KILCAR AND GLENSWILLY were far from full strength but still served up a decent All-County Football League Division 1 fixture this afternoon.
Glenswilly 1-11 Kilcar 0-15
In the end, a point slung over the Glenswilly crossbar by Michael Hegarty proved the difference between the sides, as the home support queried why referee Enda McFeely played only 80 seconds injury time, with Joe Gibbons having brought the deficit back to the minimum.
However, those involved with the away team did also wonder if Caolan Kelly’s goal for Glenswilly two minutes from time, which brought them right back into the contest, was in the square.
Either way, McFeely in the middle wasn’t the talking point as he had let the game flow when he could and overall, like many in the top flight of late, it was extremely nip and tuck.
At half-time the score was 0-4 to 0-4 with Aodhan McKinley, Mark Sweeney and two Daniel Lyons points on the board for Barry Doherty’s Kilcar, while Caoimhin Marley, Gary McFadden, Brian Farrelly and Gibbons were the hosts’ scorers.
The closest either came to a goal was when Kilcar’s McGinley found himself on the end of a good move on 22 minutes but could only drag his shot wide of James Gallagher’s goal.
Kilcar began to enjoy a fruitful third quarter, with Dara O’Donnell, Aodhan McGinley and Ryan O’Donnell edging them 0-7 to 0-5 in front.
Then, after another McFadden point for Glenswilly, Kilcar popped over four in a row with Hegarty, Ryan O’Donnell, Mark Sweeney and Matthew McClean on the mark to establish a 0-12 to 0-6 advantage.
But with Glenswilly having shown their doggedness in recent weeks to fight back and claim draws against both Naomh Conaill and Aodh Ruadh, they refused to lie down.
Four points on the bounce – from Gary McFadden, Kelly’s 45, Ryan Diver and Farrelly – took them back to just two down with 10 minutes left.
Kilcar, who were having bother at the middle of the field, did break the siege and Brian O’Donnell’s blistering shot at goal was tuned over the crossbar at the concession of a point by James Gallagher. Sweeney then pointed and Kilcar were four up, 0-14 to 0-10 with time thin on the ground.
Glenswilly managed to muster a goal when Kelly slapped in from close range on 68 minutes following Shane McDevitt’s pass after Conor McShane had initially blocked. Claims for square ball fell on deaf ears but again Kilcar managed to push the gap out to two – this time through Hegarty.
Gibbons did pull one back at the start of the second minute of injury time but that would, as it turned out, be the last kick of the match. Kilcar took the two points by inches.
Glenswilly: James Gallagher; Ryan Diver (0-1), Eamon Ward, Mark McAteer; Oisin Crawford, Shane McDaid, Joe Gibbons (0-2); Caolan Kelly (1-1, 0-1 ’45’), Shaun Wogan; Ciaran Bonner, Gary McFadden (0-4, 2f), Caoimhin Marley (0-1); Shane McDevitt, Philip O’Donnell, Brian Farrelly (0-2). Subs: Christopher McMonagle and Ciaran Gibbons for Marley and O’Donnell (43).
Kilcar: Eamon McGinley; Pauric McShane, Conor McShane; Barry McGinley; Paddy McShane, Michael Hegarty (0-2), Daniel Lyons (0-2); Aodhan McGinley (0-2, 1f), Brian O’Donnell (0-1); Andrew McClean, Mark Sweeney (0-3), Matthew McClean (0-2); Ryan O’Donnell (0-2), Oran Doogan, Dara O’Donnell (0-1).
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s Convoy)
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