St Michael’s stunned Killererin with first-minute goal — and held on for impressive win

By JIM CARNEY St Michaelâ€â„¢s .2-10 Killererin .0-8 LONG-TIME city standard-bearers in the Senior Championship, St Michaelâ€â„¢s did a â€Å“Mayoâ€Â on Killererin at Corofin on Sunday. For all-out attack from the throw-in, high intensity all through the game, swarm-tackling of the opponent in possession, and slick support play going forward, St Michaelâ€â„¢s made it look like Mayo vs Galway a week earlier, or Donegalâ€â„¢s approach to the Ulster title defence against Tyrone at Ballybofey last Sunday. Itâ€â„¢s impossible to know if the city stalwarts â€â€ whoâ€â„¢ve never won the Frank Fox Cup â€â€ can repeat this superb performance, or if their next opponents will be so accommodating, but it didnâ€â„¢t come as a shock to those eagle-eyed enough to see huge merit in the St Michaelâ€â„¢s display against Salthill-Knocknacarra in the knockout stages of last yearâ€â„¢s Championship. The 1.00 oâ€â„¢clock start at Corofin on Sunday didnâ€â„¢t deter a sizeable attendance from turning up well on time; the Corofin club were excellent hosts, and the two SFC matches (with Kilconly vs Maigh Cuilinn at 2.45) were played in a great atmosphere and were very enjoyable, with no psychological hangover from the Galway defeat in the Connnacht Championship. Indeed, I think it was proof that club football has such a very special appeal, it will always walk tall and proud.[private] You had to feel for Billy Joyce, back at the helm in his beloved Killererin, and for his selectors Tom McHugh and Tommy Ryder who also gave magnificent service to their club in their playing days, for undoubtedly theyâ€â„¢d have believed going into this first round test that there was a big kick left in a team with such a great Championship record. Even with the Keanes and the Wilsons in retirement, Tommie Joyce gone into club management with Kilkerrin-Clonberne and Tomás Fahy not quite ready to resume after illness, they surely only needed to be sharp and focused to keep the fire blazing at the highest level for a few more years. But that was the crux of the big issue for Killererin on Sunday, and the players have to take the blame â€â€ they didnâ€â„¢t play with the right attitude. You couldnâ€â„¢t say it was arrogant; from what I could see, they were too casual, they clearly felt for three-quarters of the game that they were going to win it, no matter what the opposition did. Killererin didnâ€â„¢t apply themselves hard enough to the task; they simply didnâ€â„¢t perform on the day. All is not lost, of course. Billy Joyce is long enough in the game to know that most of the time the best way to react to a bad defeat is to forget about it and concentrate on the next day. How Killererin perform in the â€Å“back doorâ€Â round next month is up to themselves, and we can say the same about the champions Salthill-Knocknacarra, Caherlistrane, Cortoon Shamrocks, Mountbellew-Moylough, St Jamesâ€â„¢s and all who lost first time out. Let me hastily add that while Killererin made their own contribution to their defeat on Sunday, nothing detracts from the merit of the St Michaelâ€â„¢s performance, and victory. They were outstanding as a team, united and focused, determined and disciplined, and all candidates for Man of the Match were St Michaelâ€â„¢s men. Four of them gave brilliant displays, young defender David Cunnane, fresh from his All-Ireland U-21 success; midfielder Frank Daly, the former midfield anchor man Eddie Hoare, now a powerhouse at full-forward, and inside-forward John Carroll. Full-back Alan Glynn, consistently excellent year after year, played some great football on Padraic Joyce, a man wonderfully loyal to the Killererin jersey but he didnâ€â„¢t finish this game, sent off late on by referee Brendan Kinneavy, on a second yellow card. Alan Glynn went on to score a great point, fisted over after a powerful length-of-the-field run. Eddie Hoareâ€â„¢s first-minute goal, 15 seconds after the throw-in, helped St Michaelâ€â„¢s to a half-time lead of 1-4 to 0-6, and John Carrollâ€â„¢s goal ten minutes from full-time clinched a convincing and very impressive victory. St Michaelâ€â„¢s: B. Sheridan; C. Tummon, A. Glynn (0-1), D. Cunnane; J. Downes, K. Clancy, S. Hoare; F. Daly (0-2), B. Grogan; T. Curran, E. Oâ€â„¢Donnell (0-1), J. Hanbury; J. Carroll (1-3, 0-2 frees), E. Hoare (1-3, 0-2 frees), D. Connaughton. Subs., N. Grogan, for S. Hoare, inj., E. Brannigan. Killererin: A. Fahy; D. Kelly, C. Forde, I. Reddington; D. Flaherty, J. Mannion, M. Treacy (0-1); M. Boyle, T. Hughes; A. Nolan; N. Joyce (0-2, one free), D. Mannion; S. Hughes (0-1), P. Joyce (0-4, two frees), J. Hughes. Subs., K. Murphy, for Kelly, inj., G. Butler, for Treacy. Referee: Brendan Kinneavy. Herald Sport Man of the Match: Shared by David Cunnane and Eddie Hoare (St Michaelâ€â„¢s).[/private]