Kilrea dispatch Faughanvale with comprehensive victory

Kilrea were the first into the Round Three draw thanks to a comprehensive victory over Faughanvale on Thursday night at Find Insurance Owenbeg.

After losing to Newbridge, the Pearses were quick out of the blocks to set their stall out from early on.

Two Rory Maguire goals helped them on their way to a lead they never lost. They went in 2-6 to 1-4 ahead at half-time with the ‘Vale only registering two points in the second half.

If they weren’t depleted enough against Lavey, Faughanvale were also short Tiernan McFeely, Paddy and Cathal O’Kane.

Eoin McElhinney’s penalty gave them somewhat of a lifeline at half-time but Tommy Rogers hit a third Kilrea goal to seal the deal.

Faughanvale now face into the relegation play-offs. All four losing teams from Round 2B will be draw into relegation semi-finals, with the loser then advancing to the final where the loser is then relegated to the 2027 Intermediate Championship.

Kilrea’s performance was based on patience on the ball and knowing when to pick out a pass. With PJ McAleese and Rory Maguire as their inside duo, dovetailing off each other, it worked a treat.

They played heads up football, kicking when it was on and recycling when it wasn’t.

Kevin Quinn, Tommy Rogers and Larry Kielt formed the midfield diamond with Daniel Madden getting forward at every opportunity.

Cathaoir Bradley, James and Conor Gillen handled plenty of ball to control what Kilrea did. It was typified by their first point, a diagonal kick pass picked out PJ McAleese who slotted over.

There was barely a breath of wind but the surface was greasy as both teams used some early moments to settle.

Kilrea didn’t need long before Rory Maguire bagged his first goal to lay down the perfect marker. They came into the game as favourites and the goal allowed them to play with more freedom.

A Cathaoir Bradley point made the score 1-2 to 0-2 after five minutes of play.Eoin McElhinney tapped over a free for the first ‘Vale score and they had a sniff of goal moments later.

Mark Creane had been shooting on sight all through the early stage. This time, his tempting curler was enough to tempt goalkeeper Gillen off his line but the inrushing Shane McGlinchey flicked the ball over.

When Tommy Rogers began to field ball in the middle third, it was another layer of concrete in the Kilrea foundation.

There was also a black and red jersey scavenging on the breaking ball.

Rogers hit two points in quick succession and when Conor Gillen converted a free, Kilrea were 1-5 to 0-2 ahead and cruising.

It got even better for Kilrea when an attack left an overload on one side. Gearoid McLaughlin did well to win a ball in contact. He passed it on to Rory Maguire who did the rest. With a two on one situation, it favoured Kilrea and Maguire blasted to the bottom corner of the net. O’Neill had no chance.

When McAleese fired over his second point, Kilrea were 10 points clear – 2-6 to 0-2.Two sloppy passes led to Faughanvale counterattacks. One ended up with a McElhinney converted free.

Jude Bryson landed a fine score from play.

When Larry Kielt took the wrong option from a free, the ‘Vale raced downfield where they won a penalty that was finished to the net by Eoin McElhinney.

Kilrea led 2-6 to 1-4 at the break and were full value for the lead but would’ve been happy to get into the dressing room to regroup.

Just like they did in the first half, Faughanvale won possession from the throw-in and it had the same result. When Kilrea got their hands on the ball, PJ McAleese slotted his third point of the game. It was the last score for 12 minutes.

Kilrea were still probing and McAleese almost put Bradley in for goal only for O’Neill’s to clear the danger after a darting run out of goals.Midway through the half, referee issued a black card to Ruairi Lynch after consulting with officials.

Jude Bryson did register the game’s next score but the move of the game put the result beyond doubt.

Gillen’s kick-out was a boomer over midfield that travelled all the way to the centre forward position where McAleese hoovered up possession.

He dinked the perfect pass to his parter in crime, Rory Maguire. Ben McAlary was then involved in the move before Tommy Rogers hit the net despite the best efforts of Pádhraic O’Neill shot deflected the initial shot onto the crossbar.

Connloadh McGee raced forward to fist over Faughanvale point of the game.

Rogers kicked the two-point shot the officials waved wide. After referee McErlane signalled for a two pointer, he consulted with his umpires. After a lengthy confab, the umpire put up the orange flag.

James Kielt added a two-pointer with his first touch as Kilrea ran out comfortable winners.

Scorers

Kilrea: Tommy Rogers 1-5 (1tp), Rory Maguire 2-0, James Kielt (1tp, 1f), PJ McAleese 0-3 each, Conor Gillen 0-2f and Cathaoir Bradley 0-1

Faughanvale: Eoin McElhinney 1-2 (1-0pen, 1f), Jude Bryson 0-2, and Conlaodh McGee and Shane McGlinchey 0-1 each

Teams

Kilrea: Aidan Gillen; Odhran McLarnon, Eunan McCamphill, Odhran Rafferty; Daniel Madden, Johno Darragh, Gearoid McLaughlin; Kevin Quinn, Larry Kielt; James Gillen, Cathaoir Bradley, Tommy Rogers; PJ McAleese, Conor Gillen, Rory Maguire. Subs: Ben McAlary for Darragh (INJ 40), James Kielt for J Gillen

Faughanvale: Pádhraic O’Neill; Ruairi Lynch, Colum Murphy, Aaron Mullan; Joe Bryson, Shane McElhinney, Connloadh McGee; Shea Martin, Jordan Curran; Daniel Waqaimalani, Eoin McElhinney, Shane McGlinchey; Jude Bryson, Mark Creane, Adam Murphy. Subs: Sean Butcher for Mullan (38), Jack McGuinness for Murphy (47)

Referee: Martin McErlane (Ballinderry)