Kilbride show something extra to seal secure senior status
Harford points the win for Moyles' men
Kilbride ............................0-21
Na Fianna ........................1-15
After extra-time
In a game that ebbed one way, then flowed the other Kilbride retained their senior status with a stunning extra-time victory over Na Fianna at Batterstown on Thursday night.
Last year's IFC winners looked set to defy the odds and move into the safety zone when they led late on in normal time, but Conor Downey struck a wonderful two-pointer to earn extra-time for Na Fianna and with Shane Walsh home from Australia in their hour of need there was a sense it would be the Enfield men's night.
However, Kilbride had other ideas and were magnificent in the additional period of 20 minutes with only Sean Rafferty's fortunate goal offering any hope to Na Fianna who must now win a relegation final against either Seneschalstown or Simonstown (who play tonight in Skryne).
James Gavin opened the scoring for Kilbride before Na Fianna replied with points from Downey, Walsh and Daniel Queeney, but Kilbride showed all the tenacity that earned them intermediate honours last year with a two-pointer from goalkeeper Luke Faherty restoring parity.
However, took control in the closing stages of the half to lead 0-7 to 0-4 at the b reak.
That advantage was stretched to 0-10 to 0-6 by the end of the third quarter, but with their backs to the wall Kilbride came out firing as Josh Harford led the revival with a fine score.
Adam Malone, Harford and a David O’Leary two-pointer dragged Kilbride level again and when Harford, with a two-pointer, and Caolan Howard pushed Anthiony Moyles side three points clear they were well set for victory.
However, inspired by the surging runs of Sean Rafferty Na Fianna pulled a point back through the All-star full-back and then Downey forced extra-time with a sublime two-pointer.
The former Meath Kingpins of the late 60s - early 70s dominated the opening period of extra-time and led 0-16 to 0-14 at the turnaround and were 0-18 to 0-15 ahead when Rafferty's hopeful punt into the square from out on the right deceived everyone and ended up in the net to restore parity yet again.
With a dreaded penalty shootout looming Kilbride kicked on again with O'Leary edging his side in front before Harford landed another two-pointer to seal the win and spark wild celebrations.
Kilbride: Luke Faherty (0-2); Cian Harford, Ronan O'Leary, Finn White; Aaron Duggan, Timmy Farrell, Caolan Howard (0-1); James Gavin (0-2), Daniel Boyd; Mark Dempsey, Gareth Rooney, Andrew McWeeney (0-2); Adam Malone (0-1), Josh Harford (0-8), David O'Leary (0-5).
Na Fianna: Shane Geraghty; Cian Doherty, Oran Smullen (0-1), Anthony Healy; Sam Jordan, Mick Farley, Sean Rafferty (1-2); Ethan Devine (0-1), Oisin Bright; Luke Kelly (0-1), Conor Downey (0-3), Ronan Byrne; Cormac Rafferty (0-1), Shane Walsh (0-2), Daniel Queeney (0-5).