Win against Araglin

Killavullen defeated the county junior B champions of 2020, Araglin yesterday in Mitchelstown, in a game that which was played out in mixed weather conditions, which made for greasy underfoot conditions.

Araglin were first to score in the first minute, but we got back on level terms in the third minute from a Liam Cronin free. That sense of parity was short lived however as the strongly built full forward from Araglin out-muscled our fullback and scored a decent goal in the 4th minute.

Somewhat shell shocked at this stage, we were all at sea in our defence temporarily, and Araglin scored another point when one of their forwards was in oceans of space in the 5th minute. Jack O’Connor got a point back for us in the 7th minute to begin the fightback, but though now getting to grips with the game and more settled, we had a number of poor wides with some coming from dead ball situations.

To be fair, they tended to be out on the extremities of the wings. Araglin got the next score of the game in the 15th minute from a free, and Mikey O’Connor replied with a free of his own to leave the score at the water break 1-03 to 0-03 against us.

Our halfback line in particular was now on top, with the youthful pair of Ronan Barry and Brian Cotter pillared in the middle by Liam Cronin started to dominate and repel Araglin attacks. Behind them Seamus Fox, Fionn and in particular Patrick Angland were playing their men from the front and coming out with the ball. Mickey pulled another free back for us, before Padraig Looney pounced for a goal after a quickly and cleverly taken indirect free shot isolated him. Credit to the free taker but also to Padraig for getting free.

We built on that momentum immediately when Jack O’Connor seized on a wayward clearance directly from the puck out and fired over a fine point in the 22nd minute. We pushed further ahead when Paul O’Sullivan, working hard in his corner forward berth, turned his man and sent over a fine point from an acute angle. Mikey scored two further frees before the half-time whistle after Eddie Cotter and Darragh O’Grady had been fouled, to leave the score at the interval 1-08 to 1-03 in our favour.

Eoin Buckley got a fine point, a point that he deserved for his work rate as the opening score of the second half in the 4th minute but Araglin responded immediately with a free. Padraig Looney scored a lovely point in the 5th minute before Mikey O’Connor scored from open play in the 7th minute to bring our tally to 1-11.

We added to that tally in the 9th minute with a pointed free from the same player after good initial work by Eddie Cotter. Araglin replied with a point from open play in the 10th minute, but Paul O’Sullivan and Padraig Looney brought our tally to 1-15 by the water break in this half.

Jack O’Connor was withdrawn at this juncture after sustaining a knock to the knee that he struggled to shake off, to be replaced by Seamus O’Mahony. Araglin got two points from frees immediately after the water break, somewhat foolishly conceded by our backs, but Mikey pushed out our lead again with another free after Paul O’Sullivan was upended.

Barry Murphy replaced Colm Looney, and he, as the coach of the U12s has his very own vocal cheering party who cheered on any involvement he had in the game. Araglin scored their 8th point with 10 minutes to go but Eoghan Buckley placed another ball subtlety over the bar to maintain the same distance between the two teams. A very heavy shower at this juncture had the crowd seeking shelter underneath the Leylandii trees at the side of the grounds, but play had to go on, albeit conditions were quite poor now, for close on 5 minutes of real heavy rain.

Araglin got a point back from another free but again Mikey scored when pressed on again, from another dead ball situation. Araglin refused to wilt though, no doubt buoyed up by their involvement in the great win of Kilara Óg in the U15 county final of earlier in the day, and well done to them on that fantastic achievement. They scored another point with 3 minutes to go and we spurned three glorious goal chances when we had the overlap.

Eddie Cotter got a fine point for us then Araglin scored from a free and Michael Cagney replaced Eoin Buckley who hurt his ankle. The final score of the game came from Padraig Looney who added to our points tally to bring our score to 1-19.

Overall, this was an improved performance from what had occurred earlier against Ballygiblin last week, but now the next game is crucial. Killavullen need to defeat Fermoy in the concluding game to preserve their interest in the junior A championship after Fermoy and Ballygiblin played out an entertaining drawn game later in the day in Ballyhooly. Final score

1-19 to 1-11.

The team was Michael Cronin, Seamus Fox, Fionn Magner, Patrick Angland, Ronan Barry, Liam Cronin (0-01F), Brian Cotter, Mikey O’Connor (0-08, 0-07F), Darragh O’Grady, Padraig Looney (1-03), Eddie Cotter (0-01), Eoghan Buckley (0-02), Jack O’Connor (0-02), Colm Looney and Paul O’Sullivan (0-02). Subs: Seamus O’Mahony for Jack O’Connor (injured), Barry Murphy for Colm Looney and Michael Cagney for Eoin Buckley (injured).

LOTTO JACKPOT ROLLS OVER TO €2.5K

There was no winner of the lotto jackpot on Tuesday night, September 14 when the numbers drawn, were 15, 33 and 35. The jackpot on the night was, at €2,400. The winners of the lucky dips were as follows; €50 – Majella Murphy– seller – John Angland, €30 –Denis Collins- seller – The Haven Bar, €20 – John O’Neill – seller – John Angland.

The next jackpot was drawn on the 21st September for €2,500. Tickets can be purchased from any committee member or from our website. E-Sales to be valid must be completed before 8pm on the night of the draw. Any ticket purchased after that time goes forward to the draw, of the following week. Thank you for your anticipated and ongoing support.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Killavullen play Fermoy in the junior A hurling championship on Sunday, October 10 in Ballyhooly at 3pm. We await the conclusion of the Round Robin series of games in junior football next weekend to see whom we will be pitted against in the quarter final of the football championship. Always check out our website for updates.

KEEP FIT CLASSES FOR OVER 60S

As part of the ongoing, healthy club initiative, Killavullen GAA has organised to have keep fit classes for the over 60s cohort on the Astro Turf, in the Killavullen GAA facility for each of the four Mondays in September, at 10am. These classes will be free to attend, and available to either male or female participants. The instructor is John Morrissey. To book please contact John on 083-1053666.

NO JOY FOR U12 GROUP

We came away defeated in the U12 football league final, Killavullen v Dromtariffe last Sunday morning in Kildorrery at 10am.

A slow start was our undoing, and we went in at half time trailing by 18 points. We rallied in the second period, showing great heart but ultimately came up short by six points. Losing a final is difficult at this age but it is character building, and a trip to O’Sullivan’s Centra shop in Kildorrery for ice creams soothed the loss.

FAR FLUNG SUCCESS FOR KILLAVULLEN PLAYER

Congratulations to our former midfielder Sean O’Regan who has tasted instant success with his new football team in Dubai. Sean now plays with Jumeirah Gaels, which are a very newly inaugurated team.

In March of 2015 Jumeirah Gaels were established. The club has grown to six ladies football teams, one camogie team, five men’s teams and one men’s hurling team. They are constantly looking for new players and operate in and around the Sports City district of Dubai.

Last weekend, in nearly 40 degrees Celsius, in Sharjah, Sean was playing midfield, in a newcomers’ tournament, and perhaps wishing for some of the rain that fell in Mitchelstown. We wish Sean well with his new club.

Club sponsor - Howard Farm Feeds.