Resolute Kinvara pull it out of the fire in dramatic style

Kilconieron 0-12

A goal netted off a Colm Callanan long range free in the fifth minute of injury-time saw Kinvara snatch a famous county intermediate hurling championship final victory in the most dramatic of circumstances at a wet Kenny Park, Athenry, on Sunday.

The script looked to have been well and truly written when points from Shane Caulfield (free) and substitute Luke Uniacke in the closing stages re-established Kilconieron’s advantage coming down the home stretch and, on the overall balance of play, this two-point lead was deserved.

However, their failure to shut the door completely on Kinvara was to cost them. With the four minutes of injury-time indicated almost up, Kinvara won a free deep in their own half. The only option open to them was to drop the ball in around the opposition square, and hope for the best.

Up stepped Galway goalkeeper Colm Callanan and striking a beautifully weighted delivery, with the perfect trajectory, the sliotar entered a forest of hurls. At that moment, it was as if time stood still. The crowd went silent, and when the Kinvara players raised their hands in the air, and ran away from goal, it was obvious where the sliotar had ended up.

Initially, it was thought Shane Kavanagh might have got a touch, but the consensus afterwards was that Callanan’s delivery came off a Kilconieron player. Either way, the score ensured Kinvara claimed a first intermediate title since 1966—at the expense of a devastated Kilconieron who have now lost back-to-back IHC deciders.

While Callanan was the hero, the man of the match was Conor Whelan, who singlehandedly took the fight to Kilconieron for long stages. Indeed, Whelan was the only Kinvara outfield player to score in the contest — he notched up 10 points, three from play — while his work-rate was insatiable, particularly in winning puckouts, breaking ball, and frees.

Had Whelan not brought his ‘A’ game, Kinvara would not have been in a position to steal the win. For, aside from taking the lead in the opening minute through a Whelan point, they did not hit the front again until their late, late goal in injury-time.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app

The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.