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*Kilmaley goalkeeper Bryan O’Loughlin picks up the break. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
KILMALEY maintained their unbeaten run in this year’s championship as they exited the Group of Death in top spot and in a healthy position entering the quarter-finals.
Kilmaley 1-31
Scariff 2-18
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
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Both Kilmaley and Scariff already knew their final positions in Group 4 before Chris Maguire threw in the sliotar on Saturday evening.
With a quarter-final secure there was no less hunger evident in Kilmaley’s approach and an impressive tally of 1-31 clearly indicates that they will be a handful for whoever they are drawn against in the quarter finals.
Scariff got off to a lightening start, registering 1-2 in the opening three minutes but there was no sign of panic in the Kilmaley ranks and they had hit the front by the ninth minute and held the lead from there to the end.
The winners named a ream without the injured Tommy Barry and team captain Michael O’Malley and they also rested Conor Cleary.
They welcomed back inter county footballer Brian McNamara who lined out at wing back. He had been in the United States for the summer and slotted into the side in defence.
Straight from the throw in Scariff attacked and Matthew Crotty raced through and gave Bryan O’Loughlin no chance. Patrick Ryan and Mark Rodgers added points all before the third minute
Scores came quickly in the opening quarter by which time the winners had gone 1-8 to 1-3 ahead, their goal coming from Tom O’Rourke.
Scariff rallied towards the end of the half and when he half time whistle sounded the margin between the teams was four points, Kilmaley ahead on a score of 1-14 to 1-10.
As happened at the beginning, Scariff made the better start when the second half got under way scoring 0-3 without reply to leave just the minimum between the teams.
Kilmaley responded with 0-3 but Scariff reduced the lead to the minimum again when Matthew Crotty broke through for his second goal of the evening.
However they failed to build on this and Kilmaley’s reply was strong, shooting six unanswered points to go seven clear at the three quarter stage when the score was 1-23 to 2-13.
Scariff kept in touch with a brace but Kilmaley responded with three on their way to a merited victory and top spot in their group
Joe Casey, Daire Keane, Colin McGuane, Michael O’Neill, Tom O’Rourke, Colm Killeen and James Fitzpatrick were prominent for the winners.
Shane Kavanagh, Keelan Hartigan, Matthew Crotty and Mark Rodgers did best for Scariff who must now turn their attentions to the relegation play offs
Scorers Kilmaley; Tom O’Rourke (1-8, 0-7f); Michael O’Neilll (0-8), Colm Killeen (0-6); Joe Carmody (0-3); Daire Keane (0-2, frees); Brian McNamara, Éanna McMahon, Eoin Enright, Sean O’Loughlin (0-1) each
Scorers Scariff; Mark Rodgers (0-8, 2f); Matthew Crotty (2-1); Shane Kavanagh (2 frees), Keelan Hartigan (0-3) each; Patrick Ryan, Sean Minogue, Patrick Crotty (0-1) each
(All photographs by Ruth Griffin)
Kilmaley
1; Bryan O’Loughllin
19: Colin Carmody
3: Colin McGuane
4: Joe Casey;
30: Brian McNamara
6: Daire Keane
7: Eanna McMahon
29: Cathal Darcy
9: Sean Kennedy
15: Colm Killeen
18: Eoin Enright
12: Michael O’Neill;
17: Joe Carmody,
13: Tom O’Rourke
26: James Fitzpatrick
Subs:
2: Martin O’Connor for S. Kennedy (44)
5: Aidan McGuane for M. O’Neill (47)
10: Seán O’Loughlin for C Darcy (52);
Scariff;
1: William Kavanagh;
2: Scott Cairns,
3: Michael Scanlan
4: Eoghan Keehan;
18: Shane Kavanagh,
12: Liam Crotty,
7: Sean Collins;
8: Conor Downes,
9: Keelan Hartigan
23: Rossa Keehan
11: Patrick Crotty
22: Matthew Crotty;
13: Patrick Ryan,
24: Sean Minogue
14: Mark Rodgers
Subs:
6; Diarmuid Nash for R. Keehan (18)
17: Seamus McCaul fir S. Cairns (inj. 25)
5: Jack Ryan for C Downes (41)
10: Michael Barrett for S. Minogue (44)
25: Rory Ryan for M. Scanlan (inj. 46)
Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)
