Killererin 0-10
Mountbellew/Moylough
1-07
Once Padraic Joyce had scored the equalising point 90 seconds from the end of normal time - despite four minutes of injury time to be played - most people in Tuam Stadium fancied a drawn game.
It is not that the GAA loves draws - some of them can be a real nuisance - but when you can expect a crowd of 2,000 at a county semi-final replay and there are plenty of free weekends in front of you, what referee in Ireland would go racing around the pitch like a mad thing in the dying embers of a game on a dank evening looking for a scoreable free?
Nobody would have backed a draw after the first 15 minutes as Mountbellew had started in whirlwind fashion with a great goal by Seanie Sweeney and points from Stephen Boyle and Joe Bergin to lead by five points at one stage.
However Killererin are a dogged bunch and they came back with points from player/manager Tommie Joyce (a terrific effort ) and Nicky Joyce to leave Mountbellew leading by 1-05 to 0-5 at the break.
Cyril Ryan and Martin Boyle’s men were poor in the second half. They never really got going and could only muster 0-2 in that half.
They seemed to lose their way completely at stages, and going into the home stretch and playing into the town goal, it looked almost certain that Killererin would advance.
They would have too, but for a stunning block-down by wing-back Iomar Barrett which stopped a certain Killererin score at a critical stage, and some wasteful shooting.
No more than the first game, the standard of play left much to be desired and no prospective Galway manager would have spotted much new raw talent to try out next January and February.
The game was notable for the unusual fact that both keepers did a “Stephen Cluxton” on it and came out-field to score 45s.
Brian Donnellan hit his in the first half and big Alan Keane came out to pop over his effort 10 minutes into the second.
Mountbellew’s Cathal Kenny caught the eye at stages from full-forward and won much ball in front of Colin Forde. However Killererin selectors Murt Dunleavy and Stephen Flaherty switched their team captain Declan Kelly onto him and that helped nullify his threat. Stephen Boyle also did some good things for the black and amber men and caught a few kick-outs which were badly needed.
Killererin’s fight-back in the second half was inspired by two beautiful points from play from Padraic Joyce and another superb effort from cousin Nicky.
The replay will take place in two weeks’ time and, as usual with these sides, calling a winner is not easy.
It will be their third time meeting in the 2010 championship and you could not say with any degree of certainty that they will not have a fourth bout.
