JFC B semi final: First championship final appearance since '09 for the 'Wood'

Cortown's Ciaran Keating with Joe Shankey Kilmainhamwood during the Junior B FC semi final at Grangegodden

Kilmainhamwood 0-16 Cortown 2-5

Kilmainhamwood made the short journey out to the immaculately presented Grangegodden facilities on Sunday morning to lock horns with a hardy Cortown team for a place in the final at stake. Kilmainhamwood opened their account through a well taken 45 from Rian Stafford to get the scoreboard ticking for the men in white. This was followed up with a point from Matthew Vaughan to put pressure on Cortown. Kilmainhamwood had a tight control on midfield for the first 10 minutes and were rewarded with a Brian Cassidy point. Cortownopened their account in the meantime through 2 nicely taken points to reduce the score to 1. The magnificent Kian Gillespie and Killian Russell both let fly from the 2 point zone to put 4 more points on the scoreboard for the Wood. Cortown kept digging and benefited from a penalty and a goal to take the lead and go in at half time 3 points up.

Half time: Kilmainhamwood 0-7 Cortown 2-5

The Wood came out in the second half and turned up the intensity to drive on and win the game. Kian Gillespie was instrumental around the middle for the Wood catching kickoutsand the very influential Niall Conlan collected a lot of breaking ball around the midfield that was won clean. Kilmainhamwoodgot the scoreboard going with a two 2 pointers and a single pointfrom talisman Rian Stafford to put the Wood back ahead. Kilmainhamwood defence of Paul Carolan, Killian Russell  and Padraic Barber put in a trojan effort in the second half to limit Cortown  to 1 point for the half. On the other end of the field Dylan Ogle added a further point for his efforts to put the pressure on Cortown to mount a challenge. Rian Stafford rounded out the game with 3 further points. The final whistle was meet with jubilant scenes as the Wood went on to secure the first Championship final appearance since 2009. 

Kilmainhamwood: Josh Clarke,Paul Carolan ,Killian Russell(0-2,1×2pt), ⁠Padraic Barber, Noah Madden, ⁠Brian Cassidy (0-1),⁠ Niall Conlon, Kian Gillespie (0-2,1×2pt), ⁠Ciaran Doyle, Cillian Burns, ⁠Rian Stafford (0-9,1x45,2×2pt), Joe Shankey, Matthew Vaughan (0-1), ⁠Dylan Ogle (0-1), ⁠Shane Townley

Subs used: Eoin Finnegan, Aaron O Donnell