Inagh/Kilnamona secured their senior status for 2017 and in doing so sent Kilmaley into the relegation final.
By Jamesy Mc Conigley
Inagh Kilnamona 1-19
Kilmaley 2-12
Venue: Shannon
Inagh-Kilnamona recorded their first derby win against rivals Kilmaley and what a perfect time to do it, with a four point victory in the relegation semi-final. The combo dashed out of the traps like a team possessed when Kevin Hehir, Conor Tierney, Shane Mc Inerney and Tómas Kelly helped them into a healthy 0-05 to 0-01 lead after 10 minutes.
On the twentieth minute Daire Keane’s delivery was flicked past the powerless Kelly by the on-rushing Diarmuid Mc Mahon to cut the deficit to three. Kilmaley gifted Inagh-Kilnamona numerous scoring opportunities from placed balls, touting up over eleven frees on the foul count in contrast to Inagh-Kilnamona’s two in the opening half.
Both sides traded points in this lively affair but a storm arouse just before half time, Kevin Hehir’s cross-come-shot subsequently ended up in the Kilmaley net but it was adjudged to have been a square ball and the goal was chalked-off. At the interval Kilmaley found themselves three points in the arrears, on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-06.
Cian Moloney and Evan McNamara picked up where they left off, exchanging scores from frees for their respective sides. Inagh-Kilnamona compounded their neighbour’s misery when Kevin Hehir followed up a Patrick Kelly free which rebounded off Bryan O’Loughlin’s crossbar to raise a green flag.
Evan Mc Namara was stretchered off after sustaining a nasty knee injury which resulted in a delay to proceedings. Cian Moloney and Barry Keating were involved in a shoot-off scoring seven out of the next eight scores.
Kilmaley showed a never-say-die attitude and veteran Ken Kennedy pounced to brush the sliotar past the Inagh-Kilnamona rear-guard. Again Moloney tapped over from close range but it wasn’t enough as Jarlath Donnellan sounded the full-time whistle and Inamona secured senior status for 2017.
All photos by Martin Connolly
Inagh-Kilnamona: Patrick Kelly; Cathal Mc Conigley, Sean Mahoney, Milo Keane; Shane Mc Inerney, Jason Mc Carthy, Brian Foudy; Seamus Foudy, Tómas Kelly; Brian Griffin, Kevin Hehir, David Fitzgerald; Evan Mc Namara, Conor Tierney, Barry Keating. Subs: Jamesy Mc Conigley for Griffin (41), Gary Lafferty for McNamara (44) (Inj)
Scorers: Evan Mc Namara (0-8 7F, 1×65), Kevin Hehir (1-03), Barry Keating (0-05 4F), Tómas Kelly, Shane McInerney and Conor Tierney (0-01 each).
Kilmaley: Bryan O’Loughlin; Marty O’Connor, Colin McGuane, Noel Casey; Brian Cahill, Conor Cleary, Ken Kennedy; Aidan Mc Guane, Mikey O’Malley; Daire Keane, Diarmuid Mc Mahon, Sean O’Loughlin; Cian Moloney, Mikey O’Neill, Eamonn Bracken. Subs: Paraic Mc Namara for Sean O’Loughlin. (HT)
Scorers: Cian Moloney (0-08 7F),Diarmuid Mc Mahon and Ken Kennedy (1-00 each), Mikey O’Malley (0-02), Aidan Mc Guane and Mikey O’Neill (0-01 each).
Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)
Inagh-Kilnamona overcome neighbours in a feisty encounter. Sadly tarnished by Evan Mc’s injury @theclareherald @inagh_kilnamona @KilmaleyGAA
— james mcconigley (@jame_sy) September 3, 2016
@BrennanEoin @theclareherald @inagh_kilnamona @Westclarepage Is @jame_sy the first journalist to keep a game updated while playing?
— david fitzgerald (@davyfitz12) September 3, 2016
@davyfitz12 @theclareherald @inagh_kilnamona @Westclarepage @jame_sy He’s setting the bar extremely high #phoneintogs
— Eoin Brennan (@BrennanEoin) September 3, 2016
@davyfitz12 @BrennanEoin @theclareherald @inagh_kilnamona @jame_sy was saying that to him after. Has to be. A unique man is Jamesie ?
— Peter O’Connell (@Westclarepage) September 3, 2016