Kiltubrid power home

The final scoreline might not reflect how hard Eslin made last Friday's ACL Division 3 Final in Cloone but at the end, there was no doubting the superiority of a Kiltubrid who could be a surprise packet in this year's Smith Monumentals Intermediate Championship.

A barrage of late scores gave a slightly lop-sided look to this scoreline but there was no escaping the greater energy, organisation and physical capabilities of the Kiltubrid side who are blessed with a succession of tall, mobile players who like to get up and down the field in big numbers.

Eslin tried manfully, particularly the Beirne brothers but Kiltubrid generally had an answer with Michael McCormack doing well to subdue the always powerful Conor on the edge of the square, achieved with good help from Dermot McKeon and Marc Gannon.

In the middle of the park, we had an almighty battle between Jack Foley and Tomas Beirne with the Kiltubrid man getting great help from Karl Winters and Fionn O'Brien and faced with those players, Beirne's influence was limited.

Eslin needed everything to go their way but their over reliance on the Beirne brothers meant Kiltubrid could, and did, negate much of their impact and even without the McWeeney brothers, Barry & Danny, they possessed a scoring power across all sectors that Eslin could only envy.

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In fairness, Eslin will be a handful in the Junior grade while Kiltubrid enter the ferocious battle that will be the Intermediate competition this year with another three teams set to make the drop but in fairness, they seem well equipped to make a good run.

Picking a man of the match is tough because so many played big roles for Kiltubrid with Con Doyle bagging three goals, Jack Foley impressive in the middle of the park, Jack Foley, Karl Winters & Dara McCormack catching the eye but perhaps Michael McCormack's marking job on Conor Beirne was the biggest factor as he restricted the Eslin talisman. 

For all that, the Beirne brothers were immensely impressive with James & Niall McNabola and subs Paul Kilcrann and Donnacha Reynolds doing well

Two teams competing in vastly different competitions with vastly different resources. My view is that Eslin are further on than they were this time last year while Kiltubrid, even minus a few definite starters, look like challengers in the Intermediate grade given their size and mobility although much will depend on how long they have Jack Foley for!

The Eslin team who were defeated by Kiltubrid in the ACL Division 3 Final Picture: Willie Donnellan

Kiltubrid face Drumkeerin in the Intermediate Championship on Saturday week while Eslin face Drumreilly next Sunday in the Junior A grade

Kiltubrid set out their stall early with points from Stephen McLoughlin and Fionn O’Brien inside the first two minutes although they also had a scare when Dermot McKeon made a goal-line block to prevent a James McNabola goal.

Eslin hit back in style with a monster Conor Beirne two pointer, simply turning and firing over from well outside the 50 yard line. The action was going from end to end with Conor Prior making a good save from Eamon Stenson after a high Conor Beirne ball into the danger area while a low Karl Winters shot hit woodwork.

Kiltubrid started to move clear with Fionn O’Brien landing a huge two point free before adding another from a free. The lively Dara McCormack scored a fine point, a goal briefly on, and despite wides and Eslin keeper Enda Turbett making a great save to deny Con Doyle a certain goal, another O’Brien free left Kiltubrid five clear.

Conor Beirne launched a 40 yard free over the bar before Eamon Stenson fisted the ball over the bar but two quick points from McCormack undid their good work. Beirne converted another but it was Kiltubrid who finished the half strongest, Aidan McKiernan and Dara McCormack scoring fine points.

That left Kiltubrid 0-11 to 0-5 up at the break and Eslin needed a strong start to get back into contention - and they almost got it when Conor Beirne’s quick free found John O’Flynn bearing down on goal but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. 

Eslin did pull back two points, Conor Beirne finishing off a good run with a point while James McNabola scored a fine point after cutting in from the wing. That left four points between the teams but Kiltubrid responded ruthlessly and impressively, started off by a Jack Foley point after a strong run.

Eslin were then caught napping, Kiltubrid lobbing a quick free into Con Doyle who blasted easily to the net. Dara McCormack and Aidan McKiernan both hit points either side of a Conor Beirne free, McKiernan finishing off a great move that could have ended with a goal on 15 minutes.

Fionn O’Brien traded frees with Conor Beirne before dissent saw an Eslin free moved 50 yards forward only for Beirne to bring it back outside the arch to score a two pointer, leaving seven between the teams.

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But with Eslin visibly tiring and Kiltubrid starting to find gaps, the scores continued to flow for the eventual winners with McKiernan and Doyle both adding to their personal tallies as did the tireless Jack Foley who was in a great battle with Tomas Beirne in the middle of the park.

Conor Beirne converted a free with seven minutes left in the half but Kiltubrid were just finding their scoring boots with sub Ralph McKeon and Jack Foley both adding points before Con Doyle crashed home two goals in as many minutes, Kiltubrid cutting through a tiring Eslin defence with alarming ease.

Conor Beirne concluded the scoring from a free in added time but Kiltubrid were comprehensive and deserving 16 point winners.

KILTUBRID

Scorers: Con Doyle 3-1; Fionn O’Brien 0-6, 6f; Dara McCormack 0-5; Jack Foley & Aidan McKiernan 0-3 each; Stephen McLoughlin & Ralph McKeon 0-1 each

Team: Conor Prior, Dermot McKeon, Fergal McWeeney, Marc Gannon, Diarmuid McKiernan, Stephen McLoughlin, Matthew Lee, Michael McCormack, Jack Foley, Aidan McKiernan, Karl Winters, Tom Moolick, Con Doyle, Fionn O’Brien, Dara McCormack. Subs: Pat Moolick for Winters (39); Eamon Geoghegan for Gannon (45); Patrick Whitlow for Lee (49); Ralph McKeon & Dylan Easterbrook for McCormack & T Moolick (51)

ESLIN

Scorers: Conor Beirne 0-11, 1 tp; 8f; James McNabola & Eamon Stenson 0-1 each

Team: Enda Turbett, David Stenson, Gearoid Reynolds, Tomas McNabola, Barry Bohan, Blaine McCrann, Aonghus McCrann, Tomas Beirne, James McNabola, James Foy, Conor Beirne, John O’Flynn, Ronan Reynolds, Eamon Stenson, Daniel Beirne. Subs: Donnacha Reynolds & Paul Kilcrann for D Beirne & B McCrann (HT); Niall McNabola for O’Flynn (35); B McCrann for J McNabola (56); Keith McNabola for Foy (60)

Referee: Paul Martin