Kiltimagh Fall Just Short in Bofeenaun on an evening when 2 pointers were the order of the day.

Kiltimagh fell just short in a gripping Division 4 contest on Saturday evening, losing out by the narrowest of margins to Lahardane MacHales on a final scoreline of 1-15 to 1-14 in Bofeenaun.

With a strong crossfield breeze influencing much of the opening half, Lahardane adapted quicker to the conditions. After Eoghan Lavin had given Kiltimagh an early lead, the home side soon took control, landing a series of fine long-range efforts to move into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead as half-time approached.

Kiltimagh were handed a lifeline just before the break. Max Bennett, who saw open road in front of him when he made his way forward from corner-back, got on the end of a fine Kiltimagh move and finished emphatically to the roof of the net. That goal left Kiltimagh right back in the game at the interval, trailing 0-09 to 1-03.

The second half saw Kiltimagh make better use of the conditions as they gradually worked their way back into the contest. Two-pointers from Seán Gilmartin and Oisín Mulderrig looked to have shifted the momentum, and when Paddy McDonnell brought Kiltimagh level with a score from distance midway through the second half, the visitors looked in the ascendancy. That score, however, seemed to awaken Lahardane. Following a break down their right wing, the home side found the net to move three points clear with eight minutes remaining.

Kiltimagh once again dug deep. A two-pointer from Lavin and another from Mulderrig levelled the game at 1-14 apiece with three minutes to play. Lahardane, however, struck the final score of the evening and held on to edge a bruising contest by a single point.

While Kiltimagh will be disappointed not to take something from the game, there was plenty to take from the manner of the second-half response. Having trailed by six points before Bennett’s goal, they showed real grit to level the game twice in the second half and bring the contest right down to the wire.

Kiltimagh remain joint second in the table after three rounds and now turn their attention to next weekend’s home fixture against Intermediate Championship group opponents Kilmaine, as they continue their push for promotion to Division 3.

Full Time Lahardane 1-15 Kiltimagh 1-14

Scorers – Kiltimagh: Eoghan Lavin 0-6 (2f 1tps) Oisin Mulderrig 0-4(2-tps) , Max Bennott 1-0, Sean Gilmartin 0-2 (1-tps) Paddy McDonnell 0-2 (1-tps)

Kiltimagh:
Jamie McNicholas, Evan Cosgrove, Matthew Cummins, Max Bennett, Darragh McGovern, Liam Kelly, Brian Gallagher, Paul Kelly, Liam Smyth, Stephen McDonnell, Oisin Mulderrig, Tomas Keegan, Sean Gilmartin, Eoghan Lavin, Patrick McDonnell

Subs:
Conor Canny, Niall Mulderrig, Mikie Flatley, Callum McNicholas, Jack Shannon, Seán McDonnell, (for Stephen McDonnell, 42), Ryan Carroll (for D McGovern 45)