Kilconly started well and finished in a blaze of glory

By JIM CARNEY Kilconly .2-12 Maigh Cuilinn .-9 THIS victory could hardly have been better scripted by the Kilconly team management â€â€ they got the performance they wanted, the result they wanted, and they saw their lionhearted team pass a huge test of character late in the hour, to get them over the winning line. Joint-managers Ciarán Collins and Brian Moran and selector Tommy Ronan would say, of course, that they could have done without the late scare as a gallant, hard-working Moycullen team pounced for a shock lead, which Kilconly answered with a spectacular winning goal two minutes from the final whistle. But although it was a massive fright for Kilconly when Moycullen midfielder Mark Lydonâ€â„¢s goal turned the game upside down a few minutes earlier, itâ€â„¢s now been shown in the heat of battle that Collins, Moran and Ronan have a team capable of performing on the big stage in only their second year up from the Intermediate grade, which they dominated in 2011.[private] As our reporter Billy Coss wrote in his two-page Championship preview here last week, Kilconlyâ€â„¢s League form has been very encouraging: seven wins and two draws for promotion from Division 1B to 1A last year, and so far this year theyâ€â„¢ve had two wins from three League fixtures. Sundayâ€â„¢s Championship clash with dual club Maigh Cuilinn at Corofin was an absorbing encounter all the way, hugely entertaining and it finished in a welter of excitement as John Kerriganâ€â„¢s cannonball goal from close range shot Kilconly into the next round and left the men from the West looking out the â€Å“back doorâ€Â for survival. Full-forward Kerrigan, a member of a Kilconly family steeped in Gaelic football tradition, showed he had nerves of steel when the goal chance came, from a brilliant, unselfish pass by Padraic Moran who judged the temperature of that crucial moment to perfection and gave the pass to a slightly better placed team-mate. Full-back Michael Newell (my Man of the Match) and captain Kevin Brady were also involved in the match-saving goal, and perhaps one or two others â€â€ there was so much tension and excitement in the Stand that we nearly joined the players out on the field to drive on Kilconly in a reaction to the Moycullen goal! And what a reaction it was, for not only did Kilconly get the late goal, Michael Murphy then put over a free and Keith Curley nearly stole the show with a skyscraper point from play â€â€ the likes of which we last saw in 1998, from Seán Ó Domhnaill in the All-Ireland semi-final and final. It was tough on Moycullen, in fairness; they showed great spirit and resolve to come back from a shock early deficit: 0-6 to nil, an amazing scoreline, until Conor Bohan threw Martin Cookeâ€â„¢s Moycullen team a lifelife with a sensational goal on the run, across the face of the Kilconly goal and it wasnâ€â„¢t â€Ëœkeeper Tommy Mannionâ€â„¢s fault that he couldnâ€â„¢t stop it; this was a rocket of a shot. Tommy did play a notable part in this Kilconly win, with a brilliant save from Gareth Bradshaw, in the first half, while close to the end of the game it all went sour and horrible for Gareth when he was sent off on a second yellow card â€â€ just as happened the previous Sunday at Pearse Stadium, while he was captain for the day in the Connacht Championship clash with Mayo. Kilconlyâ€â„¢s discipline was most admirable, and so was their composure all through. The first Moycullen goal rocked them but they recovered immediately; the same could be said about their response to the second Moycullen goal. Looking ahead, Kilconly probably need to increase their workrate all over the middle third of the pitch â€â€ it was fantastic for them that all three in the full-back line, Alan Walsh, Mike Newell and Damien Concannon were Man of the Match contenders but that also means they were under a lot of pressure, to have to reach such heights of excellence. In conclusion, Iâ€â„¢d like to praise the splendid efforts of two Moycullen lads, Philip Ezergailis and Eoin Walsh, as good on Sunday as they were in helping Galway win this yearâ€â„¢s All-Ireland U-21 Championship. Kilconly: T. Mannion; A. Walsh, Ml. Newell, D. Concannon; A. Flaherty, K. Brady, N. Mullen (0-1); K. Curley (0-1), P. Moran (0-1); M. McDonagh; JP Steede (0-1), B. Concannon; M. Murphy (1-5, 0-3 frees), J. Kerrigan (1-1), A. Murphy (0-2). Subs., L. Brady, for Flaherty; N. Daly, for McDonagh. Maigh Cuilinn: S. Friel; K. Carr, P. Ezergailis, Séamus Ó Fátharta; G. Bohan, D. Lee, P. Mac Giolla Dhuibh; M. Lydon (1-1), R. Molloy; C. Bohan, C. Grant (0-1), E. Walsh; F. Kerrigan (0-1), G. Bradshaw (0-2), Philip Lydon (0-2, one free). Subs used: Seosamh Ó Fátharta, Kevin Oâ€â„¢Donovan (0-1, free), P. Ó Cuaig. Referee: James Molloy. Herald Sport Man of the Match: Michael Newell (Kilconly).[/private]