Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three Final

Aughnamullen 1-7 Killeevan 1-7                             16/10/11

There was no separating Aughnamullen and Killeevan in the RFL Division Three Final at McKeown Park, Drumhowan on Sunday. The sides were level no less than seven times, including at the full-time whistle, so they must do it all over again. Killeevan led by just a point at half-time, having played with the wind at their backs, but Aughnamullen’s expected charge never arrived in the second half, bar a brief surge which saw them edge ahead late on, only for Dermot Lynch to equalise. Gerard and Philip Graham, Johnny McGuirk and Dermot Lynch played well for Killeevan, while Edmond McArdle, Thomas Finnegan, Pauric Bannigan and Paul Mulligan led the way for Aughnamullen, who had five of their starting forwards among the scorers.

Gerard Graham gave Killeevan the lead after just half-a-minute and he quickly added another point after he had been well-placed by David Flynn. Mark McArdle got Aughnamullen off the mark from a 25-metre free in the fifth minute after a foul on Paul Mulligan, before Edmond McArdle took a pass from Patrick Sheridan and kicked the equaliser. A quick free by Mickey Keenan started a move which finished with Mulligan splitting the posts to edge Aughnamullen ahead, but Graham replied with his third point after he had been released by Casement Lynch. Killeevan’s Darren Greenan twice went close to scoring the opening goal – first when he was denied by Aughnamullen keeper Séamus Courtney after a one-two with Flynn and then when he punched an Ian McConnon centre wide – but Aughnamullen made no mistake at the other end when Patrick Sheridan got a fist to a Mark McArdle pass to send it into the bottom corner of the net. Killeevan hit back three minutes later when a long ball from Declan Clerkin bounced off the upright and fell kindly for Jason Quigley, whose shot was diverted into the net by Dermot Lynch, who added a point from a 13-metre free a minute later. That was enough to give Killeevan a 1-4 to 1-3 half-time lead.

The third quarter produced just two scores, as Edmond McArdle and David Flynn swapped points from frees, but Mark McArdle kick-started the final quarter by bringing Aughnamullen level. Flynn converted a 20-metre free for a foul on Dermot Lynch, but Edmond McArdle linked up with Shane Conlon to kick a good point, before turning provider for Pauric Bannigan to send over another well-taken score. Aughnamullen looked set to push on for the win, but Dermot Lynch brought Killeevan back on terms after a pass from Jason Quigley. The teams will return to Drumhowan next Saturday for the replay, which throws in at 3.30.

Aughnamullen: S Courtney; S Hamilton, T Finnegan, A Sheridan; B McConnell (Capt.), D Shevlin, D McConnell; B Finnegan, S Conlon; P Bannigan (0-1), E McArdle (0-3, 1f), P Sheridan (1-0); M Keenan, P Mulligan (0-1), M McArdle (0-2, 1f).

Sub: J Keenan for P Sheridan (52 mins).

Killeevan: R Casey (Capt.); J McGuirk, K Quigley, P Graham; F Smith, N McConnon, I McConnon; D Clerkin, G McKenna; G Graham (0-3), D Flynn (0-2f), C Lynch; J Quigley, D Greenan, D Lynch (1-2, 0-1f).

Sub: Peter O’Reilly for C Lynch (50).

Referee: S Ward (Inniskeen).