Post date: Apr 26, 2012 6:48:40 PM
In the opening round of the Under 10 league Kildangan played neighbouring club Nurney. In what turned out to be a proverbial game of two halves Nurney led from the start and enjoyed a half time lead of 3:06 to 1:04. IN the second half Kildangan pulled out all the stop to run out eventual winners, 7:08 to 4:08. Match report by Keith Burns.
Cathal McKiernan
Sean Fitzgerald Ben Keogh Lorcan Hyland Rory McGrath
Josh Burns Cormac Finnegan
Joe Cawley Cian Murtagh Daniel Gilbert Colm Coughlan
Substitutes : - Aaron O’Connor & Anthony Whelan.
Match played over two 12 minutes Halves.
Nurney set the pace from the off, scoring a couple of very good individual goals and points without reply. Kildangan were being overrun for the first few minutes of the game as both Midfield and Defense struggled to get to grips with the movement and pace of the Nurney attack. After some great saves by Cathal McKiernan in the Kildangan goal, his passion, desire and commitment seemed to flow through the rest of the team and they gradually got to the pace of the game. Nurney came raiding again, however following resilient defending by Ben Keogh and Lorcan Hyland, the ball was moved forward at pace to Daniel Gilbert who knocked the ball over the bar for his, and Kildangan’s first score of the game. Kildangan were starting to play like a team and amassed some superb individual points. Josh Burns in particular chipped over a couple of points after great link play by Sean Fitzgerald, Rory McGrath and Cormac Finnegan. Nurney were well ahead at this stage and in command in most sectors of the field.
Midway through the first half, Daniel Gilbert scored Kildangan’s first goal of the game against the run of play, soon afterwards he chipped in with another point. Kildangan were starting to play some great football with Cian Murtagh, Joe Cawley and Colm Coughlan all playing their part. However Nurney were in the driving seat with a half lead of 3:06 to Kildangan’s 1:04.
After a morale boosting half time team talk, the game restarted with Kildangan stamping their authority on the game. Following tenacious defending by Lorcan Hyland, he linked with midfield partners Josh Burns & Cormac Finnegan, both making some great interchanges before finally the ball was passed onto danger man Daniel Gilbert who finished off a great team effort with his and Kildangan’s second goal of the game.
The slick passing and movement continued with Aaron O’Connor moving the ball to Anthony Whelan who was very unlucky with his effort , which went inches wide of the post. Kildangan had the better of the interchanges all over the park, but still could not kill Nurney off.
Kildangan continued to apply the pressure and it soon yielded dividends as both Josh Burns (x1) and Cian Murtagh (x2) chipped in with Goals. Outstanding saves from Cathal McKiernan in goal, coupled with excellent defending by Ben Keogh, Aaron O’Connor, Rory McGrath, Lorcan Hyland and Sean Fitzgerald snuffed out any chance of a Nurney resurgence. Kildangan continued to move the ball around the pitch with composure, exemplified by a great passing movement involving Cormac Finnegan, Joe Cawley and Anthony Whelan with Lorcan Hyland finishing off with Kildangan’s sixth goal of the game. Daniel Gilbert continued to run the show and he chipped in with another goal and 3 points. The game came to a close with Kildangan coming out on top with a scoreline of 7:08 to 4:08.
All in all each Kildangan player can be very proud of themselves for a great days work and the signs are looking very bright for the remainder of the league.