Martin goal proves turning point as Maryland power past Killucan

Last year's intermediate champions Maryland outplayed and out-gunned a very disappointing Killucan side in front of a sizable attendance in Cusack Park on Sunday evening last. Maryland achieved the victory with a display of finishing that will make a lot of teams sit up and take note and they also kept running at their opponents right to the final whistle. They led by six pints by the 15th minute and were very good value for that lead as they outfoxed a slightly flat-footed Killucan defence but they then fell asleep completely and conceded 1-5 themselves before the break. If this aberration hurt them then it did not show as after the break they were the only team to show up and when they sniffed the scent of victory they made no mistake in taking it. It was their margin of victory that was most surprising as Killucan are noted as a team of fighters, but they were dismantled bit by bit by a young and incisive Maryland attack. In truth, the game was over as a contest long before referee Mick Gordon blew the final whistle. Kieran Martin, Callum McCormack and especially the impish John Reilly tore the Killucan defence apart and finished as they had started with a flurry of points that reiterated their superiority in what was a very entertaining contest in the main. Callum McCormack got the ball rolling when he pointed for the Drumraney side with barely two minutes on the clock. A minute later, Kieran Martin doubled that advantage and indeed could have had a goal as he burst his way through a very porous Killucan defence. Seconds later, he had another chance for a three pointer but somehow his effort screwed wide of the post. Maryland were totally dominant at this stage and John Reilly added their third and when he was again found by a marvellous run and pass from McCormack, the diminutive corner-forward made no mistake. Killucan were at sixes and sevens and when McCormack was fouled David Martin made it 0-5 to 0-0 as he struck over the resultant free. Moments later, it was 6 when a superb move involving McCormack, Martin and Reilly saw Liam Reilly score the best point of the half. At this stage it looked like a rout but Killucan are made of sterner stuff than that and they hit back with venom. Alan Doyle was beginning to cause problems and upset Maryland so much that they started to foul him, and indeed David Reynolds was lucky to only see yellow after a very high tackle on Doyle. James Nugent punished them though when he struck a fine point from a wonderful pass by Conor Jordan, and then Killucan got the break they needed when Nugent passed to Cormac Boyle, who rattled the back of the net for a fabulous goal that brought his side right back into it. The same player added a point straight after and further points from Tony Doyle, Paul Greville and Shane Leavy had made a 14 point turnaround and flipped the game right on its head and it rattled Maryland so much that Kieran Martin missed a 14 yard free in front of goal. Maryland did get one back before the break when corner back Philip Rainey somehow managed to be at the end of a super move that saw Reilly find him and he kicked well under pressure to leave the score at half-time 1-5 to 0-7 in Killucan's favour after a very entertaining half of total football. Ronan Farrell and Damian Reynolds entered the fray for Maryland at half-time with Reynolds going to midfield and trying to stop Killucan's domination of that sector. It had the desired effect as his midfield partner David Reynolds struck from a free and a static Killucan defence watched it bounce over the bar for a very soft score indeed to level matters. McCormack had the Blue and whites in front seconds later after Killucan full-back Frank Boyle had dropped a catch right into his path. Killucan were reeling again but they should have had a goal when Nugent was bearing down on goal but his shot went over rather than under the bar and levelled matters again. Nugent then put his side ahead when a fine catch and pass by Stephen Morley set him up. At this stage it was anybody's game, but the contest turned when a Kieran Martin solo run went unattended by a sleeping Killucan defence, and when he lost the ball he still had time to fly hack it into the corner of the net past David Bryan in the Killucan goal. It was the catalyst for a Maryland revival and points followed from McCormack (2) and John Reilly as the Killucan defence went AWOL. At this stage the Reilly, McCormack, Martin triumvirate were unstoppable and they tore Killucan apart with some superb football. Paul Greville got one back for Killucan from a free but it was mere respite as Reilly finished a marvellous move to put 5 between the sides. Sub Paul Briody got one back for Killucan but that was to be their last score and it was the Drumraney Blues that finished the stronger and points from McCormack, Damian Reynolds and McCormack put a nice gloss on their performance. They even denied Killucan a late goal when John Murray made a super save from Nugent as Maryland claimed a memorable victory in some style. John Reilly, Callum McCormack and Kieran Martin were superb and this trio totally mesmerised Killucan throughout, with Reilly just getting the nod as man of the match. Damian Reynolds made a huge difference when he was introduced at midfield, while John Cunningham and Rainey were the pick of the defence, but it was the work ethic that coach Finbar Egan has installed in this Maryland team that is most impressive. It would be a foolish side that would take Maryland lightly, but they will need to work on their defence as they leaked far too many easy scores. However, they have a very potent forward line that will trouble any team in the county and they have a bit of momentum behind them which is most important SCORERS - Maryland: Callum McCormack 0-6, J Reilly 0-4, K Martin 1-1, L Reilly, Philip Rainey, Damian Reynolds, David Reynolds (f) and D Martin (f) 0-1 each. Killucan: Cormac Boyle 1-1, James Nugent 0-3, Paul Greville 0-2 (1f), Tony Doyle, Shane Leavy and Paul Briody (f) 0-1 each. MARYLAND: John Murray, Philip Rainey, Eoin Farrell, Trevor Farrell, Conor Farrell, John Cunningham, Darren Malynn, David Reynolds, Liam Reilly, Callum McCormack, Kieran Martin, Ronan Moran, James Reynolds, David Martin, John Reilly. Subs: Ronan Farrell for T Farrell and Damian Reynolds for L Reilly (H/T); Christy Grimes for Moran (52 mins); Declan Nugent for Damian Reynolds (59); Aidan Reynolds for J Reilly (60). KILLUCAN: David Bryan, Tony Doyle, Frank Boyle, Rory O'Reilly, Stephen Morley, John Shaw, Niall Flanagan, Conor Jordan, Shane Leavy, Cormac Boyle, Brendan McKeogh, Chris Flanagan, Alan Doyle, Paul Greville, James Nugent. Subs: Brian Smyth for C Flanagan (29 mins); Pauric Leavy for McKeogh; Paul Briody for Morley and Mark Dunne for N Flanagan (46); Dan Riggs for O'Reilly (59). REFEREE: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).