Jake Nolan finished with a staggering 4-2 in this game.
2024 Talbot Hotel IFC Group 1, Round 3
Kildavin/Clonegal 4:13 Fenagh 0:12
As the temperatures rose and the crowds gathered in the centre of excellence, Group 1 of the Talbot Hotel IFC was also heating up. Everyone knew the permutations; a win and you secure a semi-final spot and a well-deserved week off to get the bodies right. On the other hand, a loss would mean a quarter final the following week against the 3rd place team from group 2. The reward was clear and there was no doubt that either team would be holding back.
A tight tense and physical game was expected however only one side brought the heat with Kildavin delivering a slick, efficient and almost faultless performance. On the other hand, a visibly dejected Fenagh side delivered a lacklustre, uninspiring and flat performance while showing glimpses of pure class which is what they are more than capable of.
The eventual winners put the pressure on from the get go. On the 2nd minute, Ciarán Scott delivered a direct ball to Jake Nolan who laid off the ball to Liam Roberts who made a run from deep within his own half to put his side a point to the good. This a theme that would be repeated for the remainder of the afternoon. Jake Nolan winning first time ball and laying off to Kildavin runners off the shoulder. A battle of note was Sean Murphy and Niall Hickey in the middle sector with the current inter-county player laying down a marker on the third minute putting a stop to Murphy who was about to go on one of his familiar marauding runs with an excellent tackle.
From here Kildavin never looked back with Daryl Roberts chipping in with 2 points, Niall Hickey, Daniel Murphy and Liam Mcguill with 1 a piece. The one glimmer of hope for Fenagh was a one handed catch from a kickout for Sean Murphy who decided to take matters into his own hands and ran the length of the field to take a score for himself this was in the midst of Kildavin’s flurry of scores. This leaving the score 0:6-0:1 on the 15 minute mark.
An exquisite ball by Daniel Murphy Left Jake Nolan in space to take a beautifullty worked score. A Padraig Hynes free on 18 minutes looked to have settled the ship for Fenagh who had not yet got going however on the consequential kickout Padraic Hickey broke the ball to Liam Roberts who released Daniel Murphy down the right hand side who took his second score of the day beautifully. The three afore mentioned Kildavin players got through a mountain of work with the former county player Roberts cleaning up on the breaking ball. Kildavin then added insult to injury with minor player Jake Nolan finishing like a seasoned pro from the penalty spot.
Fenagh gradually worked their way back within six points on the 24th minute with Sean Murphy a Jack Tracey worldie and Cormac Lomax all chipping in. However, on the kickout after Lomax’s score that man Liam Roberts won the break again kicked a direct ball to Alex Callaghan who had a wide open route to goal as he was approaching the penalty area he unselfishly squared the ball to Jake Nolan who decided to catch and casually rounded Jack Rowan in the Fenagh goal to finish to the bottom right hand corner. Nolan won a free 3 minutes later on the 21-yard line which he calmly stroked over himself leaving his tally for the first half at (2-2). Liam Mcguill and Jack Tracey traded scores before the half to leave Kildavin with a commanding 2:10-0:8 lead.
From the throw in Kildavin found Daryl Roberts who took his score very well. Cormac Lomax then replied immediately. The game faced a bit of a lull then with Fenagh on top however they could not convert their scoring opportunities Padraig Hynes missing a free and was subbed off in the immediate aftermath. A strange decision as Hynes has been one of Fenagh’s stars so far in this championship and is certainly a scoring threat. County man Lomax then missed a relatively straight forward score from a dead ball. To add insult to injury Kildavin’s tough and experienced centre back Donal ‘Dougie’ Hickey kicked a beautiful score on the outside of his right boot. While nothing was going right for Fenagh for Kildavin men everything was sticking.
In almost a carbon copy of Nolan’s second goal, Liam Roberts won the breaking ball delivered the ball to Nolan who rounded the keeper for his Hat-trick on the 40th minute mark. 3:12-0:9 was the score a bleak look for the recently senior Fenagh side. Jack Tracey, Sean Murphy and Josh Kearney chipped in again for scores. Nolan wasn’t finished However on the 46th minute he got another goal, yes another this to bring his personal tally to (4-2) the 18-year-old must have been in dreamland. After this the game slowly fizzled out with Jack Tracey kicking a brace and Joe Roberts striking a free on the 61st minute.
This certainly was a marker laid down by Kildavin who now have to be seen as the championship favourites. Willie Hickey’s men look fit well organised and are not afraid of hard work. On the other hand Darroch Mulhall’s Fenagh will now have to regroup and there is no doubt that they have the talent to have a say in the closing stages of this year’s championship. They will now meet Ballinabrana in the Quarter Final.
Kildavin/Clonegal : Ricky Byrne, Lorcan Kinsella, Niall Murphy, Gavin Byrne, Alex Callaghan, Donal Hickey, Liam Roberts (0-1), Niall Hickey (0-1), Paraic Hickey, Daniel Murphy (0-2), Liam Mcguill (0-2), Ciarán Scott, Daryl Roberts, Jake Nolan (4-2), John Kirwan
Subs: Joe Roberts (0-1) for Jake Nolan (51 mins), Phillip Byrne for Liam Roberts (53mins), Daniel Cronin for Daryl Roberts (53 mins), Padráic Ryan for Paraic Hickey (56 mins), Paul Kelly for Donal Hickey (56 mins)
Fenagh: Jack Rowan, Darragh Byrne, Jamie Mccabe, Mark Dermody, Eoin Mcdonagh, Keegan Bradley, Sean Cummins, Padraig Hynes (0-1), Sean Murphy (0-3), Cormac Nolan, Colin Byrne, Eric English, Jack Treacy (0-5), Cormac Lomax(0-2), Padraig O’Brien
Subs : Josh Kearney (0-1) for Hynes (36 mins), Ben Collier for Colin Byrne(45 mins)
