Heartbreak for Kilcavan as 14-man Dunlavin stage dramatic comeback

Dunlavin 2-13 

Kilcavan 1-14 

KILCAVAN’S hopes of a Leinster run came to a heartbreaking end in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday as Wicklow champions Dunlavin staged a remarkable late comeback to win their opening-round clash in the 2026 AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship.

Liam Lonergan’s side looked to be in complete control for much of the contest. They led 1-12 to 0-10 with 15 minutes remaining and still held a five-point advantage when Dunlavin were reduced to 14 men following Tom Moran’s dismissal seven minutes from time. However, an astonishing finish saw the Wicklow side hit 2-1 in the closing stages to snatch victory and advance to the quarter-finals.

Dunlavin made the brighter start through points from Tom Doyle and James O’Reilly, but Kilcavan quickly found their rhythm. Rory Lalor opened their account before Cian Ryle struck the game’s first major blow. His effort after three minutes sailed over goalkeeper Tom Davis and dropped into the net to put Kilcavan in front.

Ryle followed up with a free and later converted a 45 as Kilcavan moved 1-3 to 0-2 clear. At the opposite end, goalkeeper Killian Doyle made the first of several crucial interventions, producing an excellent save to deny Pat Kehoe after he had been released by Eoin Murtagh.

Sean Doyle reduced the deficit with a free, but Ryle remained in inspired form, adding two more points to keep Kilcavan firmly in control. Dunlavin gradually worked their way back into the contest as Sean Doyle struck twice and Tom Doyle added another score. However, Kilcavan received another boost when Niall Lalor split the posts, helping them carry a three-point advantage into the interval.

The Wicklow champions began the second half strongly with frees from Cian O’Sullivan and Jack Reid narrowing the gap. Kilcavan responded impressively through Rory Lalor, who curled over a superb two-pointer off his right foot.

Pat Kehoe then kicked two points in succession to leave just one between the sides, but Kilcavan responded with arguably their best spell of the game. Ryle landed frees from inside and outside the arc before centre-back Evan Hunt produced a moment of brilliance.

After shrugging off a challenge from Eoin Murtagh, Hunt surged forward and split the posts with a superb score that sparked a huge reaction from the Kilcavan support. Further efforts from Gary Allen and Eoin Miley, from a free, opened a five-point gap once again and left Kilcavan in a strong position entering the closing stages.

Their prospects improved further when Dunlavin lost Moran to a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident involving Niall Lalor. Lalor then added a point of his own to leave Kilcavan seemingly cruising towards victory.

But the game took a dramatic turn. Dunlavin’s first goal arrived after Killian Doyle had once again produced an outstanding save, this time denying Gary Allen. Sean Doyle reacted quickest to the rebound, palming the ball to the net and breathing fresh life into his side.

Momentum had suddenly shifted. Eoin Miley added his second point of the afternoon, and first from play, to level matters with 59 minutes on the clock.

Three minutes of stoppage time were signalled, and with both teams chasing a winner, Dunlavin struck decisively. Miley fired a dangerous ball across the square and Sean Doyle met it with a volley to the net, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling supporters.

A late Ryle free kept Kilcavan’s fading hopes alive, but they could not find the goal they desperately needed as their Leinster campaign ended in devastating fashion after a game that had appeared safely in their grasp.

SCORERS:

Dunlavin: Sean Doyle 2-3 (0-1f), Eoin Miley (0-1f), Pat Kehoe and Tom Doyle 0-2 each, James O’Reilly, Gary Allen and Jack Reid (f) 0-1 each.

Kilcavan: Cian Ryle 1-8 (1tpf, 0-3fs, 0-2 45s), Rory Lalor 0-3 (1tp), Niall Lalor 0-2, Evan Hunt 0-1.

DUNLAVIN: Tom Davis; Harry Coleman, Tom Moran, MJ Moran; James O’Reilly, Eoin Murtagh, Cian Deering; Gary Allen, Mark Murtagh; Pat Kehoe, Eoin Miley, Tom Doyle; Sean Doyle, Jack Reid, Cian O’Sullivan.

Subs: Paul Murtagh for Reid (45m), Darragh Corrigan for M Murtagh (49m).

KILCAVAN: Killian Doyle; Tristan Hunt, Michael Bermingham, Michael Hyland; Robert Hunt, Evan Hunt, Niall Lalor; Aaron Tarpey, Darragh Hughes; Ian Dunne, Cian Ryle, Ronan Gorry; Rory Lalor, Sean Lalor, Paul Bolton.

Subs: Lorcan White for Bolton (20m), Barry Conroy for T Hunt (42m), Darragh McEvoy for S Lalor (56m).

Referee: Lee Moran (Kildare)