By John Collins, Irish World (9 September 2005).

Fr Murphys 0-10 Kilburn Gaels 0-10

If this had been a game of Monopoly, then Kilburn would surely have been checking the "Chance" pile to see just how many "Get out of jail" cards Fr Murphy's had siphoned out of the pack before the game had started.

Robbery this wasn't, well not in the strictest sense of the word anyway, but certainly Kilburn will feel that they short-changed themselves by merely taking the infuriating loose change out of this contest, rather than the history making hard currency of a magnificent semi-final victory.

With the stop watch creeping into injury time, Kilburn had one and a half feet in a senior final, only to be knocked back on their heels by two late scores from two of the Fr Murphy's most determined characters, Simon Byrne and Eric Kinlon, and from that, the 2003 Champions were able to secure at least one more game in this year's competition.

But they were lucky and leaving the field you could see that they knew they had been lucky and certainly when the box goes back in the cupboard they will probably have to return a couple of those "Chance" cards that they so conveniently managed to stash away for this particular occasion.

Kilburn were easily the better team. Their forwards offered more threat, their midfield - while never totally dominating - certainly prevented their opponents from getting into the game in any major way and their defence, led by the brilliant Brian Forde, completely shackled the Murphys' attacking sextet and came out comfortably on top.

From the performance however they will bring little bar some confidence for the next day and the knowledge that they let the game slip away from them.

The Murphys started the game with county midfielder Michael Harding at wing back, a move that really stunted their attacking threat, as the Tipperary man has been one of the real stars of their season so far, with his thrusting and probing runs from centre field yielding many scores.

In the No. 7 position he offered little and probably by no little coincidence did Dara Smith at corner forward, another who has excelled all year for the purple and gold but who seemed to miss his link with Harding.

Forde dominated the Kilburn back line stunting anything that the Murphys middle sector tried to create and with Conor Sherlock and Tom Fahy both having excellent games in the Kilburn attack, the scene was well set for a great day for Kilburn.

Having taken the lead through a pointed free from Sherlock in the first minute, they soon found themselves trailing 5-4 after less than a quarter of an hour with Simon Byrne especially starting to prove his accuracy for the Murphys.

With the scores at 5-4, Kilburn then had a two great chances to bag a goal in the space of 60 seconds, when first Harding cleared off the line and then Mick Gordon did the same. A goal then really would have been a great boost for the underdogs.

By the interval the scores stood at 6-5 to the Murphys although Kilburn were guilty of hitting eight wides in that period, with six of them coming uninterrupted.

the Murphys then suffered the same attack of "wayward shooting disease" with eight of their own in the second half but not before they had extended their lead immediately after the restart to 8-5

However, that eighth point for them from a Byrne free was to be their last within the sixty minutes and it wasn't until injury team that they managed to score again. Form like that is prime for creating upset.

Kilburn came back into the game in a major way, despite playing into a strong breeze and with Sherlock and fahy contributing 0-7 between them, they were ahead 10-8 with moments left.

Fighters were required at this point by the Murphys and there are few more feisty than Kildare man Eric Kinlon, who swept over a point to close the gap to and then Simon Byrne struck his fifth free of the day to level matters.

Upon the final whistle, the Kilburn disappointment was tangible and a verbal outburst directed at referee Mattie Maher by Tom Fahy earned the Kilburn attacker a straight red card and a place in the terraces for the replay.

Kilburn had many fine displays throughout the hour. John Brennan at full back had the measure of Pat Lynch while Forde at centre back was superb. Owen Mahoney also made several telling interceptions as well.

Shane Linnane managed to get a hurl in to break up many Murphys attacks while beside him Morgan Finnerty was also able.

Tom Fahy ruined an otherwise superb day by getting himself sent off unnecessarily, while both John Walsh and Mick Hayes contributed well at times. Conor Sherlock was sparkling, especially when moved out the field later in the game.

Fr Murphys on the other hand had a few of the older guard to thank for this close escape. Jim Howlin was quite brilliant in goal in the absence of Enda Roche, while Simon Byrne and Eric Kinlon at least showed the spirit required to stay in a Championship.

Jim Howlin's team will have a lot of improving to do if they are to make it past this Kilburn Gaels side and the men in green will quite rightly go into the replay as out and out favourites to progress.

Scorers
Fr Murphys: S. Byrne 0-6 (0-5f); E. Kinlon 0-2; D. Smith, M. O'Connor 0-1 each
Kilburn Gaels: C. Sherlock 0-4 (0-2f); T Fahy 0-3; M. Hayes 0-2 (0-1 '65); S. Linnane 0-1