Post date: May 8, 2015 6:39:13 PM
Kildangan Under 12s finished out their league campaign on a high note tonight, scoring 10:07 to Rheban's 4:04 . The win guarantees the team a home semi-final spot; based on the south board calendar this is provisionally set for 23rd May.
Kildangan V Rheban Under 12 South Board League 30th April 2015 at Rheban
Kildangan’s Under 12’s put in their best display of the year defeating their local rivals at a bright and breezy Rheban on Thursday evening last.
Kildangan showed their intent from early on with some fine attacking play. Rory McGrath had the ball in the Rheban net before we reached the three minute mark. With the home team struggling around the middle of the field, John Kelly, Cormac Finnegan and Cian Murtagh were doing as they pleased and picking out some superb passes to their forwards.
Mark O’Donovan and Cian Reilly were causing all sorts of problems for the home team as they raided up the wings and the scores followed. Bo Delaney showed a real goal scorers instinct by getting on the end of two, or possibly even three, Kildangan moves and rattling the net.
Rheban mounted a brief rebellion with two goals in quick succession but the visitors defence quickly re-organised and shut the door with Bobby Wall, Joe Broughall and Colm Coughlan all impressive. Scores from Cian Murtagh and Mark O’Donovan opened a gap that Rheban found impossible to close and by half time Kildangan led 5.4 to 2.1.
Rheban opened the second half brightly with some good scores and could have been right back in the game but for two fine saves from Kildangan goalkeeper Niamh Fitzgerald. Thomas Browne, who had an outstanding game at the heart of the Kildangan defence, seemed to be at the end of every Rheban attack and he drove his team forward with some great individual play.
Cameron Rowan, Cian O’Dowd and Michael O’Toole were posing problems for Rheban as we entered the final quarter and, with the relentless Kildangan pressure, the home side were fading faster than the evening sun.
Up front, the ‘terrible twosome’ of Sean Fitzgerald and Rory McGrath linked up brilliantly and tore the Rheban defence apart racking up a total of 3.2 between them in the closing stages. Sean used his power and strength to burst through for two goals in succession and showed great cuteness and skill to flick in his hat trick goal following a great cross from his strike partner.
Rory chipped in with two further points to seal the deal as Kildangan finished victorious on a scoreline of 10:07 to 4:04.
A place in the semi-final is the reward for Kildangan’s victory and we await confirmation of who our opposition will be. The superb link play, accurate kicking, scoring and commitment shown by the team in this game was a joy to watch. If they can produce the same form in the semi-final, I have no doubt they will be contesting for silverware.
Well done to the team and to mentors Liam and Mel.