Cold Day in Kilsheelan
Clonmel Óg/Ballyporeen 4-08, Mullinahone C.J.K. 0-07
On the way to Kilsheelan on Sunday morning if one cast a glance up at Slievenamon the sight of a dusting of snow on the top, above Kilcash was a stark reminder that Winter was not yet over. The game that we saw down at the foot of the mountain wasn’t exciting enough to banish away the chilling wind. That same wind gave all the advantages to the combination team in the first half and they started quickly with a couple of defence splitting moves firing over a point. Supporters and they were few in number were soon wondering how the Board could allow an amalgamation of two seemingly strong football clubs to compete in B grade. Mullinahone came back and a couple of points gave them the lead and a little hope. However, a lack of covering in the Kickhams defence allowed the combo in for their first goal. O’Sullivan and English in the full line were causing Mullinahone problems. They struggled to stay in touch but a second combo goal midway through the half widened the gap. Mullinahone had a couple of chances of goals, but availed of none of them. Some good shooting of points from distance by the combo forwards saw the gap turning into a gulf by the interval with Clonmel/Ballyporeen leading by 2-06 to 0-04.
The game wanted a Mullinahone goal early in the second half, but it was the combo who reopened the scoring with a point. Mullinahone replied, but a third goal finished the game as a contest. Fair play to Mullinahone who battled away in a losing cause, but their forwards failed to score that goal which would at least have taken the bad look off the scoreboard. The final score was Clonmel Óg/Ballyporeen 4-08, Mullinahone C.J.K. 0-07. For the favourites T. O’Mahony, K. Barrett, D. O’Gorman, K. Cahill as well as O’Sullivan and English all played well while for Kickhams B. Kearney, O. Drennan, Mn. Kehoe, S. Reilly, J. O’Grady and S. Fitzgerald tried hardest.
Teams: Clonmel Og/Ballyporeen: M. Kearney, M. Singh, T. O’Mahony, F. McLoughlin, D.O’Dwyer, K. Barrett, K. O’Mahony, J. Ryan, D.O’Gorman, J. McKenna, K. Cahill, J. Macken, C. O’Sullivan, A. English and K. Sheehan.
Mullinahone C.J.K.: B. Kearney, C. O’Halloran, M. Cody, P. Luttrell, E. Hayes, L. Fennelly, O. Drennan, G. Horan, Mn. Kehoe, S. Reilly, J. O’Grady, C. Shelly, S. Fitzgerald, O. McNamara, D. Whelan.
Referee: P. Fennelly (Cill Náile)
By Jonathan Cullen Mon 13th Feb
