Carnmore....... 3-09
Killimordaly... 3-15
With the confidence of a team that had already beaten the Co. Champions, Killimordaly obliged their fans with another fine performance at Kenny Park, Athenry when they won their way to the Co. semi-Final at the expense of Carnmore. A wonderful first half performance saw them through, but they faded somewhat in the second half, when Carnmore gave j them-more than one fright. Carnmore were of course without their American based players, who are due to return on next Saturday, and 1 can’t help thinking that if Padraic Fahy was in this lineout, things could have been very uncomfortable for the East Board men.
However, Killimordaly were the better team on the day and indeed Carnmore were lucky to be as close as they were at the final whistle. Greaney opened the scoring with a Carnmore point. Tom Donohue equalized and M. Hartley and Micksie Donohue exchanged points. Then the Killimordaly onslaught started. Sean Cannon, Tom Donohue and Stephen Coen had points, and Frank Duane cracked in a great goal. Micksie Donoghue had another point and Stephen Coen had his sides second major. Paddy Mitchell and Martin Greaney exchanged points before John Noone had his sides third goal in ten minutes. Sean Cannon and Stephen Coen added points before half time to leave Killimordaly ahead by 3-9 to 0-3 for Carnmore.
In the second half it was Carnmore’s turn however, but they never got the same scope as their opposites got in the first half. The Killimordaly defence though conceding some major scores, held on grimly throughout the second half. Willie Greaney pointed for Carnmore and P. J. Spellman goaled a 21 to narrow the gap. Paddy Mitchell had a minor for Killimordaly before Greaney, Hanley and Greaney again had points for Carnmore. Tom and Micksie Donohue extended Killirnor’s lead, and Frank Duane who created panic among Carnmore defenders every time he got the ball, had a further point.
Ml. Kenny pointed for Carnmore and Mt. Greaney broke through a tight defence to bang home his side’s second goal. Duane and Hanley exchanged points before Stephen Coen stretched the lead with another point. Severe Carnmore pressure in the last five minutes yielded a goal by Martin Greaney before the final whistle, but it did little more than take the bad look off the score board.
Michael Harts had his usual sound game in goal for the winners, and his cover was excellent from Frank Burke. Albert Kilkenny and Sean Killkenny.Paddy Mitchell again stole the show in defence, and dealt capably with everything that passed the half way line. P. Coen and Vincent Earls gave sound performances. Steven Coen and Scan Cannon were in great form at midfield and all the attack played their part in the victory. Stephen Coen was as effect as ever in the half line while Tom and Micksie Donoghue show improvement with every outing. In the full forward line, Frank Duane has rarely played a better hour, and John Noone and Josie Daly made use of every ball. For Carnmore Mattie Cooney and Jimmy Conroy were best in defence, but their center field pairing could not come to grips with their opposites. In attack Spellman and Mt. Greaney were most effective.
Scorers:
Killimordaly: S.Coen 1-3, F. Duane 1-2, J. Noone 1-0, M. Donoghue 0-3, T. Donoghue 0-3, S. Cannon 0-2, P. Mitchell 0-2.
Carnmore: Mt. Greaney 1-2, Ml. Greaney 1-2, Ml. Hanley 0-3, P.J.Spellman 1-0, Ml. Kenny and W. Greaney 0-1 each.
Teams:
Carnmore: Hughes P Fahy M Cooney T Walsh J Hession J Conroy J Long J Murphy M Hanley PJ Spellman Ml Greaney Mt Greaney M Leonard M Kenny W Greaney.
Killimordaly: Ml Earls A Kilkenny F Burke S Kilkenny PJ Coen P Mitchell V Earls S Cannon L Noone S Coen M Donoghue J Daly J Noone F Duane.
Referee: Mr. B. Gardiner