Newcastle West got up and running through Mike Dee and Con Hayes on 13 minutes as Derry McMahon's charges trailed 1-3 to 0-2.
After 17 minutes, Newcastle West full-back Maurice Murphy was shown a red card for a high challenge on Kyle Hayes. Kildimo-Pallaskenry were dealt a setback of their own shortly after, as Hayes was forced off with an injury. Taking advantage of the extra man, Robert O’Farrell and Jack O’Keefe added their names on the scoreboard, pushing Kildimo-Pallaskenry into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead just three minutes later.
Newcastle West refused to fade away, with the Magpies storming back into the contest by outscoring their opponents 0-9 to 0-2 over the remainder of the first half. During that spell, Con Hayes, Cathal Hayes, Michael Cremin, Eoin Hurley, Brian Hurley, and Mike Dee all made their mark, turning the tide and sending the premier intermediate champions into the break with their first lead of the game, 0-11 to 1-7.
Newcastle West's shooting began to cost them at the start of the second half as the west hit four wides inside the opening five minutes. Shaun Barry who was a late change before the game and Barry levelled the contest six minutes into the second half.
Quick points from Con Hayes and Diarmuid Lyons restored Newcastle West’s lead, but Kildimo-Pallaskenry soon found their rhythm again. Scores from Cathal Downes, Peter Nash, Jack O’Keefe, and Rob O’Farrell edged the men in blue and white ahead, 1-12 to 1-13. Shaun Barry then stretched their advantage before full-forward Jack O’Keefe latched onto a loose ball in the square, kicking the sliotar past Mike Quilligan to put his side six points clear.
With ten minutes remaining, Derry McMahon knew his side had to throw everything at the game if they were to salvage a result. Con Hayes, who was causing constant problems for the Kildimo-Pallaskenry half-back line, narrowed the deficit before the experienced Mike McMahon entered the action. McMahon made an immediate impact, flicking the sliotar into the net to leave the West just two points behind.
Kildimo-Pallaskenry kept their composure, and the lively Seanie Hartigan restored some breathing space, though it didn’t last long. Cathal Hayes launched a high delivery into the square, where Mike McMahon again caused havoc before calmly slotting the sliotar into the net to level the sides once more.
When Diarmuid Lyons and McMahon fired over points to edge Newcastle West 2-16 to 2-14 in front, it seemed as if the Magpies had done enough to secure the two points.
But Kildimo-Pallaskenry stayed cool under pressure. Jack O’Keefe trimmed the deficit to the bare minimum, and deep into stoppage time, Shaun Barry held his nerve to split the posts and snatch a draw.
SCORERS: NEWCASTLE WEST: Mike McMahon 2-1, Con Hayes 0-4, Cathal Hayes 0-3 (2 frees, 1 '65), Mike Dee and Diarmuid Lyons 0-2 each, Brian Hurley, Eoin Hurley, Michael Cremin and Brian Foley 0-1 each. KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Jack O'Keefe 1-4, Ciaran McMahon 1-0, Rob O'Farrell 0-3 (1 free), Shaun Barry 0-3 (1free), Seanie Hartigan (1 free) and Peter Nash 0-2 each, David Fitzgerald and Cathal Downes 0-1 each.
