Much drama as Kevin's defeat Rathangan with late Murray goal

The Auld Shebeen IFC, Group B

St Kevin's 1-11

Rathangan 1-10

St.Kevin’s owe their win over Rathangan to a dramatic last minute Conor Murray goal.
The boys in red and black were two points adrift in injury time and all looked lost as Rathangan wound down the clock by retaining possession.

But nerves were definitely playing on the leading side's mind as their passes became increasingly jittery. A less than convincing move would culminate in Stefan Lawlor getting turned over after receiving a favourable hand pass in midfield.

The trailing side burst up the pitch and substitute Declan Flaherty was the man carrying the ball towards goal. Flaherty took his time in finding Conor Murray and waited patiently for the right moment. The handpass was perfect and Murray made no mistake when the ball finally came his way, driving the ball into the back of the net.

A smash and grab for Kevin's who looked like they had thrown this game away coming into the final minutes.The first half was a far cry from the drama of the finish and the teams sat all square at the break at 0-5 a piece after an opening half that was devoid of any real quality.
After the restart, the sides exchanged points as Muiris Curtin and Jamie O’Brien raised flags for their respective teams.

It would be the eventual winners that took control of this game, taking the lead for the first time seven minutes into the second half through Conor Murray.

Murray extended their advantage just a minute later and the tide had certainly turned in his side’s favour. That double would be followed by a looping point from John Fitzharris which fell between the posts.
The strong spell from Kevin’s meant they sat comfortably in the ascendency at 0-9 to 0-6 after 40 minutes of football.

A fine point from Sean Behan was Rathangan’s second score of the half and from their standout forward in this game. Behan appeared to be most likely of the front line to beat his marker and stick one over, as he did on three separate occasions.

This tie would turn on its head as Kevin's were caught up the field and Rathangan midfielder Rian Teahan sent a long ball into the forward line. That part of the field consisted of his teammate Sam Savage, one defender and the goalkeeper.

Teahan’s pass was driven into a corridor of uncertainty and Kevin's goalkeeper Keith Fitzharris rushed out, only to be beaten to the ball by Savage who gathered possession and set himself before finding the net to bring his side level in an instant.
It was certainly against the run of play, but Rathangan were level.

Rathangan’s final score of the day from Mark Fitzsimons on 60 minutes looked certain to be enough to keep distance between themselves and their opponents as they moved three clear.
But a point from Ryan Casey and that late Murray goal would see the win stolen out from under them in a thrilling finale.

Scorers: St Kevin's, Conor Murray 1-5 (0-2 frees, 0-1 Mark), Jamie O'Brien 0-2, Ryan Casey 0-2, Cormac Noone 0-1, John Fitzharris 0-1.

Rathangan, Sean Behan 0-3, Sam Savage 1-0, Muiris Curtin 0-2 (0-1 frees), Shane O'Loughlin 0-1, Ben Murphy 0-1, Ross Teahan 0-1 (0-1 frees), Stefan Lawlor 0-1, Mark Fitzsimons 0-1.

ST KEVIN'S: Keith Fitzharris; Conor Gordon, Mark Grace, Robert Beirne; Alan Bennett, Tom Baron, Enda Keane; Brian Fogarty, Diarmuid Smyth; Cormac Noone, Barry Noone, Jamie Kenna; Conor Murray, John Fitzmarris, Jamie O'Brien. Subs: James Ralph for Jamie Kenna (38 minutes), Ryan Casey for Cormac Noone (46 minutes), Declan Flaherty for John Fitzharris (50 minutes).

RATHANGAN: Josh Smullen; Alex O'Kelly, Dan Mulpeter, Shane O'Loughlin; Mark Fitzsimons, Michael Fitzsimons, Alex Conlan; Rian Teahan, Ben Murphy; Sean Behan, Ross Teahan, Stefan Lawlor; Sam Savage, Muiris Curtin, Aaron Mullins. Subs: Tadgh Fluskey for Aaron Mullins (49 minutes).
Referee: Killian Jones.