Kilskyre strike late to land spoils

KILSKYRE NS put back-to-back Boys Div 5 titles together in sensational fashion after snatching a 3-6 to 2-7 victory from the jaws of defeat in a dramatic final two minutes at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, writes Sean Wall.

Following a very poor start during which they conceded 2-2 inside four minutes Castletown dominated proceedings for most of the opening period and also the second half and seemed to be coasting to a deserving victory when leading 2-7 to 2-4 with just a couple of minutes left on the clock.

They should probably have been ahead by more at that stage as they went close to adding to their goal tally in the second half with Darrell McKeown denied by a fine save from Kilskyre 'keeper Alex Reilly while another effort following a Sean Cassidy ’45' was scrambled away.

However the game was turned on its head when Killian Connell grabbed possession and drilled low to the net a minute from the end of normal time to draw the teams’ level. Connell then pointed his side in front as momentum swung towards Kilskyre and in the opening minute of added time the impressive Danny Keane doubled his side’s advantage. That wasn’t the last action of a dramatic finale as a Cassidy free rebounded off a post to safety before the final whistle sounded.

Full credit to Kilskyre as they looked a beaten side from a long way out but their perseverance and never-say-die attitude reaped its reward. Points from Danny Keane and Fionn Owens were followed by goals from Keane and Matt Farrell McGovern as they raced into an early 2-2 to 0-1 lead.

Castletown slowly worked themselves back into contention with the brilliant Sean Cassidy converted a couple of frees and Sam Meade Donnelly and Tadhg Sheridan on target with points before the livewire Darrell McKeown found the net on the stroke of half-time to leave the teams’ level 1-5 to 2-2.

Charles Morton and Fionn Owens pointed to restore the lead for Kilskyre but Castletown responded with a point from Kearns and then a goal from Sam Meade Donnelly to regain the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

Sean Cassidy converted another free to stretch out the advantage and Castletown continued to dominate without adding to their tally until that dramatic twist in the closing minutes.

Kilskyre NS - Alex Reilly; Ryan Lynch, Dylan Fagan; Charlie Lydon, Killian Connell (1-1); Charles Morton (0-1) Danny Keane (1-2); Colin Fox, Fionn Owens (0-2 one free); Matt Farrell McGovern (1-0), Thomas Lynam. Andrew Lynam, Jamie Cromwell, Robert D’Arcy, James Smith, Tom Lynch; mentors - Sinéad Lemass, Emma Dowd.

Castletown NS - Tyler Dam; Tadhg Dunphy, Nathan Curtis; Darrell McKeown (1-0), Sean Cassidy (0-3 three frees); Charlie Smyth, Tadhg Sheridan (0-1); Finn Lennon, Freddie Kearns (0-2); William Donegan, Harry Smyth. Sam Meade Donnelly (1-1), Christopher Shankey Donegan, Scott Jordan, Danny O’Brien, Daniel McConnell Hudson, Noah Eogan; mentor - Brien Kearns.

Referee - Cathal O Bric (Boyerstown NS).