Kilcock in relegation final despite upset win

Kilcock 3-11

Maynooth 1-13

Eventual winners Kilcock made a strong start to this game and raised the first two white flags of it. The first from a Sean O’Sullivan free and the second from a huge long ball to Ciaran Murray, who off-loaded to Michael Stokes to tap over. The chaos that first high-ball caused would be a sign of things to come.

However, Maynooth would respond with seven unanswered points across the next 15 or so minutes with Kilcock struggling to mount any meaningful challenge. Michael Stokes stopped the rot before Kilcock goalkeeper Fionn Talbot was called upon to brilliantly deny Cillian Geraghty a certain goal.

Talbot’s reaction save low to his right kept out a goal that would have likely killed his side’s confidence and this game.

Two minutes later and Kilcock had their first goal and, after warning signs in the minutes leading up, Maynooth were undone by a long ball. Mark Donnellan and members of the Maynooth back line were beaten in the air by Brendan Gibbons, who superbly composed himself after the catch and coolly finished into the net. The goal brought his side back to within a point of Maynooth at 0-7 to 1-3 after 26 minutes.

A superb point from Danny Maguire levelled things up and, after one more at each end, the side’s went in at the break with parity restored at 0-8 to 1-5.

Maguire was the man to put Kilcock ahead after the break too with a fine point almost immediately after the restart.

The 39th minute was the true beginning of the Kilcock aerial assault. It was the same pairing that combined for the first goal too as Joe Fitzmaurice sent a high, searching ball into Brendan Gibbons. The Kilcock forward rose well above Mark Donnellan and punched the ball in over the ‘keeper’s head to push them four clear at 2-6 to 0-8.

Two minutes later they had done it again. The long ball receptor this time was the towering Ciaran Murray who rose above the rest to claim possession. After shrugging off any subsequent challenges, Murray found Michael Stokes with a superb handpass, who slapped it home.

Murray then added a brilliant point from his boot from long-range to make this an eight-point game with 15 minutes to go.

After a simple Chris Canning free was converted at the other end, Maynooth got their first goal from their next one. Cathal

McCabe was fouled and while Kilcock were remonstrating with the official, McCabe spotted that the ‘keeper had gone walkabouts and lobbed him with little fuss. There was an undeniable confusion in the air following the goal, but it was another example in the backpocket for those who think goalkeepers should remain between the posts.

Kilcock responded brilliantly to the disappointing concession with points from Brendan Gibbons and Sean O’Sullivan.

In the face of a lingering comeback, Maynooth added another, which was again answered by two Kilcock points, this time from Mark Gibbons and Danny Maguire.

That double made this game 3-11 to 1-10 with four minutes to go. It was at this point one Maynooth supporter stormed out of Leixlip GAA headquarters, but not before informing the management that they didn’t know what they were doing.

Maynooth kicked more three points and poured on the pressure to no avail in the end as Kilcock ran out 3-11 to 1-13 winners.

Although it may not have kept them out of the dreaded relegation final, Kilcock have now proved to themselves that they can produce a result when it matters most. This reporter would also be shocked not to see more of those high balls in on top of the St Laurences defence.

Scorers: Kilcock, Brendan Gibbons 2-1, Michael Stokes 1-2, Danny Maguire 0-3, Sean O'Sullivan 0-2 (0-1 frees), Mark Gibbons 0-2, Ciaran Murray 0-1.

Maynooth, Cathal McCabe 1-3 (1-1 frees 0-1 mark), Cillian Geraghty 0-2 (0-2 frees), Paddy Mahoney 0-2, Chris Canning 0-2 (0-1 frees), Ciaran Flanagan 0-1, Eoin Donnellan 0-1, John McAndrew 0-1, Callum McCabe 0-1.

KILCOCK: Fionn Talbot; Adam Doyle, Johnny O'Sullivan, Niall O'Sullivan; Cormac Divilly, Jason Gibbons, Joe Fitzmaurice; Mark Gibbons, Luke Sheridan; David Duke, Brendan Gibbons, Ciaran Murray; Sean O'Sullivan, Danny Maguire, Michael Stokes. Subs: Aaron Curtin for Adam Doyle (51 minutes).

MAYNOOTH: Mark Donnellan; Cathal Quinn, Niall O'Sullivan, Darren Maguire; Daniel O'Meara, Paddy Brady, Callum McCabe; Paul Maguire, Ciaran Flanagan; Cillian Geraghty, Fionn O'Giolláin, Daniel Farrell; Paddy Mahoney, Chris Canning, Cathal McCabe. Subs: Sean Hever for Daniel Farrell (Half-time), Sean Mahon for Daniel O'Meara (Half-time), John McAndrew for Cillian Geraghty (45 minutes), Eoin Donnellan for Paddy Mahoney (51 minutes).

Referee: Colm Kearney