Kilcar maintained their perfect League record with a slender win over St Michael’s.
St.Michaels 1-11 Kilcar 0-15
By Charlie Collins at The Bridge. Photos by Moses Alcorn
Following their trip to Kerry last weekend for Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, where they had three tough games, and a Friday night win over MacCumhaills in Towney, one could have forgiven Kilcar if their energy level had been somewhat low for this trip.
Added to that was the fact that the home team have got to a position that league points, particularly at home, have become a priority this game presented Kilcar with yet another tough challenge.
But they met it face on to take an early lead, which they never relinquished although St.Michaels tested them all the way and were on level terms half-way through the second-half.
As well as their county trio of Ryan McHugh, Patrick McBrearty and Eoin McHugh Kilcar were without Ciaran McGinley , Stephen McBrearty and Conor Doherty.
Mark McHugh got them off to a great start with four points in a row, three from frees in the opening ten minutes.
Andrew Kelly and Kyle McGavrey replied for St.Michaels but in between those Mark Sweeney’s long range effort bounced over the bar and then Oran Doogan converted a good score to leave it 0-6 to 0-2 to Kilcar.
The home team hit back with what proved to be the game’s only goal, after breaking up a Kilcar attack the side broke out quickly and Daniel McLaughlin raced 50 metres before setting up Andrew Kelly with an easy tap-in to leave a point in it.
Mark McHugh and Aodhan McGinley converted frees , Edward O Reilly pointed from play but McGinley did likewise to leave Kilcar three ahead at the break 0-9 to 1-3.
The home side started the second-half well and scored four of the opening five points.
Colm Anthony McFadden got two from frees, Andrew Kelly also tapped over a close-in free and Daniel McLaughlin steered one over from an acute angle.
Kilcar’s only reply was a fine effort from Michael Hegarty but in the 45th minute the teams were level 1-07 to 0-10.
However Kilcar responded well and hit three points in a row, frees by Aodhan McGinley and Andrew McClean and then a super point from play by McGinley into the stiff breeze to make it 1-7 to 0-13 in the 49th minute.
Andrew Kelly and Mark Sweeney exchanged points as did Colm McFadden and Mark McHugh to keep the gap at three points.
In injury-time Michael Gallagher from play and a Colm McFadden free left just one in it again but Kilcar, playing their fifth game in nine days, held on to win by a point 0-15 to 1-11 and maintain their 100 per cent league record with this their eighth victory.
Mark McHugh with six and Aodhan McGinley with four scored ten points between them but this was a real team effort by the league leaders once again.
St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Oisín Langan, Chris McElhinney, Liam Kelly; Ryan Langan, Michael Gallagher (0-1), Michael Cannon; Liam Paul Ferry, Kyle McGarvey (0-1); Daniel McLaughlin (0-1), Colin McFadden; Edward O Reilly (0-1); Andrew Kelly (1-3, 2f), Colm Anthony McFadden (0-4f), John McFadden. Subs: Martin McElhinney for O’Reilly (40), Christy Toye for J.McFadden (48) Odhran McFadden for R.Langan (50).
Kilcar: Eamonn McGinley; Barry McGinley, Conor McShane, Pauric Carr; Brian O’Donnell, Michael Hegarty (0-1), Andrew Mc Clean (0-1); Aodhan McGinley (0-4, 2f), Mark McHugh (0-6, 5f); Paddy McShane, Mark Sweeney (0-2), Barry Shovlin; Oran Doogan (0-1), Matthew McClean, Dara O Donnell.
Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters).
