PATRICKSWELL in the past have been known to be able to dig out results in difficult situations, but last Sunday in the Gaelic Grounds, not even their die hard supporters could have seen a way back for a 'Well' outfit that trailed 0-1- to 0-3 after 25
minutes.
They were totally outclassed by a Kilmallock team that could do no wrong in this period.
Patrickswell did open the scoring with a Barry Foley free, but a brace of points by Eoin Ryan quickly followed as Kilmallock took control with further white flags from Paudie O'Brien and Brian O'Sullivan.
At this stage it was all one way traffic and with Paudie O'Dwyer and Gavin O'Mahony in top form as well as the brilliant Kieran O'Dwyer, the Patrickswell rearguard were in all sorts of trouble, which led to foul after foul and five points from placed balls for Andrew O'Shaughnessy, as well as a brilliant score from play.
With Patrickswell's only score from play a point by Edward Geary it looked like Kilmallock would carry a big lead in at the break, even when Barry Foley spilt the pots with a 50-metre free.
They say goals win matches and certainly the first goal of this game had a major bearing on both teams after Paul O'Grady's long range effort seemed to catch Tom Hennessy out and a break Patrickswell hardly deserved.
Patrickswell with their tails now up, finished the half the stronger with points from Barry Foley (free) and Edward Geary to leave only two between them 0-10 to 1-5.
Within minutes of the restart, 'The Well' were in front when Peter O'Reilly rattled the net after a long delivery from Declan O'Grady.
It was now the turn of the Kilmallock supporters to wonder where it all went wrong.
And worse was the follow as three points in a row were added in a five minute spell by Barry Foley (free), Edward Geary and the score of the game, from all of 80 metres by Peter O'Reilly.
Kilmallock regained their composure and a brace of points by Paudie O'Brien and one apiece by Paudie O'Dwyer and Andrew O'Shaughnessy had the teams level at the midway point in the second half.
With the game now in the melting pot, Patrickswell looked to the brilliance of Paul and Peter O'Reilly, Ciaran Carey and the lively Edward Geary and they hit back with three points on the trot from Barry Foley (2 frees) and Peter O'Reilly to give them a two point advantage with five minutes left.
To Kilmallock's credit they battled bravely and with O'Shaughnessy firing over another free to leave only the minimum between them, it looked like there might be another day.
But Patrickswell held out for the narrowest of victories on a day that Kilmallock deserved better.
Scores:
Patrickswell:
B. Foley (0-6 (all frees), Peter O'Reilly 1-2, P. O'Grady 1-0, E. Geary 0-3, D. O'Grady 0-1.
Kilmallock:
A. O'Shaughnessy 0-10 (9frees), P. O'Brien 0-3, E. Ryan 0-2, B. O'Sullivan and P. O'Dwyer 0-1 each.
Patrickswell:
B. Murray, C. Murray, M. Foley, P. Earls, Paul O'Reilly, C. Carey, P. Carey, Peter O'Reilly, R. Bennis, P. O'Grady, J. McDermott, E. Foley, E. Geary, D. O'Grady, B. Foley.
Subs: W. O'Dea for C. Murray, T. O'Brien for P. O'Grady (inj), P. O'Grady for W. O'Dea.
Kilmallock: T. Hennessy, D. O'Shaughnessy, B. Carroll, L. Hurley, R. Murphy, G. O'Mahony, K. O'Mahony, G. O'Sullivan, P. O'Dwyer, P. O'Brien, K. O'Dwyer, B. O'Sullivan, A. O'Shaughnessy, P. Connery, E. Ryan.
Referee: Michael Ryan (Askeaton).
