Sport

McKiernan comes to Kiltubrid's rescue

Kiltubret 0-9 St Brigids 0-9: St Brigid's were fortunate to escape with a draw against Leitrim champions Kiltubrid at Páirc …

Mon Nov 07 2005 - 00:00

Kiltubret 0-9 St Brigids 0-9: St Brigid's were fortunate to escape with a draw against Leitrim champions Kiltubrid at Páirc Seán Mhic Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, yesterday. However, it took a Dara McKiernan equalising point five minutes into added time to earn Kiltubrid a replay as poor finishing denied them an historic victory.

Frankie Dolan put St Brigid's ahead after five minutes with a pointed free which was cancelled three minutes later by a McKiernan point from play and Kiltubrid briefly took the lead following an 11th-minute converted free from Conor Doherty.

A second Dolan pointed free in the 15th minute heralded a purple patch for the Roscommon champions who, aided by a strong wind, scored four more points without reply from Karol Mannion, Dolan from play, Robert Kelly and Brendan O'Brien to stretch their lead to four points.

A James Gill pointed free just before half-time kept Kiltubrid in the game as St Brigid's led 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.

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The Leitrim side struck immediately on the resumption with two early points from Michael Earley and McKiernan leaving a point between the sides going into the final quarter.

Mannion increased the St Brigid's lead in the 46th minute but Kiltubrid put the Roscommon men on the back foot as the game went into its final stages.

Despite their dominance poor finishing by the Leitrim men kept St Brigid's in the game. The sides traded points in the exciting closing stages but a pointed free from Dolan, against the run of play two minutes from time, gave St Brigid's the advantage.

Just when it looked like they had done enough to win the game, McKiernan's equalising point gave the Leitrim champions a lifeline and a deserved draw.

KILTUBRID: N Gill; E McKeon, F Meehan, E Lee; A Bohan (0-1), B Doyle, S Foley; C Carroll, K Scollan; C Doherty (0-3, two frees), J Gill (0-1, free), M Earley (0-1), D McKieran (0-3), N O'Donoghue, N Foley. Subs: G Foley for J Gill, J McGovern for N O'Donoghue.

ST BRIGID'S: S Curran; E Mannion, D Donnelly, R Kelly (0-1); B Mannion, D O'Connor, K Noonan; M O'Carroll, J Tiernan; G Dolan, D Blaine, I Kilbride; B O'Brien (0-1), K Mannion (0-2), F Dolan (0-4, three frees). Subs: J Kelly for B Mannion, G Aherne (0-1) for I Kilbride, P Kilcommins for D Blaine, S Kilbride for K Noonan

Referee: P McGovern (Galway).