Forde makes Killucan pay penalty in boost for Moate
Moate All Whites 2-9 Killucan 1-9
The momentum is now with Moate All Whites in the battle to avoid relegation after this morale boosting win over Killucan at Tyrrellspass last Sunday.
The decisive score came deep in added time when Robbie Forde netted from a penalty. For their part, Killucan will have regrets about the manner in which they conceded the penalty and indeed the first Moate goal.
Having scored a goal from a penalty themselves, Sami Clarke the scorer, Killucan led by 1-5 to 0-3 at half-time. The Saffrons had played with the strong wind in the first half and Tobby Conteh's opportunist goal shortly after the restart gave Moate a major lift.
It looked like Clarke's brilliantly struck '45' - kicked into the teeth of the breeze - would be enough to earn Killucan a share of the spoils, only for Forde to have the last say from the penalty spot.
Having lost their three previous games, Moate's fate will still come down to the last group game against pointless Shandonagh, where a draw will be enough to retain senior status.
For their part, Killucan can still advance to the knockout stages if they beat neighbours The Downs in their last game.
Last Sunday's contest began amid atrocious weather conditions with driving rain and strong wind threatening to ruin it as a spectacle. Thankfully, the rain eased off and the wind died down as the afternoon wore on.
Facing into the wind, Moate were content to engage in 'keep ball' for spells of the first half. This worked to a certain degree but it left their inside forwards starved of the ball. Killucan's Devin Hill opened the scoring with a seventh-minute point but this proved the only score of the first quarter.
The direct approach paid dividends for Killucan when Clarke's long delivery broke invitingly for raiding centre-back Robbie Greville whom hard-working Moate midfielder Harry Niall was adjudged to have fouled. Clarke's penalty found the corner of the net.
As Moate finally launched some genuine attacks, Conor Bracken's shot off the ground was blocked by Killucan netminder David Bryan; in ensuing play, a Killucan defender was penalised and Ronan Murray got Moate off the mark from the free (22nd minute).
After a neat point by Killucan wing-back Michael Doherty, Forde (operating in a deep role) responded with a classy score.
On 27 minutes, Eamonn Cunneen pointed with aplomb for Killucan and though Murray replied with his second free, Hill and Cunneen added points from frees to leave Conn Cleary's side leading by five at half-time.
Moate were thrown a lifeline with a goal a couple of minutes after the resumption. Forde's point attempt went short and was caught by Bryan, but Conteh's challenge knocked the ball out of the Killucan keeper’s grasp and into the net.
It was a soft goal from Killucan's perspective, though Eoghan Ahearn swiftly responded with a great point into the wind. Points were exchanged between Murray (a free) and Clarke, before Moate defender Luke Whitney showed he could finish with a well taken score.
Conteh tried his luck for a second goal from an acute angle, with Bryan doing well to save, before Cunneen's pointed free again put Killucan three ahead (1-8 to 1-5).
The next four points were all scored by Moate which saw Liam McNeill's charges edge in front by the 52nd minute. The sequence was started and ended by frees from Murray - who threatened the Killucan defence at every opportunity - while Forde and Sam Fannin used the wind to great effect with long range scores.
A lengthy period of stoppage time was justifiably played during which Killucan forced a '45', and Clarke pointed impressively for a 64th-minute equaliser.
Murray was off target with an attempt at a winning point, but Killucan were unable to secure possession from the kickout.
Moate applied pressure in the left corner and with Killucan appealing in vain for a free out, Forde was eventually fouled as he headed for goal with the ball at his feet. The same player tucked the resulting penalty away (66th minute) as Moate claimed their first win of this year's championship.
Man of the match: Robbie Forde (Moate All Whites). According to many accounts, Forde was below his best in Moate's first three games but he had a major influence on Sunday, crowning his display with the winning goal. Ronan Murray never stopped trying to make things happen with sniping runs, also scoring five points from frees.
What it means: Moate will be safe if they avoid defeat to Shandonagh in their last game. In order to avoid relegation Shandonagh will need to beat Moate to force a play-off against the same opponents. In such a scenario, a play-off would be required due to the rule which ordains that a team cannot be relegated if they finish on the same points as another team. Based on their championship form this year, it's difficult to envisage Shandonagh beating Moate once - never mind twice - but that is the predicament they now face.
Scorers - Moate: R Forde 1-2 (1-0pen); R Murray 0-5 (5f); T Conteh 1-0; L Whitney and S Fannin 0-1 each. Killucan: S Clarke 1-2 (1-0pen, 0-1 '45'); E Cunneen 0-3 (2f); D Hill 0-2 (1f); M Doherty and E Ahearn 0-1 each.
Moate All Whites: Richie Price; Tom Gorman, Andrew Gorman, Luke Whitney; Daragh Lowry, James Bracken, Dylan Nulty; Cathal O'Brien, Harry Niall; Sam Fannin, Conor Bracken, Eoin Bracken; Tobby Conteh, Robbie Forde, Ronan Murray. Sub: Billy Berry for C Bracken (46 mins).
Killucan: David Bryan; Gary Greville, Sam Smyth, Luke Darby; Cormac Boyle, Robbie Greville, Michael Doherty; Conor McKeogh, Eoin Keyes; Sami Clarke, Sean Leech, Rory Keyes; Devin Hill, Eoghan Ahearn, Eamonn Cunneen. Subs: Jamie Mulkearns for Boyle (46 mins); Darren Finn and Ciaran Doyle for Hill & Cunneen (52); Andrew Flood for Ahearne (inj., 56).
Referee: Barry Pierce.