After an opening round defeat to Corofin, our team management of Niall Bonfil, Richie Lynch, John Keane and Kieran Keating were hopeful of a better performance in a potentially difficult trip to Quilty on Saturday 19/03. However the home side were missing a third of their normal starting line-up, and our lads proved too strong and ran out deserving winners.
Naomh Eoin / O'Curry's / Kilkee started well with Paul Keating goaling after 4 mins. He repeated the feat on 10 minutes when he flicked Seamus Keane's pass over the advancing Gary Monaghan in the KIB goal, and he added a pointed free in the 15th. Seamus Keane added a third goal a minute later, Paul turning provider on this occasion, and when Thomas Clancy pointed a free on 18 minutes the lead was out to eleven points, 3:2 to no score. KIB had spurned a few chances but were awarded a penalty on 21 mins, howeverDamien Lynch's effort was easily saved by Alex Harvey. Lynch finally opened his sides account from a free in the 27th minute, before Keating pointed another free on the half hour to leave it at 3:3 to 0:1 at half-time. Colin Troy came in for the injured Thomas Clancy just before the interval, Clancy having taken a heavy knock when stretching for a high pass in front of goal.
KIB took the game to us and had their best spell at the start of the 2nd half, when Caoilfhinn O'Dea won the race to a ball in over the defence and slotted it beneath Alex's attempted block. A point from play for KIB reduced the margin, before we took control again with points from Seamus, Paul & Eoin Lynch, and another Seamus Keane goal on 42 mins put us out of reach. Keane added two more points, with O'Dea and Lynch replying for KIB, and after a couple of late KIB points from play to reduce the margin slightly, the game closed with mid-field opponents Mark McQuaid and Aidan McCarthy exchanging points at either end. Final Score 4:9 to 1:8.
Aidan McCarthy and Caoilfhinn O'Dea were the best performers for the home side, but our lads had the better of most battles around the field, with the spine of the team up the middle in control for long periods, with Eoin Lynch, Tomas Bonfil, Seamus Keane and Paul Keating particularly impressive.
Teams: Naomh Eoin / O'Curry's / Kilkee: Alex Harvey, Cormac Keating, Alex Muldoon, Jack Hogan, Tomas Bonfil, Darragh Lynch, Jack McNamara, Mark McQuaid, Eoin Lynch, Seamus Keane, Thomas Clancy, James DeLoughrey, Shane Browne, Paul Keating, Sean Keane. Subs: Colin Troy (for T Clancy, inj); Cillian Hassett (for James DeLoughrey); Cathal McMahon (for Cormac Keating); Tom Ryan (for Shane Browne); Cormac Keating (for Eoin Lynch, inj).
KIB: Gary Monaghan, Michael Montgomery, Daniel Walsh, Michael Comber, David Montgomery, Diarmuid King, Adam O'Connor, Aidan McCarthy, Caoilfhinn O'Dea, Alan Walsh, Michael Power, Ricky McMahon, Oisin Mescall, Damian Lynch, Aaron McGannon.
