The 'Wood rediscover their strength
November 30, 2009
When Kilmainhamwood's stubborn resistance was finally broken last year and they surrendered their senior status, few could have expected that they would mount such a serious challenge in their pursuit of an immediate return to the top flight in 2009.
The campaign ended in bitter disappointment when they were well beaten by a hugely impressive Oldcastle team in the Intermediate Championship final in late October, but they demonstrated typical Kilmainhamwood tenacity and grit to get that far under the guidance of former Navan O'Mahonys' player Colm Kane.
For years Kilmainhamwood diced with death in the Senior Championship, contesting more relegation play-offs than was good for their health, and the inevitable happened last year when they lost the shootout to Rathkenny. To put it mildly, their life in the senior ranks had been eventful, highlighted by outright success in 1996.
But this year it was back to the Intermediate Championship, 15 years after they had won it, and they were drawn in group B along with two teams they had beaten in relegation finals - Cortown (2006) and Ballinlough (2007) - as well as Castletown and last year's junior champions Moynalvey.
Their opening round game against Ballinlough at Carnaross was a meeting of the previous two relegated sides and Kilmainhamwood secured a draw (1-9 each) thanks to an injury time pointed free from Andy Farrelly. This was a hugely entertaining match and a Colm Gilcreest goal helped the 'Wood lead by 1-3 to 0-2 during the first half.
Peadar Byrne struck back with a goal for Ballinlough and Kilmainhamwood's advantage was down to the minimum (1-4 to 1-3) at the break. When Ballinlough pushed ahead by 1-9 to 1-5 they looked set for a winning start, but Kane's team responded well and reeled off the last four points to secure a share of the spoils.
Kilmainhamwood used wind advantage to open up a 0-8 to 0-2 interval lead in the second round against Cortown at Castletown and they did enough subsequently to earn a comfortable 0-11 to 0-6 victory ahead of their third round meeting with Moynalvey at Pairc Tailteann.
David Russell scored an early goal for Kilmainhamwood and they were five points clear after eight minutes. Cathal Sheridan inspired a Moynalvey recovery, but he was wide from a penalty and Michael Shankey scored a second goal to help the 'Wood lead by 2-3 to 0-4 at the change of ends.
They stretched their advantage, but Moynalvey came storming back and eventually secured a draw (0-11 to 2-5) thanks to a superbly struck Sheridan '45'. Five days later Kilmainhamwood drew again, this time against Castletown at Drumconrath where it finished 1-9 each.
When Castletown led by 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval Kilmainhamwood looked to be in danger of elimination, but they rallied and it took a late goal from Ray Magee to earn a share of the spoils which enabled them to top the group and book a quarter-final place. Castletown, on the other hand, were consigned to the relegation dogfight.
Carnaross provided the setting for the last eight showdown against St Michael's, also coached by a former Navan O'Mahonys' player in Donal Smyth, and Kilmainhamwood were looking good at the break when they led by 1-6 to 0-4 after Stephen Kiernan had scored their goal. Their advantage was down to 1-7 to 0-7 with eight minutes remaining, but they upped the tempo again and points from Francis and Padraig Owens helped them over the finish line on a 1-10 to 0-8 score line.
Stephen Kiernan came to Kilmainhamwood's rescue twice in their semi-final against neighbours Nobber which finished level after extra-time at Pairc Tailteann. Nobber led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval in normal time, but a Magee goal from a penalty after the restart helped the 'Wood edge ahead by 1-6 to 0-6 at the three-quarter stage.
Nobber came back and were on the verge of booking a final spot when Kiernan slotted over a superbly struck free to leave the sides level (1-7 to 0-10). Inspired by Brian Farrell, Nobber opened up a 0-13 to 1-8 lead midway through extra-time and he pushed them clear by 0-15 to 1-8 two minutes into the second period.
But, typical of Kilmainhamwood's spirit, they came storming back with points from Magee, Aidan Crosbie and a brace from saviour Kiernan to force a draw. Goalkeeper Michael Clarke was another hero as he produced two vital saves which prevented Farrell from scoring goals. It finished 1-12 to 0-15.
Kiernan's 19th minute goal was the difference between the sides when Kilmainhamwood won the replay by 1-15 to 0-15, also at Pairc Tailteann. He got 1-4 from play overall in a superb match and his goal helped the 'Wood to lead by 1-7 to 0-4. They extended their advantage to eight points by the 27th minute and were six ahead (1-9 to 0-6) at the interval.
With wind advantage Nobber battled back well and had cut the gap to the minimum (0-12 to 1-10) by the 42nd minute. Kilmainhamwood suffered a big blow when influential full-back Stephen Smith retired injured, but it said a lot for their character that they won the remainder by 0-5 to 0-3 to secure their place in the final.
Oldcastle had demonstrated remarkable improvement this year under coach Seamus Kiernan and they were far too strong for Kilmainhamwood in the final which was played on the October Bank Holiday Monday, winning by 2-11 to 0-6.
Their generally younger legs proved too speedy for Kilmainhamwood and they demonstrated their intent from the word go. By the time Magee got the 'Wood off the mark with a point from a 12th minute free Oldcastle had scored four and their energy and ball work suggested this was going to be their day.
Oldcastle took some fine points and when they were awarded a penalty Ray Madden went into goal for Kilmainhamwood, but Paddy Gilsenan beat him with ease. By half-time they were clear at 1-8 to 0-2 and the 'Wood were never able to mount a serious revival bid. Nicky Galligan added a second goal in the 48th minute and it was all over bar the shouting.
It was a very disappointing end to the campaign for Kilmainhamwood on a day when only three players scored, Magee with three points, Kiernan with two and substitute Colm Gilcreest with one.
Francis Owens is one of Kilmainhamwood's longest serving players and was a wing-back on the team which won the 1994 IFC and at midfield on the side which claimed an historic SFC success in 1996. He also tasted defeat in senior finals, against Dunderry in 1995 and Dunshaughlin in 2000.
Was he surprised that Kilmainhawood made such progress in their first year back in the intermediate ranks?
"We weren't sure if the young lads would step up to the mark this year, but they did," he said. "At the end of the day some older lads had too much mileage on the clock. We need more young players to come through."
Kilmainhamwood achieved only one victory in the group stages but, significantly, they remained unbeaten.
"We drew three games in the group against Ballinlough, Moynalvey and Castletown and beat Cortown, but we didn't lose any," he added. "We had started the year well in the league, but then picked up a few injuries. It was good to go through the group unbeaten. It gave us belief. I think that stood to us later on against Nobber because we knew we could keep coming back."
With the group campaign over the real adventure was only beginning for Kilmainhamwood.
"We beat St Michael's well in the quarter-final," Francis said. "That was our first good win of the year. We were struggling to get a win in the league or challenge games and it was a big boost to win that one before we played Nobber in the semi-final."
Stephen Kiernan was an undoubted star of the two matches against Nobber, scoring vital points to rescue Kilmainhamwood the first day and contributing 1-4 from play in the replay.
"Stephen is a class act when he's in form," Francis added. "They were real pressure kicks the first day against Nobber, but he stood up to the plate. He scored some terrific points which were crucial in getting us a draw.
"But we were gutted with the way we played that day. We sat down and talked about it. We knew we had to stand up and be counted. We wanted a good start in the replay and we got it. We built up a good lead, but they came back at us. It looked dodgy at one stage, but when we needed scores near the end Stephen stood up to it.
"The final was a disaster for us. Oldcastle were flying. We couldn't get the ball off them, couldn't get a stranglehold. Youth won it for them; they had the legs, the speed, the ball work. They played very well.
"Hopefully, our young lads will learn from the whole experience. We have some very good young players, but we need more of them coming through. We had a lot of players over the 30 mark this year."
The Kilmainhamwood team in the final was: M Clarke; P Barber, S Smith, D Cunningham; P Moran, S Mulligan, M Shankey; A Farrelly, R Madden; P Owens, F Owens, H Corbally; D Russell, R Magee (0-3), S Kiernan (0-2). Subs - C Gilcreest (0-1) for Corbally, A Crosbie for Russell, L Shankey for P Owens.
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