Kilkerley hold firm to book quarter-final spot

CTI Business Solutions IFC Group 2 Round 3

At Páirc Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer

Kilkerley Emmets 1-15 Oliver Plunketts 1-12

Kilkerley Emmets secured their place in the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-15 to 1-12 victory over Oliver Plunketts at Páirc Uí Mhuirí, Dunleer on Saturday afternoon.

Plunketts arrived knowing they needed to win by three points to leapfrog Kilkerley and advance, and they made the brighter start. Tadhg McEneaney opened the scoring for Kilkerley from a free, but Adam Smith and Killian Nolan (0-2) responded with three points between them as the Plunketts established a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage after 10 minutes.

Conor Quigley reduced the deficit with a two-pointer, only for Adam Lambe and Kristian Nolan to restore Plunketts’ momentum. Smith then added another point, leaving the Drogheda side 0-6 to 0-3 ahead with 10 minutes of the half remaining.

It proved to be a low-scoring finish to the opening period, with Smith’s point the only addition before the interval as Plunketts carried a four-point advantage into the break.

Half Time – Kilkerley Emmets 0-3 Oliver Plunketts 0-7

Plunketts stretched their lead immediately after the restart when Smith converted a two-point free, but Kilkerley responded in style.

Ciaran Bellew struck a two-pointer before McEneaney added a single, and Fionn Cumiskey then made excellent use of the advantage rule to fire over another two-pointer from distance.

Killian Nolan stemmed the Kilkerley momentum briefly with a point, but Kilkerley were beginning to find their rhythm and consecutive scores from Shaun McElroy, Quigley and Finnán Crawley had them within striking distance.

Then, Robbie Brodigan found the net for Plunketts, putting the Plunketts 1-10 to 0-11 ahead with just 10 minutes remaining and leaving Kilkerley staring at the possibility of elimination.

The Emmets responded emphatically.

Luke Shevlin cut the deficit before Quigley landed a crucial two-point free. Cumiskey added another point and then delivered the decisive blow, finishing to the net to put Kilkerley five points clear and, crucially, back in control of their own destiny.

Smith converted another two-point free for Plunketts in the closing stages, but Kilkerley held their nerve to see out a valuable three-point victory.

Full Time – Kilkerley Emmets 1-15 Oliver Plunketts 1-12

The result sends Kilkerley through to the quarter-finals, while Plunketts’ enter the relegation playoff despite their spirited challenge. Wolfe Tones take second spot in the group.

Man of the Match – Fionn Cumiskey (Kilkerley Emmets)

Kilkerley Emmets team: Callum Mulholland; Cormac Bellew, Patrick Murtagh, Fintan Brady; Ewan McEnteggart, Kieran Murtagh, Conal Brady; Ronan Deery, Micheal Begley; Oran McMahon, Conor Quigley (0-5, 2tpf), Ciaran McGlynn; Tadhg McEneaney (0-2, 1f), Cathal Bellew, Fionn Cumiskey (1-3, 1tp).

Subs: Shaun McElroy (0-1) for Cathal Bellew 14 mins, Ciaran Bellew (0-2, 1tp) for Cormac Bellew half-time, Finnan Crawley (0-1) for Oran McMahon 36 mins, Luke Shevlin (0-1) for Ewan McEnteggart 40 mins, Rian Hand for Conal Brady 56 mins.

Oliver Plunketts team: Colum Duffy; Barry Reynolds, Davif McTaggert, Adam O’Connor; Niall Murtagh, Jamie Byrne, Adam Lambe (0-2, 1tp); Shaun Smith, Robbie Brodigan (1-0); Killian Nolan (0-3), Adam Smith (0-6, 2tpf, 1f), Cillian Smith; Ben Boyce, Stephen Keeley, Kristian Nolan (0-1, 1f).

Subs: Gary Keogh for Niall Murtagh 49 mins, Jack Taaffe for Cillian Smith 49 mins, Ricky Bateson for Adam O’Connor 59 mins, Sean Callaghan for Kristian Nolan 59 mins, Jack Boyce for Ben Boyce 59 mins.

Referee – Paul Burke (Naomh Mairtin)

Photos – Ciaran Culligan