Kiltubrid do just enough to scrape past Carrigallen

A dominant Kiltubrid booked their place in the Smith Monumentals IFC Semi-Finals but only by the skin of their teeth as they had to survive a late Carrigallen scare in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada to set up a meeting with Melvin Gaels next weekend.

Kiltubrid were by far the dominant team over the 60 plus minutes but a combination of a failure to reflect that dominance on the scoreboard and the sheer doggedness of the Carrigallen men meant that this was a game that could have been taken away from them by a matter of inches on Saturday evening.

It was really that close - Carrigallen had a chance to tie the scores in added time after Derek Reilly had ignited an unlikely comeback with a successful penalty. But the fisted effort flew under the bar, rather than over it and despite Carrigallen protests that the ball had taken a touch off a defender, the score was chalked off and Kiltubrid would score two late points on the break to secure the win.

Kiltubrid advanced past stiff Carrigallen test as fans brave the weather in Pairc Sean - GALLERY

Kiltubrid withstood a fierce Carrigallen challenge to book their place in next weekend's Smith Monumentals IFC Semi-Finals on Saturday in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some great images of fans enjoying the action ..... see who you can spot!

The game also saw four excellent goals, one of which would be voted Goal of the Century when Matt Hackett whipped, soccer style, on the ball some 30 yards out out in the left corner, a truly unbelievable shot that dipped over the head of Kiltubrid keeper Noel Gill and right into the top right hand corner of the net.

In truth, Emmet Mahon and Danny McWeeney for Kiltubrid and Carrigallen's Eoin Ward scored efforts that would win acclaim normally but the sheer audacity of Hackett's shot, the unlikeliness of such a score was staggering, prompting gasps of amazement and laughter followed by cheers.

But the goals, often against the run of play, were what kept Carrigallen in with a battling chance against a Kiltubrid team who dominated most of the game. Their intensity, sustained pressure on the Carrigallen players and impressive fitness was not rewarded with scores on the board which may be of concern ahead of the semi-final clash with Melvin Gaels.

But fix that and Kiltubrid could yet have a big say in this championship because they have all the basic ingredients of what is needed - good size, lots of pace and ball carrying ability and a nice mix of experience and youth.

Kiltubrid got off to a bright start with Fionn O’Brien scoring a fine point on the run inside the first minute. Jake Hackett scored a wonderful point from a tight angle inside the 14 yard line out in the right corner while Hackett also saw a shot well held by Noel Gill in the Kiltubrid goal.

Kiltubrid soon took control - Barry McWeeney converted a free before quick thinking saw a free lobbed into an unmarked Danny McWeeney and he blasted high to the net from close range after eight minutes.

Emmet Mahon really should have goaled but put his chance the wrong side of the post after good work from Barry McWeeney but the full-forward made ample amends a minute later when he brilliantly fielded a long delivery from out the field, turned and blasted to the net to put Kiltubrid six points clear.

Eoin Ward steadied a rocky Carrigallen with a nice point before we witnessed one of the best goals ever seen in Pairc Sean when Matt Hackett took off on a 60 yard run, under fierce pressure from Michael McCormack. Seemingly running out of room and playing the ball soccer style on the ground, Hackett whipped a rocket of a shot from maybe 30 yards out and just inside the 21 yard line in the left corner.

Noel Gill was well positioned but the bullet of a shot flew like an arrow just over his head to end up in the top right hand corner of the net - it was a score that took the breath away and left spectators stunned by its audacity.

Kiltubrid responded with two Barry McWeeney frees either side of some poor efforts on goal with Derek Reilly responding from a free.

Incredibly in the last minute of the half, a long relieving clearance saw four players go for the ball, it broke off a hand right into the path of Eoin Ward who charged forward and delivered a wonderful finish to the Kiltubrid net, leaving the halftime score at 2-4 to 2-3 in favour of Kiltubrid.

Carrigallen came out strongly in the second half but kicked a few costly wides before midfielder Brian O’Rourke took a pass from Daniel McCann and blasted over the bar after six minutes, the possibility of a goal at the end of a good move very much on.

Fionn O'Brien on the attack for Kiltubrid in the first half against Carrigallen Picture: Willie Donnellan

Kiltubrid’s response was the winning of the game, Danny McWeeney burst through a tackle after good work from Iarlaith O’Brien and Stephen McLoughlin out on the wing, to put Kiltubrid back in front and two frees in the following minutes from his brother Barry suddenly had Kiltubrid three points clear.

Fionn O’Brien chipped over a lovely point to make it four Kiltubrid points in as many minutes but a Derek Reilly free on 43 minutes made it a one score game once more. Kiltubrid were creating more chances but hitting more wides but when Barry McWeeney converted a free with six minutes left, they looked in a good spot.

It got better when Daniel Lyons was black carded for a cynical foul on McWeeney on his way through, a free awarded although the penalty for such an offence inside the 21 yard line is a penalty. It didn’t seem important as Barry McWeeney converted the free and Kiltubrid were  a man up with little over a minute of normal time left.

But then the game took a huge twist when Carrigallen sub Kalum McLoughlin was fouled inside the large parallelogram on his way through as the men in blue & white put together an intricate passing move. Derek Reilly took the penalty and slotted it away easily to put two between the sides.

Carrigallen were suddenly flying - a foul on O’Rourke allowed Reilly to kick another free to cut the gap back and a point and they looked odds on to force extra time only for a fisted effort to actually go under the bar rather than over it.

Making the most of their escape, Kiltubrid would exploit Carrigallen’s need to push forward and the extra man with Barry McWeeney and Fionn O’Brien both firing over good points to seal their place in the semi-finals.

Melvin Gaels face Kiltubrid as Annaduff drawn to face Allen Gaels in Smith Monumentals IFC Semi-Finals

KILTUBRID

Scorers: Barry McWeeney 0-8, 6f; Danny McWeeney 1-1; Fionn O’Brien 0-3; Emmet Mahon 1-0

Team: Noel Gill, Eamonn Geoghegan, Peter Winters, Shane Foley, Dermot McKeon, Diarmuid McKiernan, Stephen McLoughlin, Michael McCormack, Jack Foley, Iarlaith O’Brien, Fionn O’Brien, Kealan McKeon, Danny McWeeney, Emmet Mahon, Barry McWeeney. Subs: Ralph McKeown for I O’Brien (46); Conor Prior & Dylan Easterbrook for K  McKeon & D McKeon (51); 

CARRIGALLEN

Scorers: Derek Reilly 1-3, 1-3f; Eoin Ward 1-1; Matt Hackett 1-0; Brian O’Rourke & Jake Hackett 0-1 each

Team: Andrew Hession, Patrick McCann, Daniel Lyons, Daniel McCann, Barry Dolan, Gary Reynolds, Ben Harte, Gerard McDermott, Brian O’Rourke, Matt Hackett, Fionnan Harte, Eoin Ward, Jake Hackett, Colm Kiernan, Derek Reilly. Subs: Marc Dolan for F Harte (28); Barry Nash for McDermott (40); Kalum McLoughlin for M Hackett (46); Gerald Percival for Kiernan (54)

Referee: Mark McCloskey