Kickhams are county champions after holding out against Gaels in U17 football final

County U17C Football Championship Final

Knockavill Kickhams 3-12

Thurles Gaels 2-10

By Michael Dundon

Knockavilla Kickhams saw off a second-half comeback by Thurles Gaels to secure the County U17C football title at Killenaule on Sunday in a contest that didn’t come to life until the second half.

The West boys were fancied going into the game and when they reached half-time with a 2-7 to 0-3 advantage the title was theirs barring a calamity.

However, they were pushed all the way by Gaels in the second half, the Thurles outfit being left to rue three spurned gilt-edged goal chances in the opening period which, if taken, could have brought them the title.

Essentially, the difference between the sides was that Knockavilla Kickhams were far more efficient in front of goal.

With the fresh breeze behind them in the first half, they had three points on the board before Senan Mackey had their first goal, converting an eighth-minute penalty when Cathal Heney was fouled.

Gaels had their fair share of the ball and Noah Connors was denied a likely goal by Kickhams’ custodian Adam Harris after twelve minutes. Gaels needed scores but instead, the impressive Sam Daly netted for Kickhams with a looping shot that caught Gaels goalie Janek Rykala for height.

It took Gaels 17 minutes to get their first point, a free by county minor Dylan Cotter, but Kickhams were picking off scores confidently with Sean Cleary and Sam Daly showing the way.

Cian Burke was off target with a goal chance for Thurles and had another effort deflected, with a goal again a possibility. Points from Conor Carroll and a John O’Reilly effort which scraped the crossbar gave the Gaels some hope at the break but the diced was heavily loaded in Kickhams’ favour with a 2-7 to 0-3 advantage.

Cian Burke had a point for Gaels in the first play of the second half but Kickhams with a brace of points from Sean Cleary and a goal by Mathew O’Neill left themselves in a virtually unassailable position with a 3-9 to 0-4 lead after 37 minutes.

Gaels management were not happy with the concession of the goal, their protests earning manager Wayne McLeish a red card from referee Paul Guinan.

The Gaels showed great heart in the face of such adversity. Ben Loughnane kicked four points and Dylan Cotter another as they took up the chase in earnest and when Johnny O’Reilly netted off a Cotter sortie, they had the deficit down to two goals (1-9 to 3-9) by the start of the last quarter.

They suffered a setback when they lost Kyle Purcell to a red card, Kickhams easing the pressure with points from Kyle Donohue and John Cleary.

Kickhams then had Cathal Burke black-carded to balance the numbers on the field and this was quickly followed by a Ben Loughnane goal for The Gaels making it a five-point game with as many minutes left.

Dylan Cotter went for a green flag from a 14-yard free as Gaels sought to close the gap but it was beaten out.

In injury time Daniel Ryan Fogarty pointed for them but time was against them and before the final whistle they lost Lorcan Delaney to a black card, leaving Kickhams’ players and fans delighted at securing their first county title at this level.

Kickhams deserved their success. They were the more clinical in front of the goal and all around worked efficiently, using possession intelligently.

In Sean Cleary and Sam Daly, they had two leaders with Kyle Donohue, Cathal Burke, goalie Adam Harris, and Donagh Guilfoyle others to catch the eye.

Thurles Gaels will rue the chances missed in the first half which left them with the proverbial mountain to climb afterwards.

However, they never gave up and with a bit of luck might well have pulled off an incredible comeback. Dylan Cotter and Ben Loughnane were their top performers with Lorcan Delaney, Johnny O’Reilly, and Christopher Ryan also to the fore.

Knockavilla Kickhams: Adam Harris; Aaron Heney, Donagh Guilfoyle, Brent Astwood; Cathal Burke, Sean Cleary (0-6, 0-2f), James Daly; Senan Mackey (1-0), Kyle Donohue (0-1); Evan Bourke (0-1), Evan Slattery, Sam Daly (1-3); Jake Cotter, Cathal Heney (0-1), Nathan Staunton.

Subs used: Mathew O’Neill (1-0), Darren Morrissey, Stephen Gleeson.

Thurles Gaels: Janek Rykala; Sean Dominquez, Kyle Purcell, Christopher Ryan; Lorcan Delaney, Jonah Slattery, Daniel Ryan Fogarty (0-1); Dylan Cotter (0-2, 0-1f), Ben Loughnane (1-4, 0-2f); Liam Gleeson, Liam Carroll, John O’Reilly (1-1); Noah Connors, Cian Burke (0-1), Conor Carroll (0-1).

Subs used: Eoin Church, Conor Shorley.

Referee: Paul Guinan (Killenaule)