Kilkerrin-Clonberne won this extra-time thriller

By BILLY COSS Kilkerrin-Clonberne .2-16 Annaghdown .1-17 (after extra-time) A COMPELLING first round tie, one that will rank with the weekendâ€â„¢s best, finished with Kilkerrin-Clonberne advancing to the last 16 after narrowly seeing off a gutsy Annaghdown challenge in the fading light at Tuam Stadium on Sunday evening. It had everything: superb score-taking, outstanding individual displays, a driving finish to both normal and extra-time, and no shortage of drama. After 80 minutes, Kilkerrin-Clonberne were left standing after a remarkable match that remained in the balance until the final whistle. Many heroes for the winners but in Jonathan Ryan, scorer of 2-6, Kilkerrin-Clonberne had a finisher at the very top of his game. His two goals, at important times, were spectacular finishes â€â€ both would feature on any â€ËœGoal of the Championshipâ€â„¢ shortlist this year.  Annaghdown gave everything and played their part in a hugely entertaining match. It could easily have gone their way but they were undone by a failure to get to grips with Ryan, some costly turnovers and wayward finishing in the second period of extra-time. Eoin Kerinâ€â„¢s injury-time goal at the end of normal time almost saw them over the line, only for Ryan to send the match into extra-time with a last-gasp equalising free. Despite trailing by three at the start of the second period of extra-time, Annaghdown created more than enough chances to salvage something from the match but seven wides was too much of a burden to overcome. [private] The first half gave little indication as to what would unfold. With Ryan accounting for four of their tally, Kilkerrin-Clonberne held a 0-8 to 0-3 interval lead after having first use of the elements facing into the town goal. Annaghdown were being outplayed in most sectors and an already difficult task took on near-impossible proportions when a spectacular, left-footed strike from Ryan found the top left corner of TJ Fordeâ€â„¢s net.  Trailing by eight points, Annaghdown looked in deep trouble but they chipped away at the deficit and inspired by All-Ireland U-21 star Damien Comer, who finished with four points, they came storming back in a thrilling, end-to-end second half. As the clock ticked into added time, Kilkerrin-Clonberneâ€â„¢s advantage still stood at two points yet with Annaghdown continuing to pour forward it looked a precarious one. Sure enough, the drama reached fever pitch when Eoin Kerin popped up at the end of fine move to finish past Frank Heverin and, remarkably, Annaghdown seemed to have stolen it! You could have forgiven Kilkerrin-Clonberne for dropping their heads but with time for one last passage of play, their response was immediate: Shane Walsh drew a foul and Ryan landed a difficult free into the breeze to send the match into extra-time, 1-13 apiece. Kilkerrin-Clonberneâ€â„¢s economy with scoring chances told overall and when they struck a decisive blow in the first period it was fitting that Ryan delivered it with another superb goal. At 2-15 to 1-15 at the change of ends, it was a lead Tommie Joyceâ€â„¢s team would not relinquish. Annaghdown managed to trim the deficit to one but seven wides proved costly during a second period in which they owned possession but Kilkerrin-Clonberne held on and consigned Annaghdown to a qualifier meeting with Moycullen. Kilkerrin-Clonberne: F. Heverin; S. Collins, S. Brennan, C. Glynn; A. Ward, J. Miskell (0-1), F. Oâ€â„¢Reilly; E. Daly, M. Shaughnessy (0-3); J. Ward, S. Walsh (0-1, a free), B. Miskell; J. Ryan (2-6, three frees), C. Rabbitte (0-2, one sideline), D. Murphy (0-3). Subs: J. Donoghue, for B. Miskell, 34 mins; B. Geraghty, for Oâ€â„¢Reilly, 45 mins; B. Miskell, for Donoghue, 72 mins; J. Donoghue, for Walsh, inj., 79 mins. Annaghdown: T. J. Forde; S. Moylan, J. Creaven, M. Oâ€â„¢Neill; F. Oâ€â„¢Doherty, E. Mullarkey (0-1), E. Kerin (1-0); C. Duggan, N. Coleman (0-1); D. Comer (0-4), B. Dooley (0-1), A. Pender (0-1); N. Kinneen (0-1), D. Burke (0-3, all frees), F. Burke (0-5, four frees). Subs: G. Raftery, for Dooley inj., 28 mins; P. Burke, for Oâ€â„¢Neill, 49 mins.  Referee: Tommy Ó Fátharta.  Herald Sport Man of the Match: Jonathan Ryan (Kilkerrin-Clonberne).[/private]