GAA: Kilmac make Dungarvan pay the penalty for dramatic collapse

Kilmacthomas 2-12 Dungarvan 2-6

They were beaten by Kilmacthomas at their own Fraher Field yesterday in a relegation play-off, after a dramatic last quarter collapse.

They trailed by 0-9 to 1-2 at the interval, with Nicky Donnelly’s penalty goal two minutes before the break throwing them a much-needed lifeline.

They restarted in fine style with two superb Seamus Cunningham points, and when Ciaran Curran crashed home their second goal in the 40th minute, to edge into a 2-5 to 0-10 lead, they looked to have weathered the storm.

Amazingly, they lost the initiative again and with Kilmac’ spraying the ball about impressively it was they who almost totally dominated the closing quarter.

The outstanding Anthony Power brought them level with a quality point on 46 minutes, and when he edged them back in front less than sixty seconds later they had regained a lead they never again relinquished.

Substitute Keith Mulhearne’s 50th minute gave them vital breathing space, and the super-sub had an important role in their second goal two minutes later when he was fouled for the penalty which wing-back Conor Downey slotted home.

There was no way back for Dungarvan, and the club that won three senior titles on the trot in the 1990s was doomed.

Scorers for Kilmacthomas; A. Power(0-6); C. Downey(1-1); K. Mulhearne(1-0); P. Prendergast(0-2); B. Whelan,. J. Joy, M. Downey(0-1) each.

Dungarvan; C. Curran(1-1); N. Donnelly(1-0); S. Cunningham(0-3); P. Veale, R. Keating(0-1) each.

KILMACTHOMAS: N. Power; D. Power. M. Hallahan. J. Hayes; C. Downey. B. Whelan. J. Long; D. Kiely. P. Behan; John Power. Jonno Power. A. Power; J. Joy. M. Downey. P. Prendergast; sub; K. Mulhearne for John Power.

DUNGARVAN: T. Moore; B. Lyons. M. McLoughlin. C. Murphy; K. Radley. P. Veale. T. Galvin; P. Power. J. O’Mahony; J. Lynch. E. Cunningham. R. Keating; C. Curran. S. Cunningham. N. Donnelly. Sub: A. Harney for Lyons.

Referee: Tim O’Byrne, Erins Own.