Bragging rights for Gaels after Kennedy’s late goal

Lough Lene Gaels 4-20, Clonkill 3-21

Paul Hughes

A late Marcus Kennedy goal gave Lough Lene Gaels bragging rights over Clonkill in TEG Cusack Park on Sunday evening last, ahead of the sides renewing acquaintances in the semi-final of this year’s SHC ‘A’ the weekend after next.

After a poor start and the concession of two early goals, including one after 17 seconds, the Gaels found their feet and bounced back with David Williams, Eoin Daly and Aaron Kennedy all chipping in to ensure they led 2-12 to 3-8 at the break.

As the light began to fade, the quality of attacking hurling didn’t suffer as supporters from both sides were treated to an equally entertaining second half with little between the sides, crowned by Kennedy’s dramatic late goal.

Forwards were in the ascendant on Sunday evening, with 48 scores posted, many of them of the highest quality. However, both clubs will have plenty to think about going into the semi-final, particularly on the defensive side, while the Gaels’ lofty wide count of 14 will also be a statistic of note.

Clonkill started in blistering fashion when Peadar Scally split the Lough Lene Gaels defence with a pass to Luke Loughlin, who rifled the sliothar to the net from close range. Scally then tacked on a free shortly before Gaels netminder Noel Conaty picked out David Williams for their first score.

Points from Eoin Daly and Williams (a free) got the Gaels within a point of parity before Clonkill struck for their second goal. After coming out to claim a ball, Conaty found himself at sea and scuffed his clearance, allowing Oisín Murray to sweep to the net.

The Gaels shot a couple of wides before Clonkill raised another green flag after yet more calamity in the Gaels vanguard allowed Jordy Smyth to sneak in and force the sliothar across the line with his right boot.

The Collinstown men were in trouble and needed a rapid response, and it came from David Williams. He converted a free before smashing a penalty to the net after Clonkill’s Rian Holding fouled the Gaels’ Warren Williams while battling for a high ball. This left three points between the sides (3-1 to 1-4).

Andrew Shaw fired a superb point from out left as Clonkill regained their composure, but back came the Gaels again with a second goal. This time, the outstretched paw of Eoin Daly caught a long ball before the wing forward netted with a superb angled drive off his left. Aaron Kennedy followed this up with a lovely point to level matters (3-2 to 2-5).

It was nip and tuck for the rest of the half, at the end of which the Gaels led by the minimum, with Kennedy, the accurate David Williams (0-5, 4f) and Tommy Doyle (a great long-range effort) finding their range, while Luke Loughlin (three fine scores), Peadar Scally (a free) and Robbie Cleary (0-2) replied for Clonkill.

With eight wides already registered, Lough Lene Gaels manager Joey Williams threw veteran Derek McNicholas into the fray after the interval, but they found themselves under the cosh for the opening six minutes of the second half after Clonkill shot four excellent points in a row.

Peadar Scally (a free), Oisín Loughlin (from long range), Jordy Smyth and Andrew Shaw (a great drive down the middle) did the honours for the Loughegar men, who now led by three.

The Gaels responded with scores from Micheál and Eoin Daly, but as the Gaels continued to increase their wide count, Clonkill took full advantage and built up a six-point lead (3-18 to 2-15) by the three-quarter mark. In this eight-minute spell, the Collinstown outfit could manage only a free from David Williams, while Luke Loughlin (yet another great run and point), Peadar Scally (0-3, two from play), Niall Mitchell and the excellent Robbie Cleary (from long distance) obliged for Clonkill.

Lough Lene Gaels badly needed a goal at this stage, and it arrived on 46 minutes when Tommy Doyle intercepted in midfield before being put through on goal by Aaron Kennedy. After scything his way through the Clonkill defence, Doyle rattled the net with a spectacular shot to lift the Collinstown faithful.

Three points adrift, the Gaels still had work to do and as they continued to rack up the wides - including a gilt-edged goal chance for Marcus Kennedy, who pulled a low shot to the right of the Clonkill goal - they were still three adrift with seven minutes to go. Clonkill’s Peadar Scally (a free) and Josh Murtagh (a terrific long-range effort from the terrace side) cancelled out points from the Gaels’ Eoin Daly and Brendan Doyle.

As the clock ran down, the Gaels pushed for a goal but Kennedy had another shot blocked. A 13th wide from the Collinstown men followed a score from David Williams, who possibly had a goal on but his powerful drive went over the bar.

However, the dying moments belonged to Marcus Kennedy, who made up for his earlier misses by clinching it for the Gaels. With a minute to go, he shot his first point to leave the minimum between the sides, but in stoppage time, Peadar Scally looked to have won it for Clonkill with a free.

Then, a minute later, a long ball from Tommy Doyle caused confusion in the Clonkill defence. The bounce of the ball fell kindly for Kennedy, who let fly with his right boot and kicked the winning goal past Anthony Price.

There was still time for a fine cameo point from Gaels sub Jordan Williams, sealing a morale-boosting two-point win ahead of the rematch on Sunday week.

Scorers - Clonkill: L Loughlin 1-4, P Scally 0-7 (5f), J Smyth 1-2, R Cleary 0-3, O Murray 1-0, A Shaw 0-2, O Loughlin, N Mitchell and J Murtagh 0-1 each. Lough Lene Gaels: D Williams 1-10 (1-0 pen; 0-7f), E Daly 1-3, T Doyle and M Kennedy 1-1 each, A Kennedy 0-2, M Daly, B Doyle and J Williams 0-1 each.

Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Daire Daly, Dan Higgins, Philip Reilly; Shane Williams, Daragh Qamar, Tommy Doyle; Micheál Daly, Brendan Doyle; Thomas Kennedy, David Williams, Eoin Daly; Aaron Kennedy, Warren Williams, Marcus Kennedy. Subs used: Derek McNicholas for T Kennedy (h-t), Jason Malone for M Daly (42), Jordan Williams for W Williams (47), John Egan for B Doyle (56), Cian Reilly for Qamar (59).

Clonkill: Anthony Price; Josh Murtagh, Alan McGrath, Rian Holding; Brian Gaffney, Niall Mitchell, Paul Poynton; Oisín Loughlin, Peadar Scally; Matthew Glynn, Robbie Cleary, Andrew Shaw; Oisín Murray, Jordan Smyth, Luke Loughlin. Subs used: Darragh Egerton for Gaffney (h-t), Ciaran Nooney for Glynn (h-t), Luke Kenny for A McGrath (43), Mikey McGrath for Murtagh (54), Jamie Coffey for Shaw (59).

Ref: Alfie Devine (Castlepollard).