Post date: Jun 26, 2011 11:32:45 AM
Kildangan v Moorefield 25th June 2011
Kildangan Under 12’s took on Moorefield in the Under 12 Finals Blitz at Kildare’s new training facility at Hawkfield on Saturday afternoon. Having lost to the same opposition by a single point just two weeks ago, Kildangan were determined to reverse that result.
Kildangan got off to a great start with points from midfielders Stephen Keogh and Lauren Kelly before Moorefield replied with similar scores to equalise. The Kildangan defence then found themselves at full stretch as Moorefield piled on the pressure but Lara Gilbert and Jack Foxe in particular were superb in keeping the Moorefield attack out. Moorefield’s persistence finally paid off when their full forward finished a rebound to the net after goalkeeper Grace Dooley had saved brilliantly.
Kildangan’s reply was swift as Stephen Keogh slotted over two excellently taken 45’s and Lauren Kelly split the posts again to tie the game up at 1.2 to 0.5. Kildangan were now in control and Aoibheann Scully, Stacey Bond and Ricky Burke were causing lots of problems up front. Michael John Prendergast was unlucky not to rattle the net as was Niamh Doran who was running at the Moorefield defence at every opportunity.
A quick break out of defence caught Kildangan out as the ball found its way to a Moorefield corner forward who finished to the net. From the kick out, Robert McGrath broke forward and scored a fine point but Moorefield goaled again to leave it 3.2 to 0.6 at the break. The Kildangan players looked a despondent lot as they gathered for the team talk as the two late goals had really knocked the stuffing out of them. A few fresh legs were introduced and a number of positional alterations made before Kildangan took the field for the second half with renewed determination.
A Moorefield point was soon cancelled out by a long range score from Robert McGrath who was having a great game at centre back. Oisin Hyland then played a ball up the line to Stephen Keogh who held off two Moorefield defenders before sending over a superb point from right out on the sideline. Kildangan were then rocked by a Moorefield goal followed by a point despite the best efforts of Eoin O’Fearghaill who was having a fine game at corner back. With Moorefield starting to pull away Kildangan showed their spirit once more when Joey O’Sullivan got onto the end of a great team move to bury the ball in the back of the Moorefield net.
Niamh Doran and Daniel Cawley swapped places with Niamh going to full back and Daniel to full forward and both continued to perform superbly. Kildangan suffered another blow when Moorefield struck for a goal and point but Kildangan refused to accept defeat and incredibly managed to raise their game once again. Lauren Kelly and Stephen Keogh landed points and Robert McGrath was most unfortunate with a ferocious shot at goal that was just millimetres outside the post. Better was to come as a great move started by Niamh Doran in her own full back line found its way to Daniel Cawley via Hannah White, Daniel Gilbert and Oisin Hyland. A goalmouth scramble ensued and the ball somehow ended up in the back of the Moorefield net along with their goalkeeper and three or four defenders! Daniel Cawley will probably claim the credit for it. A late Moorefield free went over the bar before the final whistle sounded to leave it 5.7 to 2.10 in favour of Moorefield.
While the final score shows a win for Moorefield, this game should not be looked at as a defeat for Kildangan. All seventeen players who represented Kildangan on the day played magnificently and showed a commitment and determination that had to be admired by those of us who were lucky enough to be there. Well done to them all on a magnificent performance but unfortunately we were beaten by a team that just happened to be better than we were on the day.