An Cheathrú Rua are making steady progress
By JIM CARNEY An Cheathrú Rua .1-16 Kilconly .0-14 YOU CAN'T BUY or hire experience; it has to be acquired over time as last year's Intermediate champions Kilconly discovered at Pearse Stadium on Sunday. Victory went to a seasoned Senior Championship team who were always doing enough to win a well-contested, entertaining game. Kilconly didn't do much wrong; the only disappointing aspect of their performance was their failure to make more profitable use of the wind at their backs, into the city end, in the first half. Tactically, a two-man full-forward line wasn't a bad idea, with such a sharp striker as Adrian Murphy close to goal, but it took Pádraig Moran out the field and several long-ball attacks came to nothing because of space inside that wasn't filled.[private] An Cheathrú Rua, who led at half-time by two points, 1-7 to 0-8, won plenty of primary possession in both halves and they have so many big, strong men that it takes pace, constant movement and careful use of the ball to combat their style which, in fairness, is based on skill and craft. The Carraroe men have always been great to watch and it's long been a mystery to me why they've gone out so tamely from the Championship year after year since they reached two County finals, winning one, in the 1990s. Now they're through to the quarter-finals and it will be interesting to see how they perform with a semi-final place at stake. For Kilconly, it'll be League football again and they will soon get over the disappointment of last Sunday. Winning on their Senior Championship debut was a massive achievement for them â€â€ securing their premier grade status in their first year up â€â€ and they've shown they're well able to play at the highest level; they are good footballers, they work hard and they wear the jersey with pride and passion. Carraroe's goal was scored by their very good full-forward Niall Ó Briain, while the de Paor brothers CillÃÂn and Ciarán hit ten points between them and wing-forward Antaine Ó Conghaile's workrate was a key factor in the winning performance. Team captain MÃÂcheál Ó Briain and Séamus Ó Loideáin, two giants, were influential at midfield, and at centre-back Gearóid Ó Conghaile continues to give great service. Kilconly had two hard-working midfielders too, and behind them captain Kevin Brady gave another lionhearted display at No. 6 but the game ended prematurely for him with a red card in the closing stages. John Paul Steede top-scored for Kilconly; Fergus Daly was an excellent goalkeeper, as always, and the two Newells are very good footballers. An Cheathrú Rua: C. Mac Eanraic; S. E. Ó Flatharta, I. Seoige, I. Ó Conchubhair; C. Ó Lorcáin, G. Ó Conghaile, M. A. Ó Loideáin; M. Ó Briain, S. Ó Loideáin; A. Ó Conghaile (0-1), CillÃÂn de Paor (0-5), P. Ó Conghaile (0-1); P. Ó Loideáin, N. Ó Briain (1-3), Ciarán de Paor (0-5, two frees). Sub., A. Ó Cadhain (0-1), for P. Ó Conghaile. Kilconly: F. Daly; A. Walshe, Martin Newell, Ml. Newell; D. Concannon, K. Brady, captain, B. Concannon; J. Fair, K. Curley; D. Glynn, JP Steede (0-7, three frees), C. Concannon; J. Kerrigan (0-1), A. Murphy (0-2), P. Moran (0-4, three frees). Subs: A. Flaherty, for Walshe; L. Brady, for D. Concannon. Referee: James Molloy. Herald Sport Man of the Match: Antaine Ó Conghaile (An Cheathrú Rua). [/private]