Bright Parke start is false promise as Kiltane repeat the trick
Josh Carey hit eight points for Kiltane in their impressive win away to Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin last Saturday afternoon. Picture: INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
A new intermediate championship campaign could not have got off to a more dramatic start than last Saturday afternoon in Parke, as a fantastic comeback saw Kiltane overcome their hotly fancied hosts in what was the Erris side’s third championship win against Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin in as many seasons.
The home side had got off to a blistering start and before you knew it had 1-5 on the scoreboard. Already you feared the game might be done. However, the visitors, managed by Shane Lindsay, produced a magnificent comeback to eventually win with ease, going from eight points behind to ten in front until Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin scored their second goal in virtually the last move of the game.
Kiltane had some tremendous performers on show who played central roles in their side outscoring Parke by 0-12 to 0-1 in 33 minutes either side of half-time. Central to that success was the performance of full-back Shane Gallagher, who was outstanding throughout, along with Liam Donoghue at midfield, who gave a towering performance, while Mikie Conroy was in great form upfront along with Josh Carey at full-forward, who kicked 0-8 in total.
“Overall, we’re very pleased, although we didn’t have the best of first-halves to be honest,” Shane Lindsay outlined to the Western People afterwards. “We were a little bit off the pace from throw-in but credit to Parke, they got a very good start on us. We struggled to find the pitch of the game, but after 15 minutes or so, we grew into the game, began to get much more control of the ball, and we kept ourselves alive heading in at the break.” Lindsay had gone through a rollercoaster of emotions as he watched his side grind out a victory. Also watching on and offering any assistance he could was his dear dad Joe, cheering on his beloved Kiltane from beside their dugout in what turned out to be a memorable day for their beloved club.
“We settled into the second-half much better,” continued Shane. “Probably the extra man helped us a little bit to get on par, and thankfully we took control of the game onwards from there, which was very pleasing.” It was indeed a dream start for the home side, and it could have been even better. Mayo panellist Colm Lynch hit over a two-pointer, three points came from the boot of Evan Walsh at full-forward, one free and two from play, either side of Darragh Neary palming home a goal, to give the locals a 1-5 to no score lead.
Mathew Kelly could and perhaps should have added a second goal for the hosts, but Daragh Carey pulled off an excellent low save.
The onslaught didn’t affect Kiltane; they never panicked and by half time everything had turned on its head with Kiltane now only trailing by three, 1-6 to 0-6. Their comeback was aided when Simon Cloherty was black-carded in the closing stages of the half, meaning ten minutes with an extra man for the men from Erris.
Whatever Josh Carey had for breakfast, it worked. He kicked four points, two frees and two from play, which along with a two-point free by goalkeeper Daragh Carey gave Kiltane great hope at the interval. And this dominance continued after the restart as they hit six unanswered points, including a second two-pointer from Daragh Carey again to go three up.
Mikie Conroy, substitute John Ginty and the outstanding Liam Donoghue all scored from play while Josh Carey added a free.
Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin then suffered a huge blow when centre-back Arron McHale received a straight red card sixteen minutes into the second-half, and now with momentum against them they had to try and recover with just fourteen players. A turnaround never felt like happening, and it didn’t.
Liam Donoghue added another point from play before the match-clinching goal arrived ten minutes from time with a low, powerful finish to the net from Conor Conmey. Josh Carey rounded off a splendid day with three further points, one free and two from play, leaving Parke’s second goal in injury-time from Conor Sweeney having little impact.
It was a great start for Kiltane with the big question now, can they build on this in their home game against Hollymount-Carramore in Round 2. Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin now face a tricky trip to Cill Chomáin.
Scorers – Kiltane: Josh Carey 0-0-8 (4f), Daragh Carey 0-2-0 (2tpf), Conor Conmey 1-0-0, Liam Donoghue 0-0-2, Mikie Conroy (f) and John Ginty 0-0-1 each.
Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin: Evan Walsh 0-0-4 (1f), Darragh Neary and Conor Sweeney 1-0-0 each, Darragh Reilly 0-1-1 (1tpf, 1f), Colm Lynch 0-1-0.
Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin: Conor McDonnell; Paul Hurst, Cian Lynch, Cian McHale; Lucas Kenny, Arron McHale, Mathew Kelly; Ronan Reilly, Colm Lynch; Jack McLoughlin, Simon Cloherty, Cian Donohoe; Darragh Reilly, Evan Walsh, Darragh Neary. Subs: Conor Sweeney (for Kenny 37), Sean Corcoran (for Neary 56), Ray Neary (for R Reilly 58), Ronan Carolan (for D Reilly 60).
Kiltane: Daragh Carey; Owen Doherty, Shane Gallagher, Michael Needham;
Martin Gallagher, Mikie Sweeney, Cathal Carey; Rory Ginty, Liam Donoghue; Charlie Ginnelly, Tommy Conroy, Jonathan Deane; Mikie Conroy, Josh Carey, Conor Conmey. Subs: John Ginty (for Deane ht), Sean Gaughan (for C Carey 37, inj), Ben Donoghue (for J Ginty 56, inj).
REF: John Brennan (Claremorris)
