Kilbride cling on in thriller

FIVE-TIME Keegan Cup winners Kilbride edged closer towards a return to the senior grade following this IFC quarter final extra-time win at Ashbourne on Friday evening.

In a game that was a fine advertisement for the grade Kilbride led for long spells but were unable to shake off tenacious opponents whose never-say-die attitude contributed to a most enjoyable contest.

Kilbride led by six points on a number of occasions in the second half of normal time but the brilliance of Jamie Murphy dragged the Stamullen outfit back into contention and it was his two two-pointers in the space of three minutes that eventually left it 1-15 to 2-12 and forced the game to extra-time.

It was a contest that had everything included three brilliantly executed goals and some controversy close to the end of normal time. Kilbride were ahead by three when full forward David O’Leary’s point effort was waved wide on 57 minutes. It looked the correct decision but one of referee Derek Ryan linesmen thought otherwise and the white flag was eventually waved.

Murphy’s brace of two-pointers wiped out that lead and as the weather deteriorated neither side managed to score in the opening half of extra-time. A point from play and then a free from Josh Harford edged Kilbride two clear before 'keeper Luke Faherty deflected Donal Landy’s goal bound drive over the crossbar. The drama ended after Murphy drove a long range two pointer free wide of the target in the final seconds.

David O’Leary was in fine form throughout the opening half and his three points boosted Kilbride to a 0-7 to 0-5 interval lead. The east Meath side trailed throughout the half but halved a four point deficit with late scores from Shane Dowling and Ben Sullivan.

Substitute Adam Malone produced a lethal finish to the net to increase the Kilbride lead three minutes into the second half but Jamie Murphy who had a relatively quiet opening half burst to life with a two-pointer, a free and a '45’ to leave his side trailing by three on 40 minutes.

That Kilbride lead doubled after wing back Finn White finished to the net at the midpoint of the second half. St Patrick’s refused to go away however and Murphy converted a free before Ben Sullivan produced an exquisite finish to the net on 53 minutes. Kilbride responded with points from the outstanding Andrew McWeeney and that controversial effort from O’Leary.

Kilbride looked safe at that stage but Murphy had other ideas and blasted over successive two-pointers to send proceedings to an additional 20 minutes.

Kilbride – Luke Faherty; Cian Harford, Ronan O’Leary, Mark Dempsey (0-1); Finn White (1-0), Timmy Farrell, Andrew McWeeney (0-2); Dan Boyd, Caolan Howard; Conor McWeeney (0-2), James Gavin, Gareth Rooney; Anthony Barker, David O’Leary (0-5 one free), Josh Harford (0-4 three frees). Subs – Adam Malone (1-0) for Barker 25m, Cathal McKeon for Rooney 46m; extra-time - Adam Smith for White.

St Patrick’s – Evan McDonnell; Liam Brennan, David McQuillan, Darragh Bracken; Oisin Black, Conor Black, Darren Hagan; Sean Emmanuel (0-2), John Mannion; Shane Dowling (0-1), Donal Landy (0-1), Barry Mooney; Ben Sullivan (1-2), Jamie Murphy (0-9 three two-pointerss, one free, one ‘45’), Eoghan O Fuaruisge (0-1). Subs – John Curtis for Bracken 25m, Neil O’Flaherty for Mooney 42m, Conall O Fuaruisge for E O Fuaruisge 47m; extra-time - Sean Baxter for Hagan, Cian Murphy for Sullivan, Mooney for Curtis, Bracken for O Black.

Referee – Derek Ryan (Na Fianna).