Seniors Steal Draw in Cappagh

Post date: Jul 8, 2016 7:37:38 PM

Tom Moran was the hero as Kildangan managed to snatch draw from Cappagh in Tadhg Downey Park on Tuesday evening, scoring 2-9 to the home side's 0-15. Kildangan started strongly with Robert Hanley scoring a free. However, it was all Cappagh from here, with Thomas Jackman, Dean Brennan, James Grogan, Shane Harris and Eoin Leonard scoring to give the home side a four point lead. Hanley then converted a second free following barging by the Cappagh defenders. Dara Gilbert looked on course to score for Kildangan, but a great block from a Cappagh defender stood in his way. Nevertheless, Tom Moran was on hand to get Kildangan's third score, before Robert Hanley narrowed the gap to a point with a free. Cappagh once again went on a scoring spree with Harris (0-2) and Brennan splitting the posts. Ryan Moran got Kildangan's last score of the half, before Dean Brennan ensured Cappagh went into the break with a four point lead. Things looked much brighter for Kildangan in the second half as Eric O'Hara got a goal within the first minute. The celebrations were short lived as Cappagh scored relentlessly, building up a six point lead without response over the next twenty minutes. Kildangan were then awarded a free; another Hanley point. Padraig Casey won a free in the Kildangan half which made its way to Eric O'Hara and finished off with a score from Dara Gilbert.

James Grogan, who had been threatening Kildangan throughout the course of the game, got Cappagh's final score three minutes from time. Kildangan's Tom Moran got what appeared to be a consolation point two minutes later. But that wasn't all. Moran hit the back of the net within thirty seconds of his point, stealing a draw for Kildangan out of nowhere.

Kildangan stood off in this game, allowing Cappagh to make the most of any opportunity they were given, and a difference in fitness was most likely the key in this case. We await further details for our next fixture in the shield, but we have less than two weeks to go until our championship game against Milltown, so plenty to do in preparation for this.

Kildangan: Richard Morgan; Luke Barry, Bryan Adams, Darragh Kennedy; Dara Gilbert (0-1), David Christie, Gabriel Murtagh; Padraig Casey, Damien Broughall; Eric O'Hara (0-1), Robert Hanley (0-4 4F), Declan McGrath; Ryan Moran (0-1), Tom Moran (1-2), Paddy Kelly.

Substitutes: Andrew Wilson, Jordan Kaye.

Cappagh: Paul Byrne; Alan Duff, Paul Doran, Alvin Galligan; James Towell, Ronan Walsh, William McDonnell; Kevin Doran, Thomas Jackman (0-2); James Grogan (0-4), Luke Menton, Dean Brennan (0-3); Eoin Leonard (0-2), Shane Harris (0-4), Willie Hopkins.

Substitutes: Chris Murray for Towell, John O'Connor for Leonard.

By Andrew Wilson