Kilnadeema/Leitrim 1-24
Athenry 2-10
Darren Kelly in Duggan Park
Only one point separated these sides last year when Athenry came up just short, but there was no doubting the winners on Saturday as Kilnadeema/Leitrim delivered their third victory in the senior hurling championship.
One more win for Des Roche’s team will secure a preliminary quarter-final place and promotion to the Senior A ranks in 2018. After weathering a mini comeback midway during the first half, six unanswered scores restored Kilnadeema/Leitrim’s buffer before a Shane Lawless goal on 34 minutes settled the contest.
Athenry were undefeated heading into the game, after draws with Moycullen and Killimordaly, but with just two points from their opening three assignments, wins against Ahascragh/Fohenagh and Abbeyknockmoy will be required for the former All-Ireland champions to qualify for the knock-out stages . . . with a result against the latter essential in avoiding relegation play-offs!
Cian Burke opened the scoring for Athenry on three minutes and added another two minutes later, but they found themselves 0-7 to 0-2 behind on the quarter hour. Brian Molloy set up Shane Lawless for Kilnadeema/Leitrim’s first before David and Tom Tierney set up Jack Kenny for the second. Lawless, Dara Herlihy and a Brian Molloy hat-trick of points gave Kilnadeema/Leitrim an early five-point cushion.
With the elements against them, Athenry were losing sight of their opponents but got a reprieve on 14 minutes. Burke was the danger, coming in from the right to test Evan Dowling, but James Divilly was perfectly placed to hold possession and help the sliothar over the line.
Even though Stephen Molloy replied for Kilnadeema/Leitrim, Divilly and Ronan Hardiman split the posts reducing arrears to the minimum, but this would be the highlight of Athenry’s day. They were hit with injuries and absentees with Paddy Hannon, Jack Carr and Cathal Hardiman not involved, which told a difference.
Kilnadeema/Leitrim came into the tie with concerns over Herlihy and Tom Tierney but lined out without the suspended Mark Lawless. But the growing reputation of their young side which was only eliminated after extra-time by Sarsfields in 2016 continues to be enhanced. Six unanswered scores from Brian Molloy (2), Lawless (3) and Stephen Molloy moved them 0-14 to 1-4 clear, while Lawless was denied another goal opportunity by the keeper John Grealish.
Hardiman arrested the rot for Athenry, but two Brian Molloy frees had Kilnadeema/Leitrim 0-16 to 1-5 ahead at half-time. However, 1-3 on the spin from the winners within four minutes of the restart left no doubt about their threat entering the latter stages of the competition.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
