Spills and thrills as mighty Milford fend off late St Vincent’s onslaught

MILFORD hung on by their fingernails in a thrilling finish to this Evening Echo Cork Co IHC played in atrocious underfoot conditions at Killavullen on Saturday.

That the game was played at all was a tribute to the Killavullen club who worked tirelessly to clear the water from the pitch and then were almost thwarted by a torrential downpour in the lead up to the game that left pools of water across the pitch.

Referee Cathal McAlister, after an inspection, decided to start the game and, while there were times when he had to stop play when the sliotar became submerged, the spectators were treated to an enthralling mixture of thrills and spills before Milford, going into the final five minutes with a five-point lead, were left hanging on for dear life when hit by an injury time onslaught from St Vincent’s.

Thanks to some superb free taking by Owen Dillon, Milford led 0-8 to 0-5 at the end of a slip-sliding first half. Dillon from play and midfielder Jerry O’Brien, with the first of his two points, increased the advantage to four but Cian Barry with two ­ one from a superbly hit free and the other from long range ­ kept Vincent’s in touch until the 17th minute when Seanie O’Connell, brought on in place of Bart Sexton two minutes earlier, goaled to give Milford a five-point advantage.

St Vincent’s fought back and might have had a goal three minutes later only for full-back Paudie O’Brien getting his hurley to John-Paul Murphy’s shot which was deflected out for a 65 which was pointed by Cian Barry to cut the arrears.

Milford quickly restored their five-point advantage and might have finished the game off three minutes later when Seanie O’Connell, from a John Cremin pass, unleashed another first timer. This time, Tomas O’Connell blocked it down and, from the clearance, substitute Anthony Buckley pointed.

O’Connell replied for Milford but Cian Barry landed another free and, again, there were just four points between the sides but only two minutes of ordinary time remaining.

Then, in the final seconds, Stephen Ray picked out Cian Barry with a pinpoint pass and the wing forward hammered the ball to the net. However, throughout three action-packed minutes of injury-time, Milford held on stubbornly.

Scorers: Milford: O. Dillon 0-7 (0-5 frees), S. O’Connell 1-1, J. O’Brien 0-2, R. Geary, M. Savage and B. Sexton 0-1 each. St. Vincent’s: C. Barry 1-7 (0-4 frees), A. Buckley 0-2, F. Murphy, S. Ray, and K. Collins 0- 1 each.

MILFORD: M. Cremin; D. O’Leary, P. O’Brien, J. O’Connor; R. Villers, J.Leonard, W. O’Leary; J. O’Brien, M. O’Connell; O. Dillon, M. Savage, R.Geary; J. Cremin, N. Geary, B. Sexton.

Sub: S. O’Connell for B. Sexton (44mins).

ST. VINCENT’S: A. Cotter; B. Daly, G. O’Connor, W. Murphy; T. O’Connell, P.Cullinane, D. Callaghan; F. Murphy, T. O’Mahony; C. Barry, S. Ray, K.Collins; J. P. Murphy, D. Ray, D. Duggan.

Subs: A. Buckley for K. Collins (H.T.), J. Buckley for T. O’Mahony (37 mins).

Referee: C. McAlister (Aghada).