Athgarvan upset the odds to inflict damaging defeat on Kill
Jordan Nolan Mullally was in excellent form for Athgarvan this evening Photo: Martin Rowe
Jordan Nolan Mullally scored six points as Athgarvan inflicted a defeat that could have major implications for Kill’s Junior Championship hopes in Manguard Park this evening.
Before a ball was thrown in, both sides knew their destiny. Kill couldn’t overcome Grangenolvin at the top of Group A but were assured a place in the quarter-finals, but they still needed to beat an Athgarvan side knocked out of the competition to secure second place.
That would have meant, on paper at least, an easier looking tie against Ballykelly but they are now facing into a tricky looking knock out game against Robertstown.
The first 20 minutes were played at a leisurely pace with Kill 0-3 to 0-1 ahead but the game sparked into life when David Butler’s shot came back off the post and Cian Doyle turned the rebound into the net.
The scores were level at the break, 1-2 to 0-5, and although Nolan Mullally opened the scoring after the restart, Kill took the lead in the 33rd minute when Cian Lawlor finished off a good move with a low shot to the bottom corner of Evan Comerford’s net.
Athgarvan’s response to this was excellent and although Nolan Mullally missed two of his next three frees, he also landed two superb scores from play as they moved into a 1-8 to 1-6 lead.
The introduction of Sam Lafferty brought lift to a Kill attack that had been overly reliant on Paul Kirwan up to that point and the substitute scored two points as Kill got back on level terms at 1-9 apiece with five minutes to go.
But once again Athgarvan responded well to adversity and after Eoghan Dunne kicked his third point of the game, Nolan Mullally saw out the win with two frees.
It’s an impressive way for Athgarvan to round off what had been a disappointing Championship to this point and they will be strong favourites to lift the Junior ‘A’ title if they can replicate this level of performance. Kill won’t have long to feel sorry for themselves and they will need to be ready for a tough looking game against Robertstown.
Elsewhere, Castlmitchell leapfrogged Kill into second place in the group with a 1-14 to 1-10 while Grangenolvin completed the group stages with a 100% record by beating Cappagh 3-5 to 1-9.
Evan Comerford; Cameron Hughes, Jack Lee-Parnell, Eddie Vaicaicauskis, Finn O’Brien, Calum Sourke, Cormac O’Neill; Eoin Myers, Niall Murphy; Cian Doyle 1-0, Jordan Nolan-Mullally 0-6 (4fs), David Butler 0-1, Alan Sourke, Derek Nolan, Eoghan Dunne 0-3. Subs: Mark Connolly for Doyle, 37; Cian Doyle for O’Neill, 52; Euan Brown for Nolan, 55.
Mike Jones; Ciaran Devoy, Justin Halligan, Derry Lenehan, Mark Lee, Kevin Corrigan, Stephen Corboy; Dara Challoner, Cian Lawlor 1-0; AJ Jordan 0-2, Paul Kirwan 0-5 (1m, 1f), Jack Healy, Jake Nolan, Stephen O’Leary. Subs: Robbie Hughes, h/t; Sam Lafferty 0-2 for Halligan, h/t; Matthew Ryan for Lee, h/t; Harry Kirwan for Nolan, 55; Sam Lawler for Devoy, 59.
PJ Cummins.
