Kilcavan hold off Dublin champions Craobh Chíaráin with Barcelona Gaels set to come to Portlaoise

Kilcavan have beaten the Dublin Champions to book their place in the quarter finals of the AIB Leinster Club JFC where they will have a glamour tie against Barcelona.

After a dogged, turgid affair, a mark from Evan Hunt proved the difference, as Kilcavan held off a stubborn Craobh Chíaráin outfit.

Kilcavan 0-5

Craobh Chíaráin (Dublin) 0-4

Cian Ryle kicked three frees after Aaron Tarpey had kicked Kilcavan's first score of the game well into the second half. This was Dublin football at its absolute worst - physical and abrasive, yes; but no attacking intention, no technique, and no finesse to back it up.

These two sides won their respective junior football championships just two weeks ago, with Kilcavan beating St Joseph's while Craobh Chíaráin beat Ranelagh Gaels. The Donnycarney side are regarded predominately as a hurling club, but were still expected to be a huge obstacle for Kilcavan.

Craobh Chíaráin led at half time after a truly abysmal first 30 minutes of football, with the Dublin champions up 0-2 to no score, nilling a Kilcavan side that have been renowned for their high-scoring victories throughout the year.

Craobh Chíaráin put 13 men behind the ball in defence and barely escaped a goalmouth scramble early on as they were laser focused on keeping Kilcavan at arm's length. The travelling Dublin supporters were making themselves heard in the stand, delighted with their team's defensive efforts.

Craobh Chíaráin took the lead when a free from Billy Ryan eventually broke the deadlock after a scoreless opening quarter of an hour. Kilcavan were playing all the football, but it was Craobh Chíaráin who had the better chances - though the vast majority of them sailed wide.

Ryan scored the game’s second point - and a first from play - in the 27th minute. His side were guilty of seven wides in that time, but had limited Kilcavan to a total of just four shots in the entire first half.

Craobh Chíaráin may be a senior hurling club, boasting a number of Dublin U-20 hurlers, including the likes of Cian Derwin, Billy Ryan and Robbie Mahon - but this was as far removed from hurling as anything, with a half time scoreline that would be more befitting of a soccer match. 2-0 to Craobh Chíaráin at the break.

The Dublin champions extended their lead not long after the restart with Gary Kelly up from wing back to get on the scoresheet. Aaron Tarpey eventually kicked a score for Kilcavan in the 38th minute as Liam Lonergan's men got on the scoreboard at long last. 

Adam Hunt won a free moments later which Cian Ryle finally converted and he followed that up with another free midway through the half to bring the sides level. Tom O'Connor came on off the bench for the final 20 minutes and made a big impact on the game, adding grit, experience and confidence into the heart of his Kilcavan side.

Craobh Chíaráin managed to get themselves back in front ten minutes from time with a third score from Billy Ryan. A free from Cian Ryle made it all square again with less than four minutes remaining on the clock. Kilcavan turned the ball over from the resulting kickout, with Adam Hunt showing quick, instinctive reactions to call a mark just in the nick of time.

There was immense pressure on the kick, but Hunt has shown all year that he is a pressure player, and when Kilcavan needed their full forward the most, the young man stepped up and slotted his shot between the posts to put Kilcavan in front for the very first time.

There was time for one last Craobh Chíaráin attack, with substitute Paddy Reilly winning a free. Up stepped Billy Ryan, but to no avail as his shot curled wide of the post.

Kilcavan ran down the clock after that, holding on to possession incredibly well during the three minutes of injury time before Offaly referee, Fergal Smyth, blew the final whistle.

Kilcavan will play their historic fixture against Barcelona in the quarter-finals next Saturday, after the European champions beat Conahy Shamrocks of Kilkenny.