Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division Three Final Replay

Killeevan 3-9 Aughnamullen 1-9 (AET)                             22/10/11 

Killeevan won the RFL Division Three at the second attempt when they pulled away in extra-time to beat Aughnamullen in the replay of the final at Drumhowan on Saturday. Aughnamullen used wind-advantage to open up a four-point lead by half-time, helped by an early goal from Mark McArdle, but Killeevan reeled them in the second half and their hunger shone through in extra-time, when goals by Kieran Quigley and Dermot Lynch (adding to an earlier strike from Darren Greenan) did the damage. Killeevan’s work-rate was personified by Johnny McGuirk and Kieran Quigley in the full-back line, while Gerard Graham, Lynch and Greenan were the danger-men up front. Mickey Keenan, Pauric Bannigan and Edmond McArdle worked hard for Aughnamullen, but it was Killeevan’s day.

Mickey Keenan opened the scoring for Aughnamullen and although Gerard Graham brought Killeevan level after a short free by David Flynn, Aughnamullen retook the lead when Mark McArdle punched a Paul Mulligan effort to the net. Edmond McArdle increased Aughnamullen’s lead to four when he converted a 30-metre free for a foul on David Shevlin, but Dermot Lynch tapped over a 13-metre free to keep Killeevan in touch after James Keenan had been adjudged to have over-carried. Pauric Bannigan linked up with Keenan to restore the four-point gap and even though Lynch replied from a 20-metre free after a foul on Flynn, Brendan Finnegan landed a good score to send Aughnamullen in at half-time leading by 1-4 to 0-3.

Killeevan started the second half brightly with a well-taken point from Gerard Graham, but a foul on Bannigan allowed Edmond McArdle to keep Aughnamullen four clear via a 20-metre free. A Finnían Smith point brought Killeevan back to within three, however, and they drew level 12 minutes from time when a long ball fell for Jason Quigley, who laid it off for Darren Greenan to fire a low shot to the net. Good work by Lynch and Graham set up Quigley to fist over and edge Killeevan ahead for the first time, but Edmond McArdle won and scored a 20-metre free to level it up at 1-6 each and force extra-time.

Killeevan made light of playing into the elements for the first half of extra-time, which they won by 1-2 to 0-1. They were spurred on by a fine early point from Gerard Graham, who then fisted over after he had been well-placed by Smith, although Keenan responded with a good score for Aughnamullen. Killeevan struck for the game’s key score at the end of the half, when a Kieran Quigley shot somehow crept past Aughnamullen keeper Séamus Courtney, which was enough to give them a 2-8 to 1-7 advantage.

Paul Mulligan got a point back for Aughnamullen a minute into the second period, only for Dermot Lynch to re-open the four-point gap when he sent over after taking a pass from Graham. Edmond McArdle gave Aughnamullen renewed hope when he won and scored a close-range free, but Killeevan finished it off in style when Dermot Lynch cracked home their third goal at the end of a well-worked move involving Casement Lynch and Jason Quigley and they almost had a fourth major at the death when Greenan hit the post. Killeevan celebrated afterwards as their captain Ryan Casey accepted the McKeown Cup from County Board Assistant-Secretary Anita Finnegan.

Killeevan: R Casey (Capt.); J McGuirk, K Quigley (1-0), P Graham; N McConnon, Paul O’Reilly, I McConnon; D Clerkin, G McKenna; F Smith (0-1), D Flynn, G Graham (0-4); J Quigley (0-1), D Greenan (1-0), D Lynch (1-3, 0-2f).

Subs: C Lynch for Flynn (42 mins), Peter O’Reilly for I McConnon (inj., 77).

Aughnamullen: S Courtney; A Sheridan, T Finnegan, S Hamilton; B McConnell (Capt.), D Shevlin, D McConnell; B Finnegan (0-1), S Conlon; E McArdle (0-4f), P Bannigan (0-1), J Keenan; M Keenan (0-2), P Mulligan (0-1), M McArdle (1-0).

Subs: N Keenan for J Keenan (42), M Burke for Hamilton (inj., 53).

Temporary sub: N Keenan for Mulligan (38-42)

Referee: B McNally (Cremartin).