Kilconly edge past Headford in Division 3B final

Davin and Prendergast star for winners

Kilconly 1-15

Headford 1-14

By Martin Nally

At Milltown

KILCONLY claimed Division 3B League silverware after edging out Headford in an exciting decider at Fr. Conroy Park in Milltown on Friday evening.

Mark Earnor struck a goal midway through the first half for Headford but a fine two-point score from Niall Daly in first half injury-time had his side leading by a point at the break.

However, a David Prendergast goal early in the new half helped propel Kilconly into a six-point lead. Headford stuck to their task and reduced the deficit to a single point, but Kilconly held on as North Board chairman Padraig Coyne presented winning captain Cian Davin with the cup. The result success has cemented an unbeaten start to Stephen Curley's tenure as Kilconly manager.

James O'Brien got the game's scoring underway with an early point from play but two forays forward by Cian Davin were rewarded with fine points. Great work by Daniel Concannon saw him race in from the left wing before his ball across the goal was palmed over the bar by Paul Mannion.

The lively start to the tie continued when under Headford's Mark Earnor did well to get his shot away and it floated over the bar. His teammate Sean Birmingham almost had the game's first goal when his marauding run ended with a strike the butt of the post.

Kilconly were enjoying more of the ball in the early exchanges but their wide tally was mounting. They would finish the half with seven.

Birmingham replied to a converted Paul Mannion free with his first score of the day. Kilconly led by two when another venture up field by the lively Cian Davin ended with the Kilconly captain scoring his third of the contest.

Headford took the lead when Mark Earnor followed up his pointed effort with a 21st minute goal when he blasted to the net. Kilconly 'keeper Shane Danaher denied Headford a second goal when he sprung to his right to divert Kyle Greaney's effort away. Brian O'Malley and Ciaran O'Donnell traded points before James Moran put Kilconly within one of their opponents.

Kilconly led 0-9 to 1-5 at the break thanks to a Niall Daly two-point score in first half added time. .

The game swung back in Headford's favour when a Birmingham free followed by an Earnor point had them leading by one.

However, it then tilted in Kilconly's favour when Headford went ten minutes without a score while Kilconly, through David Prendergast, struck 1-3 in the same period.

Prendergast swung over a brilliant two-point score before Mannion's free found Teddy Kerrigan on the edge of the square and he laid it off to Prendergast who rifled home. Prendergast added a free to make it 1-12 to 1-7 in Kilconly's favour with 20 minutes remaining.

Daly and Prendergast, either side of a Birmingham free, stretched Kilconly's lead to six and as we entered the final quarter, Kilconly looked in control.

Yet, Headford didn't let their heads drop and a pair of two-point scores from Birmingham (free) and O'Brien, along with another Birmingham free, brought Francis Roche's team to within one.

A Prendergast free in the third minute of additional time settled Kilconly's nerves and despite another Birmingham point, it was Kilconly who prevailed.

KILCONLY: S. Danaher; R. Morrin, C. Dunleavy, C. Mannion; B. Igoe, E. Daly, C. Davin (0-3); S. Igoe, N. Daly (0-3, one 0-2 score); B. O'Malley (0-1), D. Concannon, D. Prendergast (1-5, one 0-2 score, 0-2 frees); J. Moran (0-1), T. Kerrigan, P. Mannion (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: M. Danaher, for Kerrigan, 38 mins; O. Daly, for P. Mannion inj., 38 mins; K. Murphy, for Moran, 45 mins; J. Mannion, for E. Daly, 47 mins; C. Steele, for Concannon, 54 mins.

HEADFORD: E. Mannion; S. Moran, D. Garvey, M. O'Brien; S. Lee, J. Greaney, F. Barnes; J. O'Brien (0-3, one 0-2 score), C. O'Donnell (0-1); B. Walsh, L. Cunningham, T. Newell; K. Greaney, M. Earnor (1-3), S. Birmingham (0-7, 0-3 frees, one 0-2 free). Subs: M. Mannion, for L. Cunningham, half-time; P. Cunningham, for Newell, 40 mins; C. Gavin, for K. Greaney, 40 mins; J.J. Oifoh, for F. Barnes, 43 mins; G. Corbett, for Moran, 53 mins.

REFEREE: Anthony Coyne.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Cian Davin (Kilconly).