Under 12s Unlucky in Final Following Fierce Fightback

Post date: May 21, 2018 9:49:02 PM

Sunday last was Emmett McConville League final day in Hawkfield. A competition exclusively for clubs from the southern end of the county, it's safe to say that each area was well represented, from Athy to Staplestown, Monasterevan to Narraghmore, and of course there was good Newbridge representation. However, our main focus was the Division 3 final against Two Mile House. Despite the overcast, windy conditions, a number of supporters from both villages came to show their support. All were decked out in green and gold, with only a club crest or a cheer to differentiate which side you were from. The players on the field were to serve up a cracker. Two Mile House set off with scoring intent straight from the throw-in; a goal coming in the thirty-eighth second, followed by a point thirty seconds later. However, Kildangan were not too far behind, as Nicole Moran set up Luke McKenna for a goal. Two Mile House were awarded a '45 shortly afterwards, edging them slightly further ahead, but a Seán Behan goal gave the south Kildare village side a slight advantage. The opposition were always on the Cillian O'Brien followed up with three points for Two Mile House, before Seán Behan sent over Kildangan's first point. A foul on Charlie Morrissey led to a free for the House, which was well kept out by Alex Conroy in the Kildangan goal at first, but the opposition made the most of their second effort; the score now 2-5 to 2-1. Aaron Geoghegan kept Kildangan within touching distance, scoring the side's third goal.

The next four minutes was the only prolonged scoreless period of the first half. Unfortunately for us, it was a Two Mile House goal courtesy of Cillian O'Brien that ended this scoreless patch, with a point from Conan Kruger to follow that up. O'Brien added another point, with his team adding another goal and two points before the referee blew the half-time whistle. Kildangan added two themselves, thanks to Geoghegan and Behan, which saw the scoreline read 4-9 to 3-3 at the break.

Kildangan had a much better start in the second half, scoring a goal within twelve seconds. The next five minutes were quiet in terms of scores, but both sides were creating chances throughout. Claudio Borgonovo added a goal in the seventh minute, keeping Two Mile House further out in front, and O'Brien kept up that trend with a point straight afterwards. Bryanna Abbey hit the back of the net to add Kildangan's fifth goal; the whole team all the while showing that they would never give up. Alex Conroy pulled off an amazing double save as Two Mile House threatened for another goal, but it seems that the third time was indeed the charm as the score was now 6-10 for Two Mile House to the Green's 5-3.

Points from Aaron Geoghegan and Nicole Moran gave Kildangan glimmers of hope, with at least five minutes left on the clock. The House once again tried to curtail any chance of a Kildangan comeback, scoring another point to bring their tally to six goals and eleven points. Aaron Geoghegan scored a fantastic point from a free, before Bryanna Abbey scored her second goal; only five points separating the two sides. As injury time beckoned, both sets of players worked very hard to ensure this went right to the wire, and after almost five minutes added on, the referee blew up as Two Mile House went on to celebrate their 6-11 to 6-5 victory.

These young Kildangan players gave a very good account of themselves, and were only narrowly outdone in the end by a Two Mile House team with a decent physical presence in their favour. David Christie, Luke Sweeney and Fergal Barry, the supporters and the players themselves can be very proud of the attitude and fight shown today, and with the Bórd na nÓg all county competition coming up shortly, these players will get another opportunity to show their potential.

Kildangan: Alex Conroy, Killian Christie, Zoe Fitzpatrick, Adam Barry, Aaron Schofield, Paddy Neary, Darragh Murphy, Luke McKenna, Noah Barry, Bryanna Abbey, Sean Behan, Killian Reilly, Nicole Moran, Ieuan Gabor Sweeney, Aaron Geoghegan, Sam Cooke, Oisin O'Raghallaigh, Richard Holligan, Sean Irvin, Devan Abbey, Caoimhe Coughlan, Aeibhin McConn, Keegan Connolly, Cilian Keane, Lauren Donoher, Mairin Kirby, Kate Fahey, Ruth Schofield.