Kilbride 1-15 to Clonard 1-6

After a first round loss to Cortown Kilbride has bounced back and made it three wins in a row in a sunny Kilbride on Saturday evening. This time round it was Clonard who were put to the sword.

Just before throw in news broke that Kilbride's former Keegan cup winner Owen Sullivan had suddenly passed away. It was only fitting that todays team along with committee members, supports and the visiting team observed a minutes silence as a mark of respect. 

As the action got under way in the fading sun Clonard were the first to get on the score sheet. Kilbride were starting to create and they registered there first score after 4 minutes. Further points soon followed with 8 minutes gone. The combination of excellent defending and way ward finishing from the vistors allowed the home team to race into an early lead. That man again Mc Mullen finding the net. This was an excellent score that started back on Kilbrides 13 meter line, the ball was moved quickly and as McMullen picked up a pass from the ever impressive David O'Leary he turned quickly to show the defender a clean pair of heels to race clear and finish to the back of the net. 

It was a joy to watch as Kilbride took control of the match and should hae been further ahead but were wasteful in front of goal at times. Clonard were continuing to press and were just aout hanging in there as half time approached. At times it was excellent to watch as the home team were magnificant in both attack and in defence and were deserving of there half time lead Kilbride 1-9 to Clonard 0-4.

As the sun set and temperatures dropped ref Patrick Neilis got the second half under way. And just like the first half had started it was the away side who started brightly and pressed to get back into the game but Kilbrides defence were not to be broken. As like in the first half Kilbride were dominant and if not for wayward shooting this would have been over as a contest. To be fair to the visitors they kept going but they had no answer to the entensity and pace that the home team were playing at. Further points from Michael Farrell, McMullen and the very impressive David O'Leary got the home side ever closer to another victory but a goal late on for Clonard was a consolation as the home side finished with the last two scores of the game to make it three wins in a row..

At full time the score was Kilbride 1-15 to Clonard 1-6

In summary this was as good a performance we have seen from a Kilbride team in many a year. Youth , pace and hard work, on and off the ball is evident through out this team.

Kilbride: Conor Storey, Dean Stapelton, Dave Barron, Karl Stapelton, John Smith, Jake McGovern, Craig Sheridan 0-1, David O'Leary 0-4, Callum McGovern  0-1, Michael Farrell 0-3 Gareth Lynch, Conor Doyle 0-2, Jeff Sheridan 0-1, Stephen McMullen 1-3. Subs: Jack Donnelly for Dave Barron,  Brian White for Karl Stapelton, Aaron Dunne for C Doyle, Jonny McIvor for S McMullen, Cathal McKeon for O'Leary, Colm O'Neill for M Farrell. 

Clonard Report

Clonard 1-6 Kilbride 1-15

On a beautiful sunny Saturday in March Clonard travelled to play Dublin border outfit Kilbride in the fourth round of the Division 4 'A' league.  Both teams went in to the game with expectations of jumping in to the top three promotion spots and Clonard putting their unbeaten league start on the line.  

Clonard registered the first score of the game with a point from the boot of minor county hurling star Mikey Mullen. Kilbride then took over possession at midfield with runners from their half back line to which Clonard had little answer to. They notched up 1-3 without reply in the subsequent ten minute spell after Clonards first score, and it could've have been more when their lively corner forward blazed wide when a goal seemed certain.

In addition to Kilbride's pace and hungrier attitude it was obvious they had benefitted from plenty of ball practise under lights, as Clonard continually mishandled and misfired, giving away vital possession and easy scores. Kilbride took full advantage and kicked several fine points, with Clonard's only replies coming from Gary Raleigh and Eoghan Connolly. At half time Clonard had serious questions to answer as they were in arrears, 1-9 to 0-3.

The second half saw Clonard start the brighter, with points from play from Kenneth Darby and Ryan Raleigh, but once again their shooting boots let them down, with more wides from both scorable positions and from positions where the wrong decision was taken to shoot. In defence Paddy 'The Red' Daly was showing why he's rated as a quality defender, as he constantly denied ball to his opposing marker, and tried to lift his teammates around him who were under pressure. Ger Foley was also making fine runs after winning many a 'dirty' ball.

With Clonard dominating possession the inevitable goal chances did arrive on several occasions, but went either wide of the posts or over the bar, as Ryan Raleigh, Eoin Treacy, and substitute Alan O'Donoghue found themselves in goal scoring positions. A goal did arrive on 58 minutes when O'Donoghue made amends for his previous miss and shot low and hard past the Kilbride keeper, after good work from his fellow forwards to put him in the position.

The game finished with misses from Ian Campbell and Gary Raleigh which raised Clonard's final wide count to 16, which told the story of the game, but take nothing away from Kilbride, as their positive attitude and accurate shooting gave them a fully deserved nine point win. Clonard players will go back to training on Tuesday nightwith plenty to work on as they prepare for their next league match against St. Paul's Clonee, in two weeks' time.

Clonard: 1.Paul Sheridan  2.Paddy Daly  3.Paul Boland 4.Johnny Campbell  5.Stephen Connolly  6.Ger Foley 7.Eoghan Connolly (0-1)  8.Ian Campbell  9.Dylan Flanagan  10.Chris Doyle  11.Eoin Treacy (0-1)  12.Ryan Raleigh (0-1)  13.Gary Raleigh (0-1)  14.Kenneth Darby (0-1)  15.Mikie Mullen (0-1)  

Subs: Alan O'Donoghue (1-0) for S.Connolly, Barry Connolly for K.Darby, Stephen O'Reilly for C.Doyle, Davey Doyle for J.Campbell, Shane Dunne for P.Boland

 

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