Nobber 2-11 Kilmainham 2-9

Nobber and Kilmainham contested in the final round of the IFC in the excellent setting of Cortown. Both teams knew their fate before a whistle was blown, Nobber had already qualified for a quarter final while Kilmainham couldn't qualify as they had 0 wins out of 4.

Nobber won the throw up and straight away it was worked up to Sean Meade who was fouled. Brian Farrell notched over the opening score in the first minute. Sean Meade hit 2 over from play while Brian Farrell hit a few from play and frees. Neither team could get the upper hand in the first half with the score level at the half way stage. 

Nobber 0-6 Kilmainham 0-6

Kilmainham started the second half at a blistering pace with an excellent run and finish to the roof of the net courtesy of the post from distance. No goalkeeper would stand a chance. Kilmainham were now 3 points up but went 20 minutes without scoring from this. Nobber hit 2-4 without reply in this period with Brian Farrell scoring 2 penalties, Sean Meade, Jack Condra and the energetic Eanna Fagan scoring a super team point from play. Kilmainham got a run at it and bizzarely enough scored a penalty themselves, which was the 3rd awarded of the game. Nobber had Fiachra McEntee sent off near the end for a second bookable offence which left it tight and tense right to the bitter end.

Nobber held on and thus guaranteed top position in Group A on 9 points out of a possible 10. Meath Hill and Oldcastle also qualified in 2nd and 3rd while Ballinlough, Drumbaragh and Kilmainham were unfortunate missing out. 

Nobber: Dary Hutchinson, Pauric Weldon, Eanna Fagan (0-1), Barry Cassidy; Cathal Cassidy, Andrew O' Brien, Paul Meade, Thomas Murtagh, Alan Farrell; Stephen O' Brien, Brian Farrell (2-6,2pens), Colin Clarke; Dale Larkin, Sean Meade (0-3), Brendan Heffernan.

Subs: Jack Condra (0-1) for Alan Farrell, Fiachra Mcentee for Stephen O'Brien, Niall Farrell for Brendan Heffernan, Paddy Clarke for Dale Larkin, Brian Meade for Colin Clarke

Kilmainham Report

Kilmainham 2-09  Nobber 2-11

It was a battle of the top and bottom of Group A of the Intermediate Championship on Friday evening as Kilmainham took on Nobber in Cortown. With the top of Group A tight between 3 teams, Kilmainham were looking for their first win of this year’s campaign. Kilmainham were missing no less than 6 players who played in previous championship games including Mickey Newman who was there, sling and all, to support and encourage his team mates against a tough Nobber side. The 18 Kilmainham players that took to the field in Cortown can be immensely proud of themselves as they put in the performance we know has been in them all year!

Nobber got on the scoreboard within the first minute as veteran Brian Farrell popped over his first free of the evening. It took Kilmainham just under 5 minutes to get on the scoreboard as Dylan Morgan popped over a great score after a great pass from his cousin Gerard Morgan who was operating around the middle. Morgan added another from play within the minute to put his team one in front after Larry Morgan worked hard to hold onto possession and get the pass off. Richie Brady operated around the square but this time he was trying to get the ball into the net rather than stop it. He caused Nobber lots of problems and was unlucky not to see the ball hit the net on various occasions. On 10 minutes Nobber went back one in front with another free from Farrell and one from play from their full forward. The game was level for third time on 14 minutes as Paul Farrelly was bearing down on goal and was fouled with Morgan slotting over the resulting free. Farrelly was growing more into the game and got his reward on 15 minutes with a fantastic point from the left after Morgan easily fielded the Nobber kick out. Farrelly put 2 between the sides on 18 minutes, 0-05 to 0-03 before the Nobber full forward slotted over from play to leave 1 in it. Farrell scored another free to leave the teams level again, 0-05 a piece before Larry Morgan fielded the kick out and gave quick ball to the oncoming Farrelly who slotted over his 3rd for the evening and giving his team a 1 point lead with 8 minutes of the half remaining. The game was level again as Farrell scored his 4th free of the half to leave the teams 0-06 a piece going in at half time.

With only 17 seconds of the second half gone Kilmainham got the goal they had been searching for with the Morgan cousins, Larry, Dylan, Gerard, working together to run at the Nobber defence straight from the throw in. It would be the elder cousin Gerard, who would rattle the Nobber net. This gave Kilmainham a 1-06 to 0-06 point lead with under a minute gone. Nobber added another point on 6 minutes to leave just 2 in it. It then looked that Kilmainham had been awarded a free out on their half back line and while Kilmainham players retreated, the referee changed his mind and awarded the free to Nobber who took it quickly as they knew their opponents were on the back foot. This resulted in a penalty being awarded and the experienced Brian Farrell stepped up in front of the in experienced Terence Daly. It would be a big ask of Daly but he got his hands to the ball and was unlucky to see the ball fall into his net. Nobber took the lead on 8 minutes 1-06 to 1-07, the first time they led their opponents since the 10th minute of the first half. Although Farrell had 1-04 to his name, he scored his first point from play in the 14th minute to see his team leading by 2. Kilmainham centre back Seanie Mahon was given the task of marking the Nobber talisman and to keep him scoreless from play for 45 minutes is an achievement in itself. Kilmainham had a chance to bring the teams back to the minimum but were unlucky with a 45’ as it went just wide. Nobber responded with 2 more points from play to extend their lead to 4, 1-06 to 1-10 with just 12 minutes remaining. Kilmainham were dealt a killer blow as Nobber were awarded their second penalty of the evening. Many a Kilmainham supporter were left scratching their head as to why it was awarded, with others consulting with their rulebook. But a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Farrell again against Daly and there was confidence in the Kilmainham dugout that Daly could stop this one after getting so close on the last one. But Farrell made no mistake this time and fired it passed Daly to leave Nobber leading 1-06 to 2-10 with 10 minutes remaining. Kilmainham did not lie down and were not going to let Nobber out of Cortown with a big win. Dylan Morgan added his 3rd free of the night on 22 minutes to leave 6 between the sides. The referee awarded his 3rd penalty of the evening as the impressive Larry Morgan was dragged down in the Nobber square. It was impressive running from Morgan as minutes earlier it looked like the youngster may have needed to be replaced. Up stepped a ‘limping’ Andy Arkins to take the penalty and what a penalty it was. It nearly went through the net! With just 5 minutes to go there was 3 between the teams, 2-07 to 2-10. Nobber responded quickly with another Farrell free but Kilminaham he refused to lie down and continued to search for the winner. After great interplay between Arkins and the floating Fergal Black, substitute Stephen Woods sent in a high ball into the square where Brady got his fist to it to get it over the bar to leave 3 between the teams with time running out. Kilmainham then broke from defence after great work from Johnny Quinlan. Substitute Mattie Mulroe found himself unmarked at the edge of the square and sent a cracker of a shot towards the Nobber goal. Unfortunately it wasn’t the net that rattled it was the crossbar and it was sent back out away from the goals. I think it is safe to say had Mulroe found the net, you would be sure to have found him in The Westway telling Mickey Newman how it is done. All was not lost as Kilmainham were awarded a free seconds later and Morgan popped it over to leave the final score 2-09 to 2-11

It may have been still a defeat for Kilmainham but this was a much improved performance from this team who have showed glimpses of what they can do all year. Tonight we got the performance but just not the win. The 18 players that took to the field can be immensely proud of themselves and how they played from the first minute of the first half until the final whistle blew, they never gave up even when everything was against them.

We go again in the Final of the Henry Cup in the coming weeks and hopefully we can finish the season with some silverware.

Kilmainham: Terence Daly, Harry Newman, Stephen Newman, Johnny Quinlan, Larry Morgan, Seanie Mahon, Shane Butler, Gerard Morgan (1-00), Paul Farrelly (0-03), Declan Mullen, Andy Arkins (1-00; Penalty), Mathew Mullen, Fergal Black, Richie Brady (0-01), Dylan Morgan (0-05; 3 frees). Subs: Brian Black for Mullen, Stephen Woos for Larry Morgan, Mattie Mulroe for Arkins.

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