Mullinabreena yesterday (Mon) threw away the chance to make further progress in the Kiernan Cup, after they somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, in a disappointing outing against St. Michaels. The game finished; St Michaels: 2-6, Mullinabreena:1-8.

Mullinabreena lined up as follows: Francis Brennan, Michael Marren, David Hosey, Eugene Henry, Barry Kivlehan, Trevor McGuinn, Anthony McGowan, Padraig McHugh, Patrick Gormalley, Paul Kivlehan, Denis Gormalley, Ollie Lee, Pat Collum, Peadar Gallagher, & Sean Gormalley. Subs used were, Michael Hosey for the injured Patrick Gormalley, and Thomas Toolan for Michael Marren.

The game started promisingly for the home side, with Padraig McHugh and Patrick Gormalley, dominant at midfield. Mullinabreena opened the scoring through McHugh, but the Ballygawley based outfit equalised from a free kick. Mullinabreena then took over, and kicked a volley of scores thanks to good forward play from the likes of Peadar Gallagher, Ollie Lee and Paul Kivlehan. However, St Michaels then kicked another point to make sure they kept the home side within touching distance. That left the half time score, 0-6 to 0-4 in favour of the ‘breena blues!

Mullinabreena also opened the second half in convincing fashion, with a point from Padraig McHugh. A long searching pass found Sean Gormalley near the mouth of the ‘Michael’s goal. Gormalley duly sent the ball scorching into the roof of the net, and that score seemed to put a final gloss on a satisfactory outing in ‘O Dowd park. But St Michaels obviously had not read the script. In a bizarre 10 minute spell, they hit an unanswered two goals and four points. A stunned Mullinabreena came back to within a point, but despite a late chance from a free kick, the home side just could not find that extra gear, and St. Michaels took the game by the narrowest of margins.

Mullinabreena are now out of the Kiernan cup, but it is hoped that they can continue their good form in the intermediate league.

Match report by Francis Brennan