, Manus McFadden (0-1), Leon Kennedy (0-1), Darragh Shelly, Michael Meaney, Ben Comerford, Sean O’Meara (0-2, 0-1F), Mark O’Meara (0-5, 0-1F), Paudie O’Shea, Michael Meagher, Brian Walsh (0-1), Thomas O’Regan.
Subs: Lorcan Magorrian for O’Shea (54 mins).
Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow)