Under 12 League; Kildangan v Robertstown

Kildangan travelled to Robertstown last Friday evening, 3rd June for the final game of the under 12 League. Having beaten all except Moorefield in this competition, Kildangan were anxious to finish with a win but knew that their opponents would not go down easy. Kildangan got off to a good start with a Michael John Prendergast point in the first minute, quickly followed by a similar score from Stephen Keogh. The home side got off the mark with a point shortly afterwards, however Michael John struck for a well taken goal to put Kildangan 1.02 to 0.01 mid way through the half. Robertstown then took control and scored a goal and a point in the space of a minute and it could have been worse had it not been for some great defending by Aoibheann Scully and Jack Foxe and a fine save from goalkeeper Eoin O’Fearghail. A pointed free from Stephen Keogh left it 1.03 to 1.02 in favour of Kildangan as the half time whistle sounded.

On the restart, Robertstown equalised, however half forward Daniel Cawley quickly restored Kildangan’s slim advantage. Oisin Hyland and Hannah White put in some great work in the forward line, while defenders Joey O’Sullivan and Lara Gilbert returned anything the home team fired their way. Robert McGrath and Lauren Kelly were now at midfield and beginning to win the battle in this area as the evening sun seemed to be taking its toll on their opponents. Michael John Prendergast rattled the net following a goalmouth scramble and followed up with a great point following some wonderful team play involving Eoin O’Fearghail, Lauren Kelly and Lara Gilbert. Robert McGrath and Oisin Hyland followed with points to put Kildangan seven ahead and looking comfortable.

But just as they did in the first half, Robertstown took control again and scored a very good goal to reduce the defecit to four. They could have had at least two more goals were it not for some great saves from Ricky Burke who had taken over between the posts at half time. With the clock ticking and Kildangan struggling, Daniel Cawley goaled after Stephen Keogh’s shot had been well saved by the Robertstown goalkeeper. Lauren Kelly scored Kildangan’s fourth goal with a great individual effort right on the final whistle to leave the final score 4.07 to 2.03 in favour of Kildangan.

It was a very competitive game of football that could have gone either way until Kildangan’s two late goals clinched it. We look forward to the finals in Hawkfield in the coming weeks where Moorefield are likely to provide the opposition.