Kilmeena hosted Achill in this U14 West Mayo ‘B’ Championship preliminary round game.
Having been involved in an adsorbing contest only four days previously and with five key players unavailable this evening, this was always going to be a challenge for Kilmeena – and so it proved…
Playing against a light breeze, Achill were first on the scoreboard, with a well taken point. Kilmeena settled into the game and responded with a goal from the boot of Finley Gibbons. Achill replied with two further points to level the contest at the end of the first quarter.
However, by this stage, the Kilmeena lads were growing in confidence and when Cillian O’Grady found Finley Gibbons with an accurate diagonal pass, Finley duly obliged to score his and Kilmeena’s second goal. A third goal soon followed after a Kilmeena free kick dropped just short, only to be seized upon by Finley Gibbons and dispatched to the Achill net. This was followed shortly afterwards with a converted free kick from the boot of Cillian O’Grady; to give Kilmeena a 7 point lead.
However, Achill responded well thereafter; scoring two goals in succession.
Colin Hastings then wrapped up the first half scoring for Kilmeena, with a well taken point; to give the home side a 2 point advantage on a scoreline of 3 - 2 to 2 – 3 at the small whistle.
The second half began positively for Achill, as they gained possession from the throw-in and ran at the Kilmeena defence, in a move that yielded a quick goal for the visitors.
Having put in a huge effort in the first 30 minutes and now playing into a strengthening wind, Kilmeena struggled to get the ball into the Achill half. In spite of the fantastic efforts of Jack Mulchrone and the excellent defending of Ben Lennon & Cormac Lyons, Achill were finding gaps in the Kilmeena half and they punished Kilmeena with a number of scores, including three goals.
At the other end, Darragh Slattery’s goal midway through the second period did give Kilmeena a boost, but unfortunately, they could not build on this. As is their trait, the Kilmeena lads did not give up without a fight, with every player and sub giving it their all to the final whistle.
The panel present this evening comprised of the following:
Evan O’Donnell, Ben Lennon, Cormac Lyons, Jamie Staunton, Jack Mulchrone, Colin Hastings, Darragh Slattery, Finley Gibbons, Ciaran Kilcoyne, Cillian O’Grady, Brian Durkan, Rory Nolan (Capt), Daniel O’Malley, Gavin Mulchrone, Sean Gallagher, Cian O’Brien, Lorcan Caody, Jack Walsh, Tadgh Costello, Adam O’Grady, Cormac Feehan, Ross Nolan, R Kilcoyne
Well Done Lads……
Match report; Michael O'Grady
Kilmeena 4 - 7 7 - 11 Achill
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