Eastern rivals inseparable as bigger tests await
A moment years in the making took place last Saturday evening when for the first time, all six Horan brothers were part of the Kilmovee Shamrocks squad for their clash with Eastern Gaels in the Mayo junior football championship. From left to right: Seán, Cathal, Tom, Oisín, Peter and James Horan. Picture courtesy of Kilmovee Shamrocks
After a substandard first-half showing, the footballers of Kilmovee Shamrocks made up for it after the break as they delivered a quality second-half performance to snatch a draw, with Ciaran Sweeney the hero deep into stoppage time. The home side had just one point on the scoreboard after the opening 25 minutes of play, and Eastern Gaels looked to be in the driving seat on a day that not much was at stake; both these sides had already advanced into the knockout stages.
But a local derby can always bring out the best in each other. The second-half proved that and was overall a much better showing, as both sides finally got their shooting boots on. There were signs of relief in both camps when referee John Brennan blew for full-time.
“Overall, relieved with the outcome,” a pleased Kilmovee manager James Kilkenny told the Western People afterwards. “After the first-half showing, we had a good talk, and my voice is nearly gone because we had a big talk at half-time in the dressing-room. We knew we were doing a lot right, but we were also doing a lot wrong. However, the second half performance was as good as we played all year,” claimed Kilkenny.
“We put it up to Eastern Gaels. They were in the county junior final last year, we must remember. I was so proud of the lads, every one of them. We had so many lads chomping at the bit to get on, but it is not that simple because the guys on the pitch were doing everything right, and you know, a decision here and a decision there can go with you or against you.
“They got the two goals after the break, but we scored fifteen points. It was one of those games. It was nip-and-tuck, and there were some brilliant scores out there this evening,” Kilkenny added.
Light mist but calm conditions greeted both sides onto the pitch with bragging rights up for grabs, but the first-half never caught fire. The home side trailed 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, and two of the Kilmovee scores only came close to the half-time whistle, with Peter Horan scoring two frees. Eastern Gaels were the better side accuracy-wise, with Connor Grogan their brightest attacker. He kicked three of their points, two frees and one from play. Jason Jennings and Dean Lyons both got off the mark with a point also from play.
The fact that not much was at stake was visible before the throw-in as the Gaels made four late changes to the team named on the programme, with star forward and former Mayo minor, Dara Flanagan, having to make do with a place on the bench, but he was introduced in the second-half.
Whatever was said in the Kilmovee dressing-room at half-time definitely had an effect as they kicked four points in total in the opening six minutes alone. Peter Horan accounted for three of these, all from placed balls, with one of them a two-pointer, and Liam Frain getting his first to help turn a two-point deficit into a two-point lead.
It got better for the home side who went four clear, 0-10 to 0-6, midway through the half. A wonderful two-pointer from play by midfielder Oran Frain generated the loudest roar of the day, and Horan added another free.
Eastern Gaels turned to their bench, and the introductions of Jack Madden, Dara Flanagan, Shane Clarke and Michael McGarry added a whole new feature to their attack. Flanagan got a point from a free within seconds of his introduction after Jason Jennings was fouled, but his side still trailed by three, 0-11 to 0-8, entering the final ten minutes. That all changed when substitute Michael McGarry goaled, palming the ball to the net after excellent build-up play, with Flanagan again involved.
Kilmovee did briefly retake the lead when substitute Darragh Towey pointed but with just four minutes remaining, Connor Grogan got Eastern Gaels’ second goal with a low and thunderous finish to the net, to put them two up. It looked as though they had done enough, but leaders stand up when their side is most in need and Cathal Horan kicked a wonderful two-pointer to draw the home side level with seconds of normal time remaining.
Again Eastern Gaels looked like they had won it when Dean Lyons struck his second point in the first minute of injury time, but Ciaran Sweeney had the last laugh for Kilmovee with a late, late point to guarantee a share of the spoils.
Scorers – Kilmovee Shamrocks: Peter Horan 0-1-4 (1tpf, 4f), Cathal Horan 0-1-1, Oran Frain 0-1-0, Ciaran Sweeney 0-0-2, Darragh Towey and Liam Frain 0-0-1 each.
Eastern Gaels: Connor Grogan 1-0-3 (2f), Michael McGarry 1-0-0, Dara Flanagan (1f) 0-0-3, Dean Lyons 0-0-2, Jason Jennings 0-0-1.
Kilmovee Shamrocks: Killian Golden; Declan Duffy, Liam Boyle, Jonathan Regan; Ronan Dunleavy, Callum Sweeney, Tom Horan; Oran Frain, Cathal Horan; Liam Frain, Oisin Duffy, Eoghan Duffy; Peter Horan, Kevin Moffatt, Ciaran Sweeney. Subs: Darragh Duffy (for Moffatt 9, blood), Sean Bowens (for E Duffy 49), Darragh Towey (for Moffatt 50).
Eastern Gaels: Ronan Forde; Tony Aylward, Jack Ronayne, Darren Concannon; Jarlath Concannon, James Murphy, Paul O’Gara; Jason Jennings, Henry Concannon; Ryan Keadin, Rowan Johnson, Charlie Johnston; Dean McGarry, Connor Grogan, Dean Lyons. Subs: Jack Madden (for McGarry 38), Dara Flanagan (for H. Concannon 39, blood), Henry Concannon (for Murphy 42), Shane Clarke (for Johnston 49), Michael McGarry (for Keadin 50), Luke Mannion (for Jennings 60+1).
REF: John Brennan (Claremorris)
