Kilcock gifted late winner as O'Rourke punishes Raheens mistake
Johnny O'Sullivan drives out of the Kilcock defence with the ball in hand Photo: Michael Anderson
A late late free from Shane O'Rourke saw Kilcock claim a much needed and at times unlikely win in Round 2 of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship. An attempt by Raheens keeper David McPartlin to take a quick kick-out was punished as Graham Waters hadn't left the small arc and O'Rourke was presented with the easiest of chances.
Raheens will probably wonder how this Group C encounter got away from them as they lead by three with 15 minutes left to play, but some sloppy mistakes invited Kilcock back into the game, and they did not pass up the opportunity.
Raheens centre forward Paddy Woodgate was the hero in round 1 with a late two-pointer and he started Round 2 with a similar score. 60 seconds later, after Niall Dolan's effort was turned out for a 45, Woodgate dispatched the chance.
Brendan Gibbons and Danny Byrne replied for Kilcock but 19 minutes in Woodgate added another two-pointer. That fifth Raheens point was to be their last of the half as Kilcock finished the stronger. Kilcock had been quilty of poor shooting as they notched up seven first half wides.
County underage star Finn Dowling landed a pair of excellent two-point frees either side of a Mark Gibbons tap over as he broke through the Raheens defence. O'Rourke pushed Kilcock 0-8 to 0-5 ahead as Colm Kearney brought the half to a close.
The opening minutes of the second half were tentative and it was always going to be tight and so it proved as the sides were level on five occasions. Raheens reduced the gap through Rob Thompson and a Paddy Woodgate free, whereas it would take Andy Dalton almost five minutes to register Kilcock's first of the second half.
Raheens drew level through a Niall Dolan two-pointer and a Rob Thompson free. Finn Dowling was up and down the left flank all afternoon and a fine O'Rourke pass saw Dowling add his fifth from a tight angle. A foul on Liam Power saw Paddy Woodgate back himself as he knocked over another two pointer. Luke O'Donovan got his first after a powerful run to open a threw point lead.
After a passage of five minutes without a score, Raheens' chances came and went as they tried to extend the lead. It invited Kilcock back into the contest and two O'Rourke points were quickly followed by Danny Maguire's first, but more importantly a leveller.
Rob Thompson and O'Rourke swapped frees. Dowling and Conor Kelly repeated the dose and with four minutes injury time indicated, a draw looked to be the fairest result.
Drama would ensue as O'Rourke converted the winning free in the 64th minute after the technical infringement, much to the delight of the Kilcock faithful, but much to the dismay of Raheens supporters.
With Round 3 two weeks away, Raheens will have the task of over turning the county champions Athy. Kilcock and Sallins will have a chance to finish second with a win. Plenty to play for yet.
Fionn Talbot; Eoghan Conroy, Johnny O'Sullivan, Dylan Morrow; Finn Dowling 0-6 (2tpf), Jason Gibbons, Chris McCarthy; Brendan Gibbons 0-1, Mark Gibbons 0-1; Danny Byrne 0-1, Cameron Nairn, Aidan Doyle; Danny Maguire 0-1, Andy Dalton 0-1, Shane O'Rourke 0-5 (2f).
Michael Stokes for McCarthy (49), David Duke for Byrne (52), Joe Fitzmaurice for Doyle (57).
David McPartlin; Niall Cramer, Fionn Tully, Shane Crowley; Daniel Hamill, Conor Earley, Graham Waters; Liam Power, Conor Kelly 0-1; Luke O'Donovan 0-1, Paddy Woodgate 0-8 (2tp, 1tpf, 1'45, 1f), David Malone; Rob Thompson 0-3 (2f), Conor Murphy, Niall Dolan 0-2 (tp).
Jack Taffee for Murphy (51), Shane McSweeney for Earley and Paul Dolan for Power (both 52), Daire Gilmartin for Malone (55).
Colm Kearney.
