Kilbeggan survive Athlone scare as strong finish seals victory

Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-18, Athlone 2-12

Kilbeggan Shamrocks scored six of the last seven points to edge out Athlone’s second string in last Sunday’s Westmeath Junior 1 Football Championship quarter-final at a sun-splashed Hogan Park, Moate.

Despite lacking the intensity of the preceding game between St Joseph’s and The Downs, there was no shortage of drama and excitement as Athlone pushed strong favourites Kilbeggan all the way before being pipped at the post.

As winners of Section B, the Shamrocks were expected to easily account for a team that finished fourth in Section A, but Athlone refused to read the script and may well have pulled off a shock had they not lost Josh Beaumont and Josh Kenny to senior team duty the previous evening.

Niall O’Brien’s charges looked to be on course for their expected win when a Cathal Finn goal had them 1-4 to 0-3 up at the end of the opening quarter. But Athlone hit back with majors from Piaras Rohan and Mark Egan to take a 2-6 to 1-5 lead into the break.

Kilbeggan scored four unanswered points after the restart to regain parity, only for the Shannonsiders to retake the lead with points from Luke Whelan and Ryan Gaffey. They led by two with eight minutes of normal time remaining, but Kilbeggan’s stronger bench eventually told in the warm conditions as full-forward Conor Delaney fired them to a hard-earned win which sets up a semi-final against either Ballycomoyle or Mullingar Shamrocks on the weekend after next.

Delaney kicked three early frees for Kilbeggan that were replied to by Whelan and Gaffey. Shaun Pidgeon and Colin O’Leary traded further points before Finn crashed home the opening goal in the 15th minute after David Fennell’s initial shot was blocked.

Jointly-managed by Trevor Nicholson and Jim Rigney, Athlone were level within three minutes thanks to a Gaffey free and a smashing Rohan goal via the inside of the post after Mark Egan had played him in.

Athlone ‘keeper John Duddy produced a fine save from James Finnegan at the other end at the expense of a ’45 which Duddy’s opposite number Joey O’Neill came forward to convert.

But a 30th-minute Mark Egan goal either side of points from Gaffey (free) and Rohan had Athlone in the driving seat at the interval. Egan beat Joey O’Neill at his near post after his midfield colleague Darren Magee had found him in acres of space.

Kilbeggan resumed with two points each from Pidgeon and Delaney to level proceedings before Whelan restored Athlone’s lead. The maroons equalised on three further occasions through Brendan McMahon and Delaney (two frees), but each time Athlone responded with points from Gaffey (two frees) and O’Leary to keep their noses in front.

When Whelan put them two up, Kilbeggan looked to be in big trouble, but with Nigel Scally – who was introduced as a half-time substitute after being sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury for the past year – making an impact in attack, they rallied with scores from Delaney (free) and Pidgeon to restore parity after 54 minutes, 1-14 to 2-11.

Gaffey nudged Athlone back in front, but they wouldn’t score again as Kilbeggan finished with a flourish. Delaney levelled with a brilliant score from play before failing to capitalise on a misplaced back-pass by substitute Emmet Collins.

Fortunately for the winners, that miss didn’t prove costly as they pushed on to take the win thanks to injury-time points from Pidgeon and two from Delaney – one from a free and the other a fisted effort that finally settled it.

Man of the match: Kilbeggan’s veteran centre-forward Shaun Pidgeon once again belied his years with an all-action display which was decorated by five points from play.

Key moment: Pidgeon’s fifth point from Paul Fennell’s pass in the second minute of stoppage time finally gave Kilbeggan the lead for the first time since the 28th minute and paved the way for victory.

Scorers – Kilbeggan Shamrocks: C Delaney 0-10 (6fs), S Pidgeon 0-5, C Finn 1-0, B McMahon, D Coffey and J O’Neill (’45) 0-1 each. Athlone: R Gaffey 0-6 (4fs), P Rohan 1-1, L Whelan 0-3, M Egan 1-0, C O’Leary 0-2.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks: Joey O’Neill; Mel Kiernan, James Fox, Shane Hanlon; Conor Carroll, Aidan Stone, Micheál Coffey; Brendan McMahon, Niall Carey; Paul Fennell, Shaun Pidgeon, Cathal Finn; David Fennell, Conor Delaney, James Finnegan. Subs: Nigel Scally for Finnegan (half-time), Darragh Coffey for Finn (42 mins), Dean Fitzgerald for McMahon (53), Cathal Finn for P Fennell (60+2, injured).

Athlone: John Duddy; Anto Johnson, Eoin Hardiman, Fergal Murray; Luke O’Connell, Tom Egan, Conor Murray; Darren Magee, Mark Egan; Colin O’Leary, Dermot Bannon, Piaras Rohan; Paul Bannon, Ryan Gaffey, Luke Whelan. Sub: Emmet Collins for P Bannon (50 mins).

Referee: Gary Hurley (Moate All Whites).