Kilmainhamwood   4-03 St Vincent's  1-11

As the sayings go, "it was a game of two halves" and "goals win games", these analogies could not be more true when it came to the Division 4  A League final, as Kilmainhamwood topped off an unbeaten year by capturing the cup with a one point victory over Junior B champions St Vincent's, Sunday last in Syddan. 

Twenty years on from Kilmainhamwood's greatest accomplishment, capturing the senior championship, the club went out to play St Vincent's in a Division 4 final, unbeaten all year and having played their opposition twice already, winning one and losing the other; the 'Wood having waited up to six weeks from their last competitive outing made a strong start when Michael Shankey sent a long ball into the box and full forward Paddy Carolan got his fist onto it, to rattle the Vincent's net for the opening score.

The Vincent's responded with a free, but again another long ball from midfielder Harry Corbally was sent in and landed on the chest of Paddy Carolan, who was left one on one with the Vincent's keeper, rattled the net again for his and the 'Wood's second score. But again, the Vincent's responded with another free. Kilmainhamwood's first point came from a Stephen Kiernan free, before St Vincent's responded with their third and final score of the half, via a free. But the 'Wood were not finished as goal scorer turn provider Paddy Carolan's delivery into the box, caused confusion in the Vincent's defence allowed centre-forward David Russell to tap the ball into an empty net. 

Kilmainhamwood added their second and final point of the half from the boot of Kiernan, but were hungry for more when a great team move left Paudi Owens, one on one, only for the Vincent's net minder to save superbly, but David Russell was quickest to react when he rattled the net, off the re bound for his second and Kilmainhamwood's fourth. This left the 'Wood heading into half time 4-02 to 0-03 in front.

County Board Vice Chairman Peter O'Halloran presents the Division 4 FL Cup to Philip Moran

St Vincent's to their credit did not lie down and took the game to the 'Wood when they registered the first four scores of the second half, to cut the 'Wood's lead to seven. Kilmainhamwood's only point came from a David Russell fist, following a Alan Carolan '50. But again, the Vincent's pushed on and registered a further 1-02 to put two between the sides. The 'Wood, introduced Sean Mulligan, and veteran Aiden Crosbie, who 20 years ago, was part of the senior championship winning side, to help steady the ship and it worked, as class showed and these two men, along with Gary Yorke saw off the St Vincent's attack and kept them to just another three scores, and the 'Wood ran out winners by just a single point on a score line of 4-03 to 1-11.

This victory capped off a great and unbeaten year for a club, which over the years has seen some great days, but more recently hard times at that; but this did not stop the current crop of players and management, including captain Philip Moran and manager, Michael Clarke, who over the last two years has turned the club's fortunes around and with this victory shows that Kilmainhamwood, hopefully are building for bigger and better things. 

Scorers: David Russell (2-01), Paddy Carolan (2-00) and Stephen Kiernan (0-02)

Kilmainhamwood: Damien Russell, Jude Collins, Padraig Barber, Cathal Bennett, Philip Moran, Andy Farrelly, Alan Carolan, Shane Clarke, Harry Corbally, Stephen Kiernan, David Russell, Paul Carolan, Michael Shankey, Paddy Carolan, Paudi Owens Subs: Sean Mulligan for Paul Carolan, Aiden Crosbie for David Russell and Gary Yorke for Shane Clarke

Scorers: David Russell (2-01), Paddy Carolan (2-00) and Stephen Kiernan (0-02)

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