Starlights 1-9, Kilanerin 1-9: A 60th-minute free from John Hudson ensured holders Kilanerin failed to get their WFC Senior football championship off to a winning start, as Starlights secured the draw their hard work deserved in this entertaining Group D clash in Monamolin on Saturday last.

GROUP D Despite a slow start, points from Pat Forde and Brian Duignam in the 52nd and 53rd minutes looked to have put the holders on course for victory. However, Starlights were not going to surrender, as Tomás Mahon hit a good score before he had to be carried off with a leg injury and then Hudson slotted over that late equaliser after Duignam was penalised for picking the ball off the ground.

In difficult conditions, the Enniscorthy men made a flying start as John Hudson, Tommy Foley and Davy Morrissey (free) scored points in the opening five minutes.

Fine Gael candidate John Hegarty took a break from his canvassing to get back to football matters and he opened Kilanerin's account in the seventh minute, before Matty Forde added another two minutes later.

Though now enjoying a dominant spell, Kilanerin's shooting was wayward, as they had racked up six wides before Hegarty (free) levelled matters in the 17th minute.

However, the lively Tommy 'Tucker' Foley then lived up to his nickname two minutes later as he nonchalantly tucked the ball past the advancing Tom Hughes following a delivery by John Hudson.

In a tough first-half, which was littered with yellow cards, Kilanerin continued to press in the closing stages. Midfielder Jim Hughes scored a great point from the right wing, but was forced to depart injured soon after, and Hegarty added another free, before brilliantly wrong-footing his marker to put his team level at the interval (0-6 to 1-3).

As the conditions worsened, the Gorey District men got a fortunate break in the 35th minute when Starlights defender Maurice Donohoe was adjudged to have picked off the ground.

Matty Forde, who was well contained by Tom Wall, slotted the ball to the bottom corner in clinical fashion, and two minutes later Peter Hughes landed a fine score despite a late tackle (1-7 to 13).

John Hudson scored Starlights' first point in over 35 minutes with a '45, before converting two more placed balls to reduce the gap to the minimum after 49 minutes.

Making his championship debut, former Shamrocks player, James Carty, then levelled matters with an excellent effort under pressure from distance (17 each).

Though Kilanerin again got their noses in front temporarily, they were made to pay for a wasteful 12 wides (to Starlights' three) and had to be content with a share of the spoils.

Starlights: Lee Murphy; Tom Wall, Mark Gahan, Maurice Donohoe; Mark Quigley, Shay Deegan, Cathal Murphy; Jason Russell, James Carty (0-1); Seán Kenny, Willie Hudson, Davy Morrissey (0-1 free); Tomás Mahon (0-1), John Hudson (0-5, 3 frees, 1 '45), Tommy Foley (1-1). Subs. - Ricky Fox for Kenny, Rory O'Connor for Mahon, inj.

Kilanerin: Tom Hughes; Aidan Jones, Colm Kavanagh, David Byrne; Richard Hughes, Pat Forde, Conor Byrne; Jim Hughes (01), Niall Kennedy; Brian Duignam (0-1), Peter Hughes (0-1), Mark Gethings; Michael Molloy, John Hegarty (0-4, 3 frees), Matty Forde (1-1, 1-0 pen., 0-1 free). Sub. - Willie Murphy for J. Hughes, inj.

Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).

- Liam DORAN

© Enniscorthy Guardian