Larries slip through the trapdoor
Kilcock's Danny Maguire chases St Laurences James Donnelly's Photo: Sean Brilliy
Kilcock preserved their Senior status when they had 6 points to spare over St Laurences in the relegation final of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship. A wonderful eight point haul from corner forward Sean O'Sullivan was the main difference between the sides throughout that second half where Kilcock outscored the Larries by 11 points to two.
Kilcock had to do it the hard way as they trailed by six points after only ten minutes. A 6th minute goal from TJ Nolan gave Laurences the perfect start but three late first half points from Kilcock left only three between the sides at the break 1-4 to 0-4 in favour of the Larries.
St Laurences opened the brighter and when Senan Murphy opened their account on four minutes it was the start of a purple patch that pushed them six ahead. Jason McHugh added a second before the games opening goal. Nolan forced a great block from Johnny O'Sullivan before rattling home the rebound. Tom Dooley completed the six point lead with only ten on the clock.
It took Kilcock fifteen minutes to register their first score, Brendan Gibbons racing 30 metres before firing over with the left but that late burst before the break gave them hope.
Seven second half points from Sean O'Sullivan including three wonderful frees off the ground was the platform that Declan Gibbons' side had threatened. Ciaran Murray chipped in with two points of his own as he operated from the edge of the square.
St Laurences could only muster two second half points that proved to be their undoing and they will operate at Intermediate level for 2025, the first time since 1980.
A second yellow card for Jason Gibbons nine minutes from time failed to dampen Kilcock spirits.
Fionn Talbot, Michael Stokes, Johnny O'Sullivan, Cameron Nairn 0-1, Cormac Divilly, Jason Gibbons, Joe Fitzmaurice, Mark Gibbons, Luke Sheridan, David Duke 0-1, Brendan Gibbons 0-1, Adam Doyle, Sean O Sullivan 0-8 (6fs), Danny Maguire 0-1, Ciaran Murray 0-2. Subs Niall O'Sullivan 0-1 for M Gibbons, 31; Mark Gibbons for N O'Sullivan, 51; Niall O'Sullivan for Sheridan, 55.
Paul Clynch, Michael O Sullivan, Ciaran O Sullivan, Luke Gorman, Chris Fenner, Oisin Grufferty 0-1, Niall O'Connor, Senan Murphy 0-1, James Donnelly, Tj Nolan 1-0, Tom Dooley 0-1, Kevin Eustace, Felix Lawlor, Jason McHugh 0-3 (1f), Joe Hanamy. Subs: Chris Fenner for Lawlor, 31; Adam Steed for Hanamy, 40; Padraig O'Neill for Eustace, 45.
Billy O'Connell
