Preliminary quarter-final awaits The Parish as another relegation battle looms for Kilmihil

*Tom McDonald drives forward for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

ST JOSEPH’S Doora/Barefield snatched a championship lifeline when recording their first to advance to the preliminary quarter-final while pushing Kilmihil into a relegation battle for the third year running.

St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-16
Kilmihil 2-11
Venue: Páire na Muintire, Lissycasey

Without a win in the campaign to date, last year’s finalists St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield went into Saturday’s round three clash with Kilmihil knowing that they had to win to keep their championship hopes alive.

They justified favouritism when accounting for Kilmihil but they were made battle all the way by a Kilmihil outfit that delivered their best display in the campaign to date.

The winners finished the game with fourteen men after Tom Curran was shown a straight red cards ten minutes from time.

Earlier Kilmihil had been reduced to fourteen for ten minutes when Dan Keating, a hugely influential figure in their team, picked up a black card eight minutes before half time.

Kilmihil had first aid of the wind but it was the Doora/Barefield outfit that struck first with Tom Curran converting a 13m free in the second minute and this was quickly followed by a goal from Joe Rafferty.

Rafferty caused huge problems for Kilmihil in this tie as his tally of 2-6 indicates.

A two pointer from Jack Keating got Kilmihil off the mark and when Martin O’Leary landed another two pointer in the twentieth minute it tied up the scores at 1-3 to 0-6.

From here to the half time whistle Doora/Barefoeld landed 0-5 while conceding just one and they went to the break 1-8 to 0-7 in front with wind advantage to come.

Two minutes into the second half, Dan Keating signalled his return to the game when he soloed through and blasted the ball over the bar.

In the next two minutes, however, Kilmihil were rocked as St Joseph’s struck for two goals, the first from Joe Rafferty whose low drive went to the corner of the net past a diving Damian Lineen.

Two minutes later referee Barry Keating, after consulting with his umpires, awarded a penalty to the winners and Tom McDonald converted.

Seven scoreless minutes followed and then Dan Keating broke through the middle of the St. Joseph’s defence leaving Alan Normoyle with the simple task of flicking the ball to the net.

The margin was six points, 3-11 to 1-11 when Kilmihil again opened up the St Joseph’s defence and Gavin Downes found the net.

Doora/Barefield finished strongly to deservingly take the win and book their place in the preliminary quarter final. Joe Rafferty was in excellent form for the winners and they also had good performances from Fionn Kelleher, Michael Nash and Tom Curran until his dismissal.

Dan Keating played his heart out for Kilmihil as did Cathal Murray, Gavin Downes, Jack Keating and John Finnucane.

All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.

Scorers St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Joe Rafferty (2-6), Tom McDonald (1-1, 1-0 penalty); Paddy Bugler (0-3, 1f); Michael Nash (0-3, 1TP); Tom Curran, Eoin Lahiffe, Eoghan Thynne (0-1) each

Scorers Kilmihil: Dan Keating (1-2); Jack Keating (0-3, 1tp); Martin O’Leary (0-3, 1tp); Alan Normoyke (1-0); Gavin Downes, Conor Finnucane, Darragh Connors (0-1) each

St.Josephs;
1: Tom O’Brien

2: Odhran Flynn,
6: Fionn Kelleher
4: Killian McIlroy

5: Cian McDonagh
18: Conor O’Brien
9: Darragh Fahy

15: Tom McDonald
7: Diarmuid Boyle

17: Michael Nash,
13: Paddy Bugler,
12: Eoin Lahiffe;

10: Eoghan Thynne,
11: Joe Rafferty,
14: Tom Curran

Subs:

19: Sam Costelloe for O’ Flynn (26) (inj)
21: Conal Kelleher for E. Thynne (54)
25: Liam Clune for P. Bugler (57)
Eoghan Thynne for C O’Brien (59)

Kilmihil;
1: Damian Lineen;

2: David Coughlan,
3: John Finnucane,
4: Padraig O’Grady;

12: Sean O’Gorman,
6: Mikey Keating,
8: Gavin Downes;

7: Dylan Downes Rigney,
11: Dan Keating;