Kildangan were out in action in the Junior Championship last night for the first time since 2022, a massive boost for football in Kildangan. Kill were the opponent last night, and coming into the game having only lost the Junior Final last year by 2 points, they would've been hoping to lay down a marker in their first game of this year's campaign.
Kill opened proceedings with two points, both from frees, and Kildangan's Luke McKenna put his side on the scoresheet in the 7th minute with a well-taken point coming up from wing-back. A goal from Kill really opened up this cagey affair, putting them 4 points to the good after 10 minutes played. Over the next 10 minutes, despite the resistance of the Kildangan defence, Kill scored 3 points. It could've been more if it weren't for the heroics of Darragh 'Reggie' Murphy who turned over a certain goal & Conor Corrigan who made a bursting run back from corner forward to win his side the ball back. Several wides from Kildangan in this period proved detrimental and can most likely be put to youth and inexperience at this level, something that will come with time to this young and talented team. However, in the the 10 minutes leading up to half-time, Kildangan started to find their feet in the Junior Championship, they wanted to prove that we are here on merit and are not to be taken lightly. An excellent move which saw Kildangan show some flair with their quick passing saw Eanna Sherlock and Killian Reilly leave the Kill defence in their wake before last year's captain, Daniel Gilbert, slotted the ball over the black spot for Kildangan's second point of the game. Thomas Browne & Eoghan O'Fearghaill cut out ball after ball Sean Fitzgerald showed his commanding nature in-between the sticks as he brushed the Kill forward aside to stop a goal chance formulating. Mark O'Donovan scored his first of many points to come in this year's Junior Championship with a point from a free. Kill got a point back, but Kildangan's 17 year old midfielder, Killian Reilly, made a bursting run from midfield to fire over Kildangan's fifth point of the game just before half-time.
Half Time Score:
Kildangan 0.05
Kill 1.07
Kill opened proceedings in the second half, scoring the first 3 scores in quick succession. A long period of Kill attacking with no result then followed, as the Kildangan defence cam out on top, many thanks to the introduction of rising star Paddy Neary. In the the middle of the half, Mark O'Donovan popped up with possibly the two best scores of the game, one from way over to the right-hand side about 37 or 38 meters from goal and the other from outside the arc for a 2-pointer. Another Kill point saw them push on to a 8 point lead before Daniel Gilbert got Kildangan's second 2-pointer of the game to bring it back to within just two kicks of the ball. In the 21st & 25th minute, Kill knocked over 2 points from play to regain their 8 point advantage, but Daniel Gilbert found his calling yet again and kicked another 2-pointer, this time from a free. Kill managed to manufacture another point before the end of the game and a second yellow for Adam Balmer just before the full time whistle sealed the victory for them.
Full Time Score:
Kildangan 0.12
Kill 2.13
Although it was a loss for Kildangan, many factors must be taken into consideration. Kildangan laid down a marker in the Junior Championship that playing against us is not a token victory, we deserve to be here, we belong here in the Junior Championship and if you are going to beat us, you're going to have to be on your game. Putting up such a good performance against last year's finalist, having played reserve football for the last two years, is something that this Kildangan team can be proud of. We had 5 players who made their championship debuts, Paddy Neary, Darragh Murphy, Aaron Schofield, Ieuan Sweeney & Killian Reilly, it's great to see such good talent coming through and we look forward seeing Devan Abbey, Kevin Nolan & Ben O'Connor in the panel next year.
Man of the Match: Killian Reilly. Killian put in a super performance for the whole 60 minutes. He got two well worked points, both starting with excellent direct runs from midfield and he also made several great catches and really commanded the midfield. What makes this even more remarkable is that he is just 17 years old, the youngest on the Kildangan team and it was his championship debut. He is definitely one to watch out for in the future.
For photos, please head over to our instagram.
Kildangan Starting IX: Sean Fitzgearld, Darragh Murphy, Thomas Browne, Alex McCann, Killian Scully, Eoghan O'Fearghaill, Luke McKenna (0.01), Eanna Sherlock, Killian Reilly (0.02), Mark O'Donovan (0.04, 0.01F), Cian Reilly, Alan Donoher, Cian Murtagh, Daniel Gilbert (0.05, 0.02F), Conor Corrigan.
Substitutes: Oisin Irvin, Liam Kehoe, Kevin McNally, Ieuan Sweeney, Adam Balmer, Paddy Neary, Aaron Schofield
Kill opened proceedings with two points, both from frees, and Kildangan's Luke McKenna put his side on the scoresheet in the 7th minute with a well-taken point coming up from wing-back. A goal from Kill really opened up this cagey affair, putting them 4 points to the good after 10 minutes played. Over the next 10 minutes, despite the resistance of the Kildangan defence, Kill scored 3 points. It could've been more if it weren't for the heroics of Darragh 'Reggie' Murphy who turned over a certain goal & Conor Corrigan who made a bursting run back from corner forward to win his side the ball back. Several wides from Kildangan in this period proved detrimental and can most likely be put to youth and inexperience at this level, something that will come with time to this young and talented team. However, in the the 10 minutes leading up to half-time, Kildangan started to find their feet in the Junior Championship, they wanted to prove that we are here on merit and are not to be taken lightly. An excellent move which saw Kildangan show some flair with their quick passing saw Eanna Sherlock and Killian Reilly leave the Kill defence in their wake before last year's captain, Daniel Gilbert, slotted the ball over the black spot for Kildangan's second point of the game. Thomas Browne & Eoghan O'Fearghaill cut out ball after ball Sean Fitzgerald showed his commanding nature in-between the sticks as he brushed the Kill forward aside to stop a goal chance formulating. Mark O'Donovan scored his first of many points to come in this year's Junior Championship with a point from a free. Kill got a point back, but Kildangan's 17 year old midfielder, Killian Reilly, made a bursting run from midfield to fire over Kildangan's fifth point of the game just before half-time.
Half Time Score:
Kildangan 0.05
Kill 1.07
Kill opened proceedings in the second half, scoring the first 3 scores in quick succession. A long period of Kill attacking with no result then followed, as the Kildangan defence cam out on top, many thanks to the introduction of rising star Paddy Neary. In the the middle of the half, Mark O'Donovan popped up with possibly the two best scores of the game, one from way over to the right-hand side about 37 or 38 meters from goal and the other from outside the arc for a 2-pointer. Another Kill point saw them push on to a 8 point lead before Daniel Gilbert got Kildangan's second 2-pointer of the game to bring it back to within just two kicks of the ball. In the 21st & 25th minute, Kill knocked over 2 points from play to regain their 8 point advantage, but Daniel Gilbert found his calling yet again and kicked another 2-pointer, this time from a free. Kill managed to manufacture another point before the end of the game and a second yellow for Adam Balmer just before the full time whistle sealed the victory for them.
Full Time Score:
Kildangan 0.12
Kill 2.13
Although it was a loss for Kildangan, many factors must be taken into consideration. Kildangan laid down a marker in the Junior Championship that playing against us is not a token victory, we deserve to be here, we belong here in the Junior Championship and if you are going to beat us, you're going to have to be on your game. Putting up such a good performance against last year's finalist, having played reserve football for the last two years, is something that this Kildangan team can be proud of. We had 5 players who made their championship debuts, Paddy Neary, Darragh Murphy, Aaron Schofield, Ieuan Sweeney & Killian Reilly, it's great to see such good talent coming through and we look forward seeing Devan Abbey, Kevin Nolan & Ben O'Connor in the panel next year.
Man of the Match: Killian Reilly. Killian put in a super performance for the whole 60 minutes. He got two well worked points, both starting with excellent direct runs from midfield and he also made several great catches and really commanded the midfield. What makes this even more remarkable is that he is just 17 years old, the youngest on the Kildangan team and it was his championship debut. He is definitely one to watch out for in the future.
For photos, please head over to our instagram.
Kildangan Starting IX: Sean Fitzgearld, Darragh Murphy, Thomas Browne, Alex McCann, Killian Scully, Eoghan O'Fearghaill, Luke McKenna (0.01), Eanna Sherlock, Killian Reilly (0.02), Mark O'Donovan (0.04, 0.01F), Cian Reilly, Alan Donoher, Cian Murtagh, Daniel Gilbert (0.05, 0.02F), Conor Corrigan.
Substitutes: Oisin Irvin, Liam Kehoe, Kevin McNally, Ieuan Sweeney, Adam Balmer, Paddy Neary, Aaron Schofield
