Kilmallock book semi-final spot after late Aaron Costello goal breaks Ahane hearts
The four-point win sees Kilmallock reach the county semi-finals once again
AARON Costello was the unlikely goal hero as Kilmallock booked a spot in the Whitebox Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals with a 1-21 to 0-20 win over Ahane in Bruff on Saturday night.
Costello, wearing 2 but playing in a free role in the second half, scored 1-2 from play as the Balbec made it four wins on the bounce to guarantee top spot in Group 1 with a round to spare.
For Ahane, this and other results have them rooted to the bottom of the table.
They must beat east Limerick rivals Doon in just under two weeks time to retain their place in the ‘Super Six’. A quarter-final spot, is still available to the famous Castleconnell club but survival will be their main aim in Round 5.
A dozen of their points came from frees with Ciaran Barry impressive striking five from long-range. However, despite Tom Morrissey playing much of the game in full forward, they couldn’t create enough scores from open play.
Still, they stayed in touch for most of this game and may rue a sloppy end to the first half. With under five minutes to play before the short whistle, the game was level at 0-9 apiece, Kilmallock failing to make the most of a strong wind advantage.
But they struck five in a row before the break with Micheal Houlihan, Oisin O’Reilly and Costello all on target.
They scored three of the first five second half points to edge into a 0-17 to 0-11 lead and looked comfortable.
But Ahane, celebrating their centenary this year, fought back and levelled the game through Tom Morrissey, Barry and John O’Connor.
Paudie O’Brien and Dan Morrissey traded points to leave the score at 0-19 apiece with the hour nearly up before the game’s big moment.
A dangerous ball to the edge of the square broke for Costello who pulled into the back of the net.
At the other end, Tom Morrissey forced a smart save from Hanley Clarke - the ball initially looked to beat the keeper who retreated to fend it off the line. From the clearance, Oisin O’Reilly added the insurance score.
SCORERS - KILMALLOCK: Micheal Houlihan 0-8 (6f, 1 ‘65); Aaron Costello 1-2; Conor Hanley Clarke (3f) and Oisin O’Reilly 0-3 each; Pierce Connery and Conor Staunton 0-2 each; Paudie O’Brien 0-1; AHANE: Tom Morrissey 0-9 (7f); Ciaran Barry 0-5 (5f); Mark Donnellan 0-2; Dan Morrissey, Gavin Rowesome, John O’Connor and Jack Cosgrave 0-1 each.
KILMALLOCK: Conor Hanley Clarke; Aaron Costello, Robbie Egan, Jackie Dwane; Mark O’Loughlin, Ciaran O’Connor, Killian Hayes; Micheal Houlihan, Steven Quirke; Gearoid Enright, Conor Staunton, Graeme Mulcahy; Pierce Connery, Phelim O’Reilly, Oisin O’Reilly. Subs: Paudie O’Brien for Quirke (41 mins); Dylan O’Brien for Staunton (50 mins); Robbie Hanley for O’Loughlin (56 mins).
AHANE: Cathal Ryan; Evan O’Leary, Padraig Harnett, Conor Heffernan; Ciaran Barry, Dan Morrissey, Dan Minihan; Conor Ryan, Gavin Rowesome; John O’Connor, Tom Morrissey, Mark Donnellan; Jack Cosgrave, Donal Dawson, Cathal O’Mara. Sub: James Rennison for Dawson (53 mins).
Referee: Michael Sexton (Bruree).