Kiltane scrape through Erris relegation scrap
Five points from the boot of goalkeeper Darragh Carey were crucial to Kiltane's single point win against Cill Chomáin that kept his side in Division 3 and sent the visitors to Division 4. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Relegation loomed for whoever was the loser of this Erris derby on Friday evening, and it’s Cill Chomáin who were consigned for Division 4 for 2027 after the narrowest of defeats in Bangor Erris.
10 points had separated the teams when they met at the same venue in last year’s intermediate championship but matters were far tighter on this occasion, with Kiltane grateful for the contribution of a goal and three points by debutant Conor Conmy.
Conditions were blustery and the hosts played with the wind at their backs in the first-half knowing they would have to carry a healthy lead into the break. The opening minutes were characterised by wides and mistakes from both sides before Cill Chomáin raised the first flag, with a low ball fired into Justin Healy and quickly popped to Eoghan McGrath. The latter popped the ball off to Shane Moran who came at speed and broke free from his marker to sweep over.
Kiltane goalkeeper Darragh Carey began what was an excellent evening for him by stroking over a two point free, however, it wasn't long before the visitors struck back. When Kiltane failed to clear their lines, the ball fell to Jack Healy whose shot-come-pass ended up in the hands of Eoghan McGrath and the midfielder dispatched a great finish into the bottom left corner to give his side a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.
Kiltane began to make use of the breeze as Rory Ginty and Owen Doherty kicked almost identical two pointers within minutes of each other, and the locals extended their lead through Conor Conmy’s point and a penalty converted by Tommy Conroy, awarded by referee Jerome Henry after an off-the-ball scuffle in the goalmouth.
Eoghan McGrath ended Cill Chomáin’s dry streak with a tidy point, but his efforts were quickly cancelled out by another from Conmy, keeping Kiltane’s lead at six points with five minutes of the half remaining. They sensed they’d need more to carry into the second-half though, and duly tacked on a point by Jonathan Deane and a beautifully worked second goal, this scored by Conor Conmy who was enjoying an excellent debut.
That left Kiltane 2-9 to 1-2 in front and a long road back for Cill Chomáin and actually, it would take the visitors some time before making use of the elements now with them after the restart.
The reliable Justin Healy kickstarted the comeback with a booming kick from outside the arc, quickly followed by another point burning his marker and popping over from close short range. An unnecessary Kiltane foul then allowed Cill Chomáin goalkeeper Kian Gallagher to step up and reduce the deficit to five points from outside the arc.
A string of wides from both sides followed before Gallagher’s opposite, Darragh Carey, nailed his own two point free against the wind, and when Conor Conmy added on another point for the hosts, Cill Chomain’s hopes seemed to dwindle further, trailing as they now did by eight points with 15 minutes to play.
But the travelling support made their voices heard, pleading the team to play with some urgency. This translated onto the pitch as a goal and four points followed unanswered. Jack Healy struck the ball sweetly from outside the arc after a period of Cill Chomáin possession and when the home side were caught napping trying to play out from the back, Gavin McAndrew produced a smart finish on the half turn that snuck under the Kiltane keeper.
Liam Maloney claimed the ball off the next kickout and the half-back drove forward and was given all the time to beautifully cut across the ball and send it between the posts from outside the arc, reducing the gap to one point – 2-12 to 2-11.
The Blue and Gold ended the visitors hot streak by winning the following kickout and quickly progressing the ball inside the arc where Tommy Conroy was levelled, giving Darragh Carey the opportunity to extend the lead to two with his fifth point of the game. From the next play, Gavin McAndrew produced a great claim off his side’s kickout deep inside the Kiltane half. A needless barge in the back followed and Kian Gallagher levelled the game with a high pressure two pointer, making this a drawn game.
Kiltane broke quickly, screamed on by the home crowd, and the move looked promising until halted by a foul by Sean Irwin which earned the Cill Chomáin player a black card. However, a kickout soon after by the away team bypassed its intended target and in the blink of an eye, Kiltane's Jonathan Deane poked over a lead-giving point with only seconds to go.
Cill Chomáin went short from the next kickout and when the defender attempted to progress the ball upfield, he was fouled and not let up. Jerome Henry advanced the free upfield when Kian Gallagher had a chance to steal victory for the visitors, save them and send Kiltane to Division 4. Car horns blared as he stepped up but the kick faded right and wide.
Scorers – Kiltane: Conor Conmy 1-0-3, Darragh Carey 0-2-1 (2tpf, 1f), Tommy Conroy 1-0-0pen, Owen Doherty and Rory Ginty 0-1-0 each, Jonathan Deane 0-0-2.
Cill Chomain; Eoghan McGrath 1-0-1, Kian Gallagher 0-2-0 (2tpf), Gavin McAndrew 1-0-0, Justin Healy 0-1-1, Jack Healy and Liam Maloney 0-1-0 each, Shane Moran 0-0-1.
Kiltane: Darragh Carey; Anthony Coyle, Shane Gallagher, James Conroy; Owen Doherty, Cathal Carey, Jonathan Deane; Sean Gaughan, Rory Ginty; Ultan Corrigan, Mikie Sweeney, Nicholas Carolan; Conor Conmy, Tommy Conroy, Mikey Ginnelly.
Cill Chomain: Kian Gallagher; John Flannery, Cathal Doherty, Odhran McAndrew; Sean Irwin, Liam Maloney, Lorcan Mason; Padraic McGuire, Eoghan McGrath; Shane Moran, Jack Healy; Brendan Moran, Justin Healy, Martin Geraghty.
REF: Jerome Henry (Castlebar)
