Kildimo-Pallaskenry defeat champions Mungret in extra-time thriller

CONOR Staff’s extra-time goal cemented more history for Kildimo-Pallaskenry, as they booked a maiden Irish Wire Products Senior Championship final spot, as they dethroned Mungret St Paul’s in Clarina.

It took the extra 20 minutes for the men in blue and white to prevail, as champions Mungret St Paul’s struck back late to draw, having trailed by five points late on.

Staff’s goal and an earlier green flag from Paudi Hartigan, as well as eight frees from Peter Nash were vital to the victory. However, notable contributions from Tony McCarthy, Kyle Hayes and Cian O’Sullivan brought Declan Nash’s side one step further on their journey.

This was a game which saw Mungret St Paul’s start brightly. However, they missed each of their first five shots and with that, saw Hartigan kick the opening score at the other end, after four minutes.

Diarmuid Hynes’ two-pointer sent Mungret on their way. They would lead by three, when John Hutton landed both a free and a point from play. However, after registering just one point in the opening 19 minutes, Kildimo-Pallaskenry knocked over eight more to close the half.

Jake Higgins, two tap over frees from Nash as well as Cathal Downes’ two-pointer saw them super-efficient in attack, and re-take the lead. They were 0-9 to 0-6 ahead by the short whistle, with Brendan Giltenane and Hartigan trading scores with the final two plays.

Another free from Nash saw the gap widen before Mungret captain Hutton landed the first of his pair of two-pointers, this from the top of the scoring arc.

However, Kildimo-Pallaskenry weren’t deterred and they stretched five ahead when Hartigan was left unmarked, and drilled low to the net, after green inside fielding by Conor Staff.

Five up an with just 10 minutes to play, Kildimo Pallaskenry were in dreamland. However, Jack Dervan, introduced from the bench, curled over a two-pointer to narrow the gap.

Hutton and then Jack McCarthy, further erode the lead. A sixth from Nash ensured the three point gap as the game entered stoppage time. Hutton punished a 50m advancement with another well-taken two-point free.

Subs Matt O’Sullivan and Conor O’Longaigh combined to level the game, with the latter curling over to lead it at 1-14 to 0-17. The final act almost saw a winning score.

Darragh O’Hagan, making a first appearance of the season, was narrowly off target with the final kick, and so extra-time was required.

Kildimo-Pallaskenry, through Hayes, carried the immediate threat and they dominated the possession in the extra periods.

Nash put them ahead from another free and as players visibly tired, it was Dervan who curled over a wonderful two-pointer.

However, from the next attack, Conor Staff found the net. Nash’s initial effort was cleared off the goal-line by Ciaran Uwatse, but Staff gathered and blasted to the net for a two-point lead.

Shane Barry replied but Mungret continued to trail, now by a point, at the 70-minute mark.

Nash punished dissent by clipping over another 20m free. That saw Cathal Downes standing over a free from 50 meters out, only for referee Timmy McGrath to punish Mungret ill-discipline. Nash gleefully accepted and from here, Munget failed to create anything to cut the gap.

It moves the blue-and-white just 60 minutes away from completing a remarkable journey – Junior B winners in 2014, and possibly senior kings in 2026.

SCORERS - KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Peter Nash 0-8 (8f); Paudi Hartigan 1-2 and Conor Staff (1 mark) 1-2 each; Cathal Downes 0-3 (1 tp) and Jake Higgins 0-1; MUNGRET-ST PAULS: John Hutton 0-9 (2 tpf; 3f); Jack Dervan 0-4 (2tp); Diarmuid Hynes 0-2 (tp);Darragh O’Sullivan, Brendan Giltenane, Jack McCarthy, Conor O’Longaigh and Shane Barry 0-1 each.

KILDIMO-PALLASKENRY: Kevin Walsh; Shane Carroll, Davy Fitzgerald, Cian O’Sullivan; Jake Higgins, Davy Fitzgerald, Tony McCarthy, José Azzopardi; Shaun Barry, Kyle Hayes; Garry Sheehan, Ciarán McMahon, Paudi Hartigan, Peter Nash, Conor Staff, Cathal Downes; Subs: Ryan Kelly for Sheehan (37 mins); Ciaran Barry for S Barry (47 mins); Sean Kavanagh for P Hartigan (53 mins); Seanie Hartigan for Carroll (60 mins); Dylan Corrigan for Azzopardi (76 mins).

MUNGRET-ST PAULS: Ronan McElligott; Jason Hassett, Robert Hegarty, Ciaran Uwatse; Killian Ryan, Oisin Moss, Tom Lloyd; Jack Somers, Jack McCarthy; Diarmuid Hynes, Darragh O’Sullivan, Brendan Giltenane; Shane Barry, John Hutton, Darragh Bridgeman; Subs: James Killian for Giltenane (h-t); Conor O’Longaigh for Moss (37 mins); Matt O’Sullivan for K Ryan (57 mins); Conor Mangan for Llyod (h-t e-t); Colin Rochford for Hegarty (77 mins).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Oola).