Abbey Rangers Minors Catch Out Castlemitchell

The Abbey Rangers minor footballers recorded a comprehensive victory against Castlemitchell at Kildangan on Sunday morning, winning on a 4-13 to 1-2 score line.Daniel Gilbert opened the scoring before two Mikey Delahunt frees pushed us three ahead. Castlemitchel then settled into the game but our defence was rock solid with the Grattan brothers, Dara Lovern and Aaron Behan clearing anything that came their way.

Robert McGrath got the Abbey Rangers scoreboard ticking again with a well taken point and Cathal McKernan finished a goalmouth scramble to the net after Aaron O’Connor’s shot had been blocked. The visitors got their only score of the half before Shane Lawler went on a scoring blitz of his own netting 1-2 in the space of five minutes. Further scores from Daniel Gilbert and Mikey Delahunt left us 2-8 to 0-1 ahead at the break.

Castlemitchel came out firing in the second half with a goal and a point in the opening minutes but any thought of a revival soon ended when Daniel Gilbert finished off a great move with a goal. Ciaran Byrne, Eoin O’Fearghaill and Joey O’Sullivan then put their names on the score board and Brian Day capped a fine performance with our fourth goal as we ran out easy winners in the end.

It was a very good team performance against a team that had put us to the sword over the past few years and it shows how much this group have come on. Unfortunately, results elsewhere mean we just miss out on a semi-final spot but there’s plenty to be positive about after this game.

Abbey Rangers: Sean Fitzgerald, Orren Grattan, Aaron Behan, Russell Grattan, Dara Lovern, Eoin O’Fearghaill, Joey O’Sullivan, Robert McGrath, Brian Day, Aaron O’Connor, Shane Lawler, Mikey Delahunt, Cathal McKernan, Daniel Gilbert, Ciaran Byrne

By Declan McGrath