Pearses 4-3 Kilconieron 2-9: Pearses U14’s commenced the weekends Feile na Gael campaign with a hard earned draw against Kilconieron in difficult enough conditions in Kilconieron this evening. Not for the first time this year, they turned around a 5 point half time deficit to go 4 points up with just minutes to go and yet conceded a late goal and a point and had to settle in the end for a share of the spoils.
It was a tense finale as the ball was up and down the field but it was Kilconieron who could have snatched a late winner but much to the palpable relief of the sizeable Pearses contingent and mentors their free went to the right of the upright. Pearses dominated the early exchanges as Cian Murphy put 2 good chances wide, while Conor Moran opened the scoring within 2 mins as he tapped over the bar off his right shoulder while subsequently Darragh Roche’s ground pull drew a great save from the Kilconieron goalie. Kilconieron got off the mark with a point from a free but Moran put Pearses ahead again with a lovely stroke this time from his left.
Kilconieron converted their 2nd placed ball from a 65 to level matters at 0-2 apiece. Harry Mitchell then made a splendid save conceding a 65’ which was taken by Kilconieron’s big No. 3 who played more in a roaming position. His well taken 65 found its way to the back of the net for a tonic goal for Kilconieron with 10 mins gone. Kilconieron then scored their first from play and converted another 65’ minutes later, followed by another 2 points from play to go 1-6 to 0-2 up, one a beauty right on the sideline. Pearses immediately responded with a good goal involving Cian Murphy who tapped the ball neatly to Ethan Lally and as Lally throttled goalwards with nothing on his mind only GOAL he was justly rewarded for his effort.
Kilconieron closed out the first half with another free to leave the score 1-07 to 1-02 at half time. Kilconieron restarted where they left off as the big No. 3 scored from play over his right shoulder to widen the gap to 6points. Straight from the puck out Ethan Lally won the ball at midfield and fed Cian Murphy who ran right through the heart of the defence to smash the ball to the net and bring Pearses right back into the game. Cian Murphy delivered again, scoring almost an exact replica of his earlier goal after a smashing pick-up by David Hillary in the middle of the field which set Murphy on his way and he made no mistake with his bullet to tie the game up at 1-08 to 3-02.
Cian Murphy converted a free right in front of the posts after he was fouled himself and young Conor Kelly scored a ‘smash and grab’ minutes later after Darragh Roche sent in a dangerous ball which was batted out by the goalie only for young Kelly to whip first time and find the net. Suddenly Pearses were in the driving seat with 4 points to the good. Kilconieron were awarded a free with 5 mins left to play and the big No. 3 went for goal only for Luke Mitchell to make a splendid block and clear the ball from danger.
With 2 mins left a Kilconieron 65’ was sent right into the square and somehow bundled over the line to put the minimum between the sides and set up a nervy finale. Kilconieron converted a free with seconds left to draw the match but the big free taker thankfully was unable to convert another free. And so the first group game ended with a point a piece.
Scorers: Cian Murphy 2-01; Ethan Lally 1-0; Conor Kelly 1-0; Conor Moran 0-2
Report by Martina Donnellan