Class Carney inspires Kilmeena recovery

Mayo IFC Semi-Final 

Kilmeena 1-18 

Moy Davitts 2-13 

(AET, 0-14 to 2-8 at full-time)  

Kilmeena fought back from a seven-point deficit to take down Bohola Moy Davitts in a club championship classic and book their spot in the Mayo intermediate final for the second successive year.

Over the 80 plus minutes Kilmeena were the better side. Up front, Caolach Halligan, John McGlynn and Darragh Keaveney showed unerring accuracy, the latter’s five frees in the second-half reeling Moy Davitts in, while at the back, Jack Mulchrone, Stephen Staunton and John Ryan recovered superbly from a devastating opening quarter for Kilmeena to snuff out the opposition’s threat.

But one man stood above the rest and that was Jack Carney.

When the chips were down early in the second-half and Kilmeena began to misfire in front of the posts, he stopped the rot with a big point on 40 minutes and struck a massive goal early in the first period of extra-time which would ultimately prove the difference.

Moy Davitts had made a blistering start to this game and found the net inside 40 seconds. Brian Reape played in Padraig Ruane and although his shot was saved, the ball was bundled into the net by Cathal Clarke.

The East Mayo challengers found themselves in again after a Brian Reape mark, but this time Paul Groden’s save from Anthony Jordan saw the ball go out of play.

John McGlynn, from a free, and Halligan got Kilmeena up and running but on ten minutes, Brian Reape broke away from Jack Mulchrone and picked out the unmarked Ronan Clarke for Moy Davitts’ second goal.

Heneghan and Reape, a mark, traded scores with Halligan and McGlynn before Conor Reid sent over the score of the first-half off the outside of his left boot, which was quickly followed by a Cian McHale free.

Kilmeena would finish the half strong however, through points by McGlynn and Darragh Keaveney to leave five between the sides at half-time, 2-5 to 0-6 in favour of Moy Davitts.

Another quick start for the Moysiders followed with McHale and Heneghan extending the lead to seven after which Halligan and Reape exchanged scores once again, but Reape’s point on 38 minutes would be the final score for Moy Davitts in the second-half as Kilmeena showed their trademark second-half burst.

Running at the Moysiders at will, the bursting runs of Carney, Joey Smyth and Sean Ryder were something that the Red and White struggled to contain over the final 20 minutes.

After four wides early in the second-half, Jack Carney led by example with a fine score, followed by five frees by Darragh Keaveney and one by substitute Ronan O’Donnell to bring this game to extra-time, although Kilmeena will no doubt feel they should have won it before then were it not for their seven wides overall in the second-half.

Moy Davitts responded well from the setback as Oisin McHugh fisted over to restore their lead but Carney’s brilliant goal five minutes into the first period of extra-time put Kilmeena ahead for the very first time in the match.

Two Cian McHale frees brought Moy Davitts back level at the end of the first-half of extra-time but another two John McGlynn frees either side of a Brian Reape free left Kilmeena ahead. Brian Heneghan saw a goal chance blocked off the line as Moy Davitts went for broke.

A Heneghan free cancelled out Liam Moore’s long-range effort to bring it back to a one point game but with a minute left of the second period, Darragh Slattery sent over a remarkable effort from 35 metres to have Kilmeena dreaming of a Sweeney Cup final once more.

Scorers – Kilmeena: Darragh Keaveney 0-6 (5f), John McGlynn 0-5 (3f), Jack Carney 1-1, Caolach Halligan 0-3, Liam Moore, Ronan O’Donnell and Darragh Slattery 0-1 each.

Moy Davitts: Cian McHale (3f) and Brian Reape (2m, 1f) 0-4 each, Cathal Clarke and Ronan Clarke 1-0 each, Brian Heneghan 0-3 (1f), Conor Reid and Oisin McHugh 0-1 each.

Kilmeena: Paul Groden; Ciarán Kilcoyne, Chris Mclynn, John Ryan; Jack Mulchrone, Stephen Staunton, Colin Hastings; Jack Carney, Kevin Ryder; Keith Joyce, Sean Ryder, Joey Smyth; Caolach Halligan, John McGlynn, Darragh Keaveney. Subs: Darragh Slattery (for Joyce ht), Ronan O’Donnell (for McGlynn 40), Liam Moore (for K Ryder 42), Niall Feehan (for C McGlynn 61), John McGlynn.

Moy Davitts: Chris McGlynn; Conal Quinn, Tadhg Ruane, Paul Byrne; Darragh Ruane, Oisin Quinn, Padraig Ruane; Oisin McHugh, Anthony Jordan; Cathal Clarke, Cian McHale, Conor Reid; Eonan Clarke, Brian Heneghan, Brian Reape. Subs: Jack Dunleavy (for O Quinn 45), Fiachra Cruise (for Jordan 48), Padraig Ruane (for R Clarke 49, inj), Liam Byrne (for Reid 58).

REF: Vincent Neary (Bonniconlon)