Sport

Quill's goal decisive as O'Rahillys hold out

Kerins O’Rahillys 1-8 Moyle Rovers 0-9: A 53RD-MINUTE goal from Kerins O’Rahillys ace attacker Declan Quill was enough to kill…

Mon Nov 23 2009 - 00:00

Kerins O'Rahillys 1-8 Moyle Rovers 0-9:A 53RD-MINUTE goal from Kerins O'Rahillys ace attacker Declan Quill was enough to kill off a tremendous second-half fight -back by Moyle Rovers at Austin Stack Park, Tralee yesterday.

Many will contend that Moyle Rovers would now be celebrating a famous win but for a stunning save by O’Rahillys goalkeeper David Hennessy in the opening minute of the second half when he advanced to save a Brian Mulvihill pile-driver from point-blank range.

Micheál Quirke won the toss for O’Rahillys and they played with the wind, hoping to build up a sizeable lead. By half-time they were 0-7 to 0-3 in front

Moyle Rovers began the second half with that Mulvihill goal chance but when the ball went out the field Peter Acheson closed the gap from play.

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O’Rahillys could not get out of their own half for the opening 10 minutes as Declan Browne punished some O’Rahillys indiscipline at the back with three frees to level the scores by the 45th minute.

Then came a crucial two minutes between the 52nd and 53rd, when Moyle Rovers were awarded a free in their own half but when they took it from the incorrect place, referee Rory Hickey changed the call to a throw-in.

Quirke was short odds to grab the ball and he duly did before moving possession to Brian Moran who set up Barry John Walsh for the lead point.

This appeared to rattle Rovers because Quirke grabbed the kick out, and when he sent Barry John Keane racing down the right flank, Keane tried for a point, but the ball got caught in the wind and Quill went highest to catch the ball and blast the ball to the roof of the Moyle Rovers net.

James Williams closed the gap in the 24th minute and then Declan Browne pointed a ‘45’ in injury-time but the goal they needed was never likely.

KERINS O’RAHILLYS: D Hennessy; P Begley, M O’Shea, B OShea; J Kelly, B Moran, R O’Callaghan; G Duffy, M Quirke; T O’Sullivan (0-1), J O’Connor (0-1, free), R Molloy; D Quill (1-2), BJ Walsh (0-2), BJ Keane (0-2). Subs: B Quill for R Molloy (45 mins), R Molloy for B Moran (inj, 55 mins). MOYLE ROVERS: C Kenrick; R Desmond, R Power, L Cronin; S Keating (0-1), N Fitzgerald, D Dwyer; M Dunne, P Johnson; B Mulvihill, S Carey (0-1), P Acheson (0-1); D Foley, P Foley, D Browne (0-5, four frees one 45). Subs: J Shanahan for P Foley (half-time), J Williams (0-1) for S Keating (51 mins), D Lyne for P Acheson (60 mins). Referee: R Hickey (Clare).