Gaels in Gloryland after northern goal-fest
Tommy Clarke was a second-half goalscorer for Northern Gaels in their comprehensive win over near neighbours Killala.
History was made on Saturday as for the first time Northern Gaels and Killala locked horns in championship.
The worth of the 2022 agreement that the GAA clubs in Lacken and Kilfian would unite at adult level was laid bare when Gaels guaranteed at least a second place finish in Group 1 of this season’s junior championship with a comprehensive victory over their neighbours.
The result means Northern Gaels will even have the opportunity to finish as top seeds with a win away to Ardagh next time out. All is not lost for Killala, who too can advance to the knockout stage if winning their home tie against Ballycroy, but a significant improvement will be required. The Round Tower boys played until the last bell but it was evident from an early stage that like Katie Taylor in front of her hometown crowd later that night, there was only ever going to be one winner.
The quality of the goal scoring on the evening was of the highest order. Ruairi McDonnell struck 2-2 from play in the first-half for the hosts, Marc Munnelly 2-2 from play in the second, and allied with a goal by Tommy Clarke, Northern Gaels were full value for their 11 points win. Killala became far too reliant on the excellent Mattie Keane who after the 12th minute, contributed all but one of his side’s remaining scores.
And yet Killala had actually began this game with great intent, scoring the opening two points through Niall Joyce, originally of Claremorris, and Mattie Keane. And even when Northern Gaels hit the visitors for a goal and three points by the eighth minute, Killala wasted no time in replying with a goal of their own. With just a point between the teams at the end of the first quarter, a tit for tat battle seemed assured.
Ruairi McDonnell’s rasping third minute goal, created by Cathal Boland’s handpass, was supplemented by points by James Forde, McDonnell and Marc Munnelly before Mattie Keane was quickest to the break beneath a kickout and ran hard at the Gaels defence and offloaded to Gavin Walsh who finished high past goalkeeper Daire Devine, to leave just a point between the teams.
Ruairi McDonnell and Sean Gildea traded points but after the latter was denied an equaliser by the upright, Northern Gaels wrestled a firm control of proceedings. Three points by James Forde (two point free) and Marc Munnelly (after an inspirational overturn by his centre-back Daniel Coleman) preceded McDonnell’s second major, in the 18th minute. It was Forde’s long-range delivery over the last defender that made the opportunity for Gaels’ corner-forward who on a sixpence caught, turned and blasted past Killala keeper Andrew Farrell.
The locals were now 2-07 to 1-03 ahead with 18 minutes played and while Mattie Keane, once from a free, pared back two points for Killala before the break, those were negated by a two point free that saw McDonnell take his haul to 2-4 for the half.
Killala might feel they could have been closer than six points, with only a wonderful interception by Northern Gaels corner-back Fergal McHale thwarting Mattie Keane’s potential defence-splitting pass to Gavin Walsh, who had his sights set on a second goal. But at the other end Northern Gaels could easily have had a third, except Marc Munnelly smashed the ball against the right upright.
Munnelly wasn’t to be denied though, and just 55 seconds into the second-half he took a pass from Ruairi McDonnell and picked his spot in the top right corner. James Forde added a point from play and in the 37th minute, Tommy Clarke managed to overturn Killala centre-back Conor Gilvarry and shoot low to the net as well.
14 points behind (4-10 to 1-05), Killala had to come back swinging. Wing-back Michael O’Hora jinked through and snuck the ball into the bottom left corner while Gavin Walsh will surely have thought he was about to raise his side’s third green flag in the 43rd minute went sent through by Gildea. But when Tyrone native Devine spread himself and Fergal McHale cleared the danger, the counterattack from Gaels ended with Farrell beaten for a fifth time, Munnelly getting in behind Kevin Walsh for his second goal to give Northern Gaels a 5-10 to 2-05 lead.
It was damage limitation at this stage for Killala; Keane kicked their final five points, including three frees, but even his two pointer from play was only in reply to one by Munnelly.
Ardagh certainly won’t maintain their one hundred percent record easily when they host Northern Gaels next Saturday.
Scorers – Northern Gaels: Ruairi McDonnell (1tpf) and Marc Munnelly 2-1-2 each, James Forde 0-1-2 (1tpf), Tommy Clarke 1-0-0.
Killala: Mattie Keane 0-1-6 (4f), Gavin Walsh and Michael O’Hora 1-0-0 each, Niall Joyce and Sean Gildea 0-0-1 each.
Northern Gaels: Daire Devine; Owen Loughney, Conor McHale, Fergal McHale; Shane Loughney, Daniel Coleman, Ciaran Loughney; Craig McCormick, Mark McDonnell; Daniel Walsh, Tommy Clarke, James Forde; Marc Munnelly, Cathal Boland, Ruairi McDonnell. Subs: Liam Ruddy (for C Loughney 50), John McLoughlin (for McCormick 53), Ronan Murphy (for Coleman 57), James Kelly (for Boland 59).
Killala: Andrew Farrell; Matthew Long, Liam Maughan, Andrew Gallagher; Sean Walsh, Conor Gilvarry, Michael O’Hora; Raymond Murphy, Niall Joyce; Callum McDonnell, Kevin Walsh, James McLoughlin; Sean Gildea, Mattie Keane, Gavin Walsh. Subs: Ben Stowe (for S Walsh ht), Alex Quinn and Brian Ferguson (for McLoughlin and McDonnell 37), John Joe Nealon (for Long 45), Michael Nealon (for O’Hora 54).
REF: Sean Tolan (Bonniconlon)
