Killeshin register their first-ever senior football championship win over Graiguecullen

Killeshin 0-21 

Graiguecullen 1-14 

KILLESHIN finally ended their long wait for a championship victory over Graiguecullen when they came out on top in an entertaining Laois Shopping Centre SFC encounter in Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon.

There had been plenty of disappointment for Killeshin against their parish neighbours in recent years, with Graiguecullen defeating them in the quarter-finals in each of the previous three seasons and also getting the better of them in a 2018 quarter-final replay.

This time, however, Killeshin held their nerve when it mattered most and their superior return from outside the arc ultimately proved crucial in securing a memorable win.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested. Eoin Lowry had Killeshin in front within 20 seconds, but Graiguecullen quickly responded through Aidan Bradley. A questionable breach call then presented Killeshin goalkeeper Killian Roche with the opportunity to come forward and he made no mistake from the resulting two-point free.

Graiguecullen soon turned the game in their favour. Josh O’Brien created the opening for Brian Byrne, who finished past Roche to put his side ahead, and Dylan Murphy followed with a free to leave two between them.

Killeshin responded impressively, taking control of the next spell of the game and registering five scores without reply. Evan Lowry started that burst with two scores, including a two-pointer, before Roche stepped up again to land another score from outside the arc.

The Killeshin goalkeeper was proving influential at both ends, making an excellent save to deny Jamie Sheehan and prevent Graiguecullen from adding to their tally. Murphy did manage to stop the Killeshin run from a free after a breach, while Josh O’Brien then fired wide. Killeshin restored their momentum when Eoin Cawley landed another two-pointer.

Roche had an opportunity to increase the advantage further before the interval, but his two-point attempt drifted wide. Graiguecullen made him pay for that miss as Murphy added a two-pointer of his own. That left Killeshin in front by 0-10 to 1-5 at half-time, setting up an intriguing second half.

Murphy reduced the deficit to one with a 45 early after the restart, but Killeshin responded with one of the scores of the afternoon. Michael Doran struck an outstanding two-pointer from the terrace side, giving his side some breathing space again.

Evan Lowry added a free to make it a four-point game, but Graiguecullen refused to go away. Murphy was their main source of scores and he hit three in succession, including another two-pointer, to keep the contest alive.

Killeshin maintained their composure, though, with Evan English and another Lowry free keeping them three ahead. Graiguecullen then produced a neat move involving the O’Brien brothers. Jamie O’Brien picked out Danny O’Brien, who converted to bring their tally to 10 points.

Roche was having a superb afternoon and he added to his impressive scoring contribution with another two-pointer from play. A quick free from Eoin Lowry caught Graiguecullen off guard, allowing Roche to receive possession outside the arc and split the posts.

Graiguecullen remained within striking distance after Jack Byrne and Trevor Collins reduced the deficit to just two points with five minutes remaining.

Killeshin, though, produced their strongest finish. Roche added yet another two-pointer before Graiguecullen missed a golden opportunity when Mark Timmons’ shot for goal went wide of the target.

Eoin Lowry then added another point, while James Doogue converted a free following a further Graiguecullen breach to finally put the result beyond doubt. Murphy added a late two-pointer to bring his personal tally to 10 points, but the afternoon belonged to Killeshin.

Their reward is a quarter-final meeting with Portlaoise in three weeks, while Graiguecullen now drop into the SFC ‘B’ quarter-finals, where they will face Crettyard.

SCORERS:

Killeshin: Killian Roche 0-8 (3tpf, 1tp), Evan Lowry 0-5 (1tp, 0-2fs), Michael Doran (tp), Eoin Cawley (tp) and Eoin Lowry 0-2 each, Evan English and James Doogue (f) 0-1 each.

Graiguecullen: Dylan Murphy 0-10 (2tpf, 1tp, 0-2fs, 0-1 45), Brian Byrne 1-0, Trevor Collins, Danny O’Brien, Aidan Bradley and Jack Byrne 0-1 each.

KILLESHIN: Killian Roche; Jack Brennan, Dave McDermott, Brendan MacDonald; Michael Gaffney, Leeson Hughes, James Davis; Cathal Byrne, Conor Heffernan; Eoin Cawley, Evan English, Jack Milton; Evan Lowry, Eoin Lowry, Michael Doran.

Subs: James Doogue for Byrne (45m), Adam Farrell for English (52m), Pa Fitzgerald for Cawley (60m).

GRAIGUECULLEN: Luke Dooley; Warith Oyeniyi, Danny McGrath, Shane McGrath; Aaron Dorgan, Trevor Collins, Brian Byrne; Mark Timmons, Jamie Sheehan; Danny O’Brien, Josh O’Brien, Dylan Murphy; Jamie O’Brien, Aidan Bradley, Jack Byrne.

Subs: Daniel O’Reilly for Jamie O’Brien (23m), Eoin Aylesbury for Dorgan (48m), Lee Nolan for Josh O’Brien (52m), James Horohan for Oyeniyi (56m), Jamie O’Brien for D O’Brien (58m).

Referee: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)