Deadly Doherty leads the way for Kilmaine
IFC SEMI-FINAL
Kilmaine 1-10
Westport 0-9 Daniel Carey
Kilmaine's Conor Maloney
THE stunned reaction to this result can be summed up in a short text message this reporter received shortly after the final whistle from a man who had just heard the final scoreline. It read simply: “My God”. There were plenty of two-word text messages too, many of which began with ‘holy’ and finished with a rather less religious phrase.
With the scores tied midway through the second half, Westport lost their discipline, and Norman O’Brien’s side found a new level. Paul Doherty was sensational in the half forward line, and was the unanimous choice for man of the match.
The weather on Saturday evening was rotten, and with the McHale Park stand a thing of the past, the crowd huddled together like urchins from a Dickens novel. Scores were few and far between early on. Ryan Cafferkey opened Westport’s account from out on the right, and James Gill added a free from a similar position. Stephen Broderick almost set up a goal after 12 minutes, but Rory Brennan was deemed to be in the square when he fisted the ball into the net.
Kilmaine had got off the mark in the meantime, and a big cheer followed Paul Doherty’s successful free. But although the South Mayo side’s defence looked solid – Ronan Shaughnessy and Derek O’Dea both had their moments – they fell further behind after Gill punished a foul on Damien Keane.
It took 20 minutes for Kilmaine to register their first point from play, the lively Joseph O’Brien playing a one-two before setting up Kieran Coyne for a neat score. Westport responded instantly, Gill kicking over from the left, and Paul O’Malley receiving the unique GAA compliment ‘that’s your score’. Good Kilmaine inter-passing in the tight saw Damien Burke set up Vincent McGrath for a point, before Liam Joyce and Seamus Glynn combined to release Broderick, whose effort went in off the post.
Westport had five first half wides, one of which came after Damien Keane’s effort came down off the post and Cafferkey was off target from the rebound. It was 0-5 to 0-3 in favour of Charlie Lambert’s side at half time.
Within two and a bit minutes of the restart, however, the Covies were behind. The first recorded instance of a ‘dummy’ being practised in the run-up to a ‘45’ preceded a foul on Vincent McGrath, and Paul Doherty tapped over the resultant free. Then Ronan Shaughnessy took a quick free and Damien Burke laid the ball off to Conor Maloney, who fired into the net for the only goal of the game. Kilmaine were jubilant.
In fairness, Westport responded to that concession admirably. Martin Gill pointed after Cafferkey’s pass, and Damien Keane restored parity with a free. Kilmaine hit back – Jarlath McDonagh blocked superbly, and goalscorer Maloney edged them back in front after a run along the en-dline. But another point from Martin Gill, this one after good work by Lee Keegan, left the sides level at the three-quarter stage.
At this point, however, the young Kilmaine side found fifth gear. David Doherty, always a game ball-carrier, won a free which Paul Doherty slotted over. The latter when took a pass from captain Francis Burke and got his third point, as Westport protests of over-carrying were over-ruled. Westport’s only score in the final 15 minutes was another James Gill free.
But Doherty wasn’t finished yet. He played a quick free into sub Tomás Burke, who put three between the sides, and then turned scorer again with a free and a point from play. Westport were reduced to 14 men before the end as Paul O’Malley got a second yellow card after an incident that left Kilmaine sub Colin Hughes needing attention. Then came the final whistle, and if nobody saw it coming, Kilmaine’s victory was fully deserved.
KILMAINE E Loughlin; P McDonagh, D O’Dea, J McDonagh; R Shaughnessy, D Doherty, J O’Brien; F Burke, D Burke; T McDonagh, V McGrath (0-1), P Doherty (0-6, 4f); C Maloney (1-1), K Coyne (0-1), C Murphy. Subs used: T Burke (0-1) for Murphy; G Doherty for Shaughnessy; C Hughes for T McDonagh.
WESTPORT T Higgins; P O’Malley, S Scott, L Joyce; PJ Foy, S Glynn, L Keegan; J Gill (0-4, 3f), E O’Toole; M Gill (0-2), S Broderick (0-1), T Gavin; R Brennan, R Cafferkey (0-1), D Keane (0-1). Subs used: E Walsh for Gavin; K Keane for Glynn; D O’Connor for Cafferkey; T McGreal for O’Toole; P Gavin for D Keane.
Referee: M Daly (Ballyhaunis)
