Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Preliminary Round
Blackhill 0-17 Killeevan 0-9 26/5/13
Blackhill made a winning start to the JFC when they eased past Killeevan in Ballybay on Sunday. The JFL leaders took that form into this one, as they led almost from start to finish, with seven players getting on the scoresheet. Colin Woods, Hugh Byrne, Ryan and Ciarán Courtney and Dermot Daly impressed for Blackhill, while Paul O’Reilly, Noel Smith and Christopher Kilpatrick were best for Killeevan.
Blackhill almost had a goal within a minute of the throw-in, as Ciarán Courtney was denied by Killeevan keeper Mark McGinn, but they quickly took a two-point lead through a brace from Colin Woods (one from a free). Noel Smith got Killeevan off the mark on five minutes and he quickly added a well-taken effort after good work by Gerard Graham. Anthony Courtney regained the initiative for Blackhill and although Christopher Kilpatrick replied, a late tackle on Eamon Byrne allowed Woods to convert a 30-metre free.
Woods then hit the post with a left-footed shot at goal, before Dermot Daly added a point and Woods won and scored a 13-metre free. Kilpatrick got one back for Killeevan, but a well-taken left-footed score by Woods gave Blackhill a 0-7 to 0-4 lead at half-time.
Hugh Byrne hit the first score of the second half after barely ten seconds, following a strong run by Ryan Courtney, before Ciarán Courtney added a fine point. A fine catch by Woods set up Byrne for his second point, while Woods fired a goal-attempt wide after he had been well placed by Michael Geehan.
Smith got one back for Killeevan from a 20-metre free, but Paul Finnegan linked up with Ciarán Costello to keep Blackhill on the front foot and they again went close to finding the net when Hugh Byrne was denied by Mark McGinn at the end of a move involving Ryan Courtney and Woods. Ciarán Courtney converted the resulting ’45, before Costello added his name to the list of scorers and Finnegan tapped over after a short free by Woods. Smith tapped over a 20-metre free for a foul on Kevin McGinn, but another assist from Geehan allowed Hugh Byrne to land a good point.
Kilpatrick then hit a nice score for Killeevan, who got another one back from Kevin McGinn, but Woods won and scored a free for Blackhill, who were then inches away from a goal when Hugh Byrne punched off the post from a Finnegan cross. Daly kicked a late point to seal a convincing win for Blackhill.
Blackhill: M Shevlin; G McArdle, Peter Finnegan, D Courtney; A Courtney (0-1), Shane Courtney (Capt.), R Courtney; E Byrne, D Daly (0-2); C Costello (0-1), H Byrne (0-3), C Courtney (0-2, 1 ’45); M Geehan, Paul Finnegan (0-2), C Woods (0-6, 3f).
Subs: R Craig for Peter Finnegan (21 mins), A Burns for C Courtney (56), P Murphy for Costello (60).
Killeevan: M McGinn; K Quigley (Capt.), P O’Reilly, P Graham; R Tierney, K McGinn (0-1), C Corr; D Clerkin, D Quigley; I McConnon, N McConnon, C Kilpatrick (0-3); G Graham, S Clerkin, N Smith (0-4, 2f).
Subs: J McDermott (0-1) for D Clerkin (23 mins), F Smith for Corr, D Flynn for I McConnon (both H-T), Johnny McGurk for Tierney (47), John McGurk for N McConnon (57).
Referee: B Grimley (Cremartin).
By cshalvey Sun 26th May
