Collins leads Confey to Intermediate safety
Josh Collins, brother of Irish soccer international Nathan, scored six points as Confey beat Kilcullen in a National Electrical Wholesalers Intermediate Football Championship relegation semi-final. Photo: Martin Rowe.
The final game of three on the superbly sound Conneff Park Pitch in Clane on Sunday had all the hallmarks of a last chance saloon fixture as Confey and Kilcullen battled to remain in the National Electrical Wholesalers IFC for 2027 in this Relegation semi-final. There was tension, there were nerves and there was tetchiness at times but in the end, it was the Cope Bridge outfit who survived leaving Kilcullen to fight another day to stay at this level.
The Republic of Ireland may have lacked the leadership of his brother, Nathan, in the past week or so but Josh Collins showed great leadership on another team wearing green on Sunday as the centre half forward scored six of Confey’s points, including a crucial two pointer free with his side only a point in front in the fifth of the six minutes of injury time which effectively killed off any chance of a Kilcullen leveller.
Collins was matched on the scoring charts by Confey’s new scoring sensation of 2026, Jack O’Rahily who also included a two-pointer free in the 52nd minute when it looked like Kilcullen were on the way back after reducing a six-point deficit to three. Confey also benefitted by the returning veteran this year, James Gately, who accounted for three first half points. Kilcullen had their scoring stars too. Ciaran O’Brien was his usual lively self and fired over two first half points but their chief scorers were Donagh McKivergan at centre half forward and Jamie Buckley at full forward.
McKivergan included a two pointer from play, a point from play and two frees in the final quarter as Kilcullen hacked away at the Confey lead and reduced it to just one point in injury time. McKivergan’s two pointer in the 63rd minute was initially waved wide by the umpires but was then awarded when Referee Paul Donnelly consulted his linesman. For his part Jamie Buckley accounted for six of Kilcullen’s points including a great two pointer in the eighth minute and three points, two from frees, when Confey were reduced to 14 with the Black Carding of centre half back, Cathal Jennings in the 38th minute.
Confey led 0-11 to 0-8 at half time and stretched that out to six points on two occasions in the second half but Kilcullen had reduced the deficit to just two by the 56th minute when the were hit by a 3 up breach allowing Confey to lead by three again thanks to O’Rahilly’s single point free. McKivergan’s two pointer in injury time put the pressure on Confey but their nerves were settled when Collins held his nerve to fire over the late two pointer free which secured Confey’s place in the intermediate grade for 2027.
Kilcullen will have to fight another day to avoid the drop.
Colin Heeney; Aodan Jordan, Conor Dennehy, Andrew Breslin; Niall Cawley, Cathal Jennings, Ben Corscadden 0-1; Paul Divilly, Luke Quinn; Oisin Maher 0-1, Josh Collins 0-6 (1tp, 1tpf, 1f), Philip Hallinan 0-1; Robin Breslin 0-2 (1pt), Jack O’Rahilly 0-6 (1tpf, 3fs), James Gately 0-3. Subs: Aidan Crean for Oisin Maher 39.
Cormac Barker; Daragh Burke, Jack Dooley, Jack Jordan; Tim Carey, Robbie Lee, Cathal Brophy 0-1; Sean Knight, Eddie O’Loughlin; Paul Bell, Donagh McKivergan 0-7 (1tpf, 3fs), Dan Coughlan 0-1; Ciaran O’Brien 0-2, Jamie Buckley 0-6 (1tp, 2fs), Ciaran Melinn. Subs: Turlough Donnelly for Eddie O’Loughlin 36, Jack Cronin for Paul Bell 40, Darragh Kelly for Robbie Lee 51.
Paul Donnelly.
