AIB Leinster Club SFC: Kilanerin edge out Newtown Blues
Kilanerin players celebrate at Chadwicks Wexford Park. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster Club SFC Round One
Kilanerin 0-17 Newtown Blues 1-13
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Kilanerin edged through to a Leinster Club SFC quarter-final away to The Downs after a last-gasp pointed free from substitute Seán Forde defied Newtown Blues at sunny Chadwicks Wexford Park.
The Wexford winners had led from the 17th minute until Ciarán Downey levelled matters for a fourth time seconds into injury-time.
Kilanerin dominated the ball thereafter, and ultimately Páraic Hughes took the bull by the horns as he played in Kian Steadmond who fed Niall Hughes who was fouled to the right of the posts.
Super-sub Forde, a nephew of Wexford All-Star Matty’s, popped over the winner in Wexford’s first victory in the competition since Shelmaliers in 2021 - and only the third in 23 years – as Kilanerin book a trip to Westmeath in the last-eight.
Kilanerin wing-forward Eoin Hughes drew an early levelling response from Conor Branignan before Newtown Blues landed a fifth-minute blow.
For Newtown Blues, Liam Branigan turned over possession and combined with Conor MacCriosta, who found Ross Nally alone inside for the full-forward to plant the net (1-1 to 0-1).
Kilanerin demonstrated great powers of recovery as they reasserted by 0-6 to 1-2 after 13 minutes.
Wexford centurion Niall Hughes deposited a two-pointer in that inspiring response by the hosts, with Dean O’Toole landing three singles, including two frees.
Emmett Carolan levelled matters for a third time after fifteen minutes.
Kilanerin held strong at the back while reaping dividends at the other end to carve out a 0-11 to 1-5 interval lead that could have been greater, but for Niall Hughes seeing his 27th minute penalty saved by ‘keeper Ronan Browne after Hughes had been impeded.
Nevertheless, Hughes had already lodged his second orange-flag of the day together with a single, with two more from O’Toole (one free) giving them the upper-hand at the turn despite Ciarán Downey pegging back a late free.
Tom Mordaunt and Cian Hughes shifted Kilanerin four points clear after 41 minutes (0-13 to 1-6).
Newtown Blues were revived with two-pointers from Conor Branigan and Ciarán Downey after 42 and 45 minutes respectively as the visitors closed to within the minimum (0-14 to 1-10).
After Dean O’Toole responded with a pointed free, the Louth men twice went dangerously close to netting – defender-turned-attacker Alan Connor drawing a save from ‘keeper Conor Hughes on 50 minutes, while Kilanerin spilled possession a minute later for Jamie Kelly to send Ciarán Downey hurtling through only to hammer his shot off an upright.
Although Cian Hughes sent Kilanerin 0-16 to 1-10 ahead, the power suddenly seemed to be with Newtown Blues as Alan Connor, Jamie Kelly (free) and Ciarán Downey bridged the gap, before Seán Forde punished that late indiscretion by the Blues to nudge Kilanerin through.
Scorers for Kilanerin: Dean O’Toole 0-7 (5fs), Niall Hughes 0-5 (2tp), Cian Hughes 0-2, Eoin Hughes, Tom Mordaunt, Seán Forde (f) 0-1 each
Scorers for Newtown Blues: Conor Branigan (1tp), Ciarán Downey (1 free, 1tp) 0-4 each, Ross Nally 1-0, Conor MacCriosta 0-2, Emmett Carolan, Alan Connor, Jamie Kelly (free) 0-1 each
Kilanerin: Conor Hughes; Andrew Smyth, Kian Steadmond; Micheál McGonigle, Conor Devitt, Pádraig Jones; Tom Mordaunt, Mikey Hughes; Niall Hughes, Páraic Hughes, Eoin Hughes; Cian Hughes, Conor Kinsella, Dean O’Toole.
Subs: Seán Hughes for Mordaunt (42), Vincent Higgins for McGonigle (44), Seán Forde for M. Hughes (54).
Newtown Blues: Ronan Browne; Ciarán Cluskey-Kelly, Alan Connor, Ian Connor; Liam Branigan, Daire Nally, Jamie Kelly; Emmett Carolan, Conor Branigan; Ciarán Downey, Conor MacCriosta, Andy McDonnell; Conor Moore, Ross Nally, Ewan Hoban.
Subs: Colm Judge for Moore (39), Peter Hanley for Hoban (46).
Referee: James Foley (Carlow).
