County Senior Football League, Division 2, Round 3.
Keel 1-05, Templenoe 1-07.
A two-pointer free from goalkeeper Mark Looney shortly before the full-time whistle, reminiscent of Stephen Cluxton in the 2011 All-Ireland final snatched a valuable two county league points on the road for Templenoe last Saturday evening
The game played in rough conditions with a gale force cross field wind making it difficult for both sides throughout, with scores hard to come by. Brian Crowley did well to find space to put Templenoe two points ahead in a cagey first quarter. However, in the 16th minute Keel made up for some earlier misses, when Paul Costelloe fisted the ball to net after a dropped short point effort was passed across the goal and Costelloe was perfectly positioned to apply the finish. Then shortly before half-time the aforementioned Paul Costelloe landed a two-pointer free over the bar to give the hosts a three-points cushion going in at the break.
Half Time Score: Keel 1-02, Templenoe 0-02.
On resumption with the rain pouring down heavy, Templenoe put together a purple patch that saw them hit 1-02 without reply. Brian Crowley once again lead the way with his third point, before Sean Sheehan palmed the ball to the net for Templenoe’s all important goal following good build up play involving Micheál O'Mahony. Then John Spillane added another point to make the score 1-02 to 1-04 in favour of the visitors.
In the ensuing passages of play Keel hit three wides on the trot before Martin Reilly got forward to extend Templenoe’s lead to three points. But credit to the hosts they rallied again in the final quarter. Two points in succession from Thomas Ladden and Gary Sayers saw them reduce the margin to one point. Templenoe were now squandering chances at the other end and then the referee brought the ball in for a close in free after Templenoe were penalised for not keeping three players up front. Gary Sayers did the necessary with the resultant free to make it all square with just two minutes of normal time remaining. Then just as the game looked like it might be heading for a draw, Templenoe earned a free from outside the arc and up came Mark Looney who struck the free with precision to ultimately win the game for the visitors. Keel did have one last opportunity to salvage something from this game, but it was to prove a bridge too far for them.
Final Score: Keel 1-05, Templenoe 1-07.
Scorers:
Keel: Paul Costelloe 1-02 (1tp) (1f), Gary Sayers 0-02 (2f), Thomas Ladden 0-01.
Templenoe: Sean Sheehan 1-00, Brian Crowley 0-03, Mark Looney 0-02 (1tp) (1f), Martin Reilly 0-01, John Spillane 0-01.
Wides:
Keel 7
Templenoe 5
Team:
Templenoe: Mark Looney, Darragh Casey, Kieran O’Neill, Mark Casey, Ciaran Crowley, Gavin Crowley, Martin Reilly, Sean Sheehan, Adrian Spillane ©, Ríain O'Byrne, Colin Crowley, Michael Hallissey, John Spillane, Brian Crowley, Micheál O'Mahony.
Subs Used: Aidan Crowley, Kieran McCarthy, Hugh Granville, Josh Linnane.
Referee: Paul Hayes
