O'Sullivan stars in Kilcock survival to send Larries down

Kilcock 0-15

St Laurences 1-6

Kilcock preserved their senior status when they had six points to spare over St Laurences in the relegation final of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship.

A wonderful eight point haul from corner forward Sean O'Sullivan was the main difference between the sides throughout that second half where Kilcock outscored the Larries by 11 points to two.

After overcoming a relegation final last year when they defeated Ballyteague the Larries found themselves back trying to avoid a return to Intermediate for the first time since 1980.

Kilcock had to do it the hard way as they trailed by six points after only ten minute before a change in fortune in the closing 30 minutes meant it was comfortable victory in the end.

St Laurence's started the brightest as they belied their underdog tag to move six ahead inside the opening 10 minutes. Senan Murphy and Jason McHugh kicked the opening two points before TJ Nolan added a goal after his initial effort had been blocked.

Tom Dooley opened the six point lead and The Larries were on their way to another great escape. It took Brendan Gibbons 15 minutes to open the Kilcock account but Jason McHugh replied immediately to keep the gap at six.

Kilcock were wasteful in that opening half and a combination of 4 wides and five into the keepers hand wasn't the return they craved.

As we entered the closing minutes of the half Kilcock were given a lifeline with three points in a row. Danny Maguire, Sean O'Sullivan, from a free, and Cameron Nairn helped refuce the gap to 1-4 to 0-4 in favour of the Larries as the half time whistle sounded.

It was a rejuvenated Kilcock side that returned at the start of the second half.Inside ten minutes they had moved into the lead for the first time.

Niall O'Sullivan and three from Sean O'Sullivan saw the tide turn completely as St Laurences disappeared.

David Duke with a point on the run and a Sean O'Sullivan free extended the lead to three before the Larries registered a 45 minute reply through another Jason McHugh free.

St Laurence's could only muster two second half points that ultimately proved to be their undoing after such a bright opening quarter.

Oisin Grufferty 62nd minute point was the last of their 1-6 total.

Kilcock played their best football over the closing 13 minutes. The lead seemed to give them added confidence and even without county star Shane Farrell they were always in control.

A 51 minute double yellow for Jason Gibbons was a mere bump on the road and five points from Sean O'Sullivan, with three and two from Ciaran Murray helped see out the 0-15 to 1-6 victory. Two of O'Sullivan's late points were excellent frees from outside 50 metres.

Kilcock were look to build on their two late wins of the championship campaign over Maynooth and St Laurences.They have the players to be of a force in 2025.

St Laurence's are in transition and while this demotion will hurt over the winter months they have strong underage back bone that will see them as one of the favourites for an instant return next year.

KILCOCK: Fionn Talbot; Michael Stokes, Johnny O'Sullivan, Cameron Nairn 0-1; Cormac Divilly, Jason Gibbons, Joe Fitzmaurice; Mark Gibbons, Luke Sheridan; David Duke 0-1, Brendan Gibbons 0-1, Adam Doyle; Sean O Sullivan 0-8 (6 frees), Danny Maguire 0-1, Ciaran Murray 0-2. Subs: Niall O'Sullivan 0-1 for Mark Gibbons 31; Mark Gibbons for Niall O Sullivan 51; Niall O Sullivan for Luke Sheridan 55.

ST LAURENCE'S: Paul Clynch; Michael O'Sullivan, Ciaran O'Sullivan, Luke Gorman; Chris Fenner, Oisin Grufferty 0-1, Niall O'Connor; Senan Murphy 0-1, James Donnelly; TJ Nolan 1-0, Tom Dooley 0-1, Kevin Eustace; Felix Lawlor, Jason McHugh 0-3 (1 free), Joe Hanamy. Subs: Chris Fenner for Felix Lawlor 31; Adam Steed for Joe Hanamy 40; Padraig O'Neill for Kevin Eustace 45.

REFEREE: Billy O'Connell