Kilbride were aiming to win their first League title since 2001 when they took on Moylagh in the Div3B final on a splendid pitch in Gibbstown..
Conditions were at times horrendous but that didn’t deter the large crowd that gathered hoping that it would be their team who went home with the silverware.
This was the third time that these two teams clashed this year having already played each other in the Tailteann Cup and in Round 5 of the league and it was one win each. Kilbride were probably slight favourites having accounted for Moynalty in the last round with a bit to spare. And they will again face each other in a few weeks’ time in the Championship.
It was a slow and cagy start with Kilbride dominating possession early on, aided with the assistance of a strong breeze. Kilbride registered four wides in the first 8 minutes and at times struggled to break down the Moylagh defence. Moylagh were very well aware of the threat that Kilbride had on the inside forward line and dropped not one but two sweepers back at times. Sean Reilly was lining out a full forward and at times he was causing issues for the Kilbride defence but they coped well early on.
It took 9 minutes before the first score came and it was one from distance from the boot of Zack McGovern after being set up by Josh Harford. Moylagh were getting their fair share of possession and were gaining in confidence but couldn’t find a way past the solid Kilbride defence. Cian Harford was winning his battle and with his pace was also joining in on the attack at every opportunity.
After seventeen minutes gone and it was still a cagy affair when Moylagh struck for a goal. Rory Gibney hit a wonderful pass into Sean Reilly who still had a lot to do but he slipped the ball to the net to put them two in front.
It was against the run of play but it was fully deserved, The Gibney’s and Turbo Fanning were showing all their experience, and that man Sean Reilly finished well so game on…
Excellent play from Josh Harford on 18 minutes setup Zack McGovern for a wonderful long range effort from outside his boot to just leave one it.
Kilbride recorded their 5th wide when cornerback Cian Harford flew forward but narrowly shot wide. Three minutes later the sides were level when Josh Harford turned over a Moylagh ball when they should have cleared their lines to slot over his first and level matters with a long left foot shot from distance.
David O’Leary was kept quiet by veteran Joe Melia but there was nothing he could have done when O Leary pounced on 25 minute to put Kilbride into the lead. Kilbride & Meath All Ireland minor winner Josh Harford was pulling the strings in and around the middle and it was him again who set up O’Leary with a fine long range pass to extend Kilbride lead to two points with only a few minutes left in the half.
The big turning point came as we entered injury time when Moylagh should have registered their second goal only to be denied by Kilbride shot stopper Stephen McMullen who pulled off a wonderful one on one save after Colm Fanning put through corner forward Rory Gibney but it was that man Stephen McMullen who somehow diverted his effort out for a 45. A big talking point as we broke for half time and the large crowd took shelter in their cars.
HT Kilbride 0-5 Moylagh 1-0
Marcus Quinn got the second half underway just after 1:20pm and he seemed to delay the second half hoping for the heavy rain to pass. Tommy Reilly secured possession from the throw-in and fed Darren Gibney who made a terrific run forward but was hauled down just outside the D. Sean Reilly slotted over the resulting free kick to reduce it to just a point. Moylagh, now aided by the strong breeze, meant business.
Kilbride got there first of the second half after Adam Malone found Zack McGovern in space and he pointed under no pressure from the Moylagh defence. This came after good work from wingback Mark Dempsey who linked the play well from their own kickout.
Rory Gibney elected for a point on 36 minutes when it seemed a goal was on but maybe it was the best option seeing that McMullen pulled off a great save earlier.
It was Moylagh who drew things level again on 41 minutes when Sean Reilly levelled from a free after it was alleged that Kilbride handled the ball on the ground.
Ben Donnelly won the resulting kick out but was then heavily tackled but in fairness to the county star retained possession, this allowed another slow build up from Cian Harford who fed David O Leary who kicked a fantastic score into the breeze with the outside of his boot to put Kilbride back in front again..
Finn Hughes replaced Adam Malone and was straight into the action by winning possession but a great bit of play by Darren Gibney foiled another Kilbride attack.
Rory Gibney drew the sides level after good play from Melia and Colm (Turbo) Fanning who fed Gibney who slotted over, Level again with 15 minutes left.
Andrew McWeeney was introduced for Dean Stapleton and he was straight into the action by winning the next kick out. McKeown retained possession after shifting some massive hits. Many would have gone down but he managed to hold onto possession to win a free out wide.
Zack McGovern stepped up and was shaping to try one with the outside of the boot but instead went short and found Josh Harford who swept over a fantastic point for his second of the day.
Another short kick out was again won by Moylagh who countered but for Joe Melia’s effort to go left and wide, it was end to end.
Darren Gibney’s monster point left it again tied, 0-8 to 1-5.
Ronan O Leary launched another attack and was happy to slow down the pace of the game until he fed the buzzing around Josh Harford who found Hughes and an excellent pass to Zack McGovern who duly slotted over another great point to go one up again.
As the rain pelted down Moylagh were driving forward through the Reilly’s but Tommy Reilly's final pass was well intercepted by Cian Harford when a score looked likely. With only a few minutes of normal time left it was still in the melting pot. Tommy Reilly who had a terrific game was guilty of coughing up possession and it was that man Zack McGovern who scored another fine point to put Kilbride up by two points.
The resulting kick out was won in the middle by the hard working Timmy Farrell who found McGovern and he slotted over his sixty point of the day to leave three in it as we entered the last few minutes.
Moylagh was still pushing hard only to be penalised for a throw ball when they had men over and a likely chance of a goal. Kilbride weren’t in any hurry to take the free kick and were counting down the clock.
Kilbride were in control and were moving the ball around, side to side counting down the clock, but the experienced Turbo turned over a great ball only for Finn Hughes to win it back on his 21 yard line, Could this turn out to be a decisive turnover. The resulting attack would have surely won it only for Joe Donnelly to blast one wide with a goal at his mercy having been put clean through by Hughes.
With a minute of stoppage time already gone it seemed that Kilbride might have done enough to secure Victory but the ref played on with as a kick out came from Moylagh who for once decided to go long, Sean Reilly rose highest but couldn’t hold onto possession and David O Leary picked up the breaking ball. A quick ball into Josh Harford who found space and who didn’t elect for the mark but instead found Joe Donnelly with an excellent pass and he wasn’t going to miss the second time within a minute and he buried it to the back of the net and surely now the silverware was on the way to Kilbride. Moylagh were still pushing but the excellent and alert Josh Harford intercepted another ball and he fisted it to the prolific Zack McGovern who slotted over his seventh point of the game.
Sean Reilly slotted over a consolation free to leave the full time score of, Kilbride 1-12 to Moylagh 1-6..
Kilbride duly deserved their win but credit must go to both teams who battled through at times Gael force conditions. Kilbride took home their first piece of silverware at adult level since 2001 and capped off a remarkable weekend for the club having the previous day opening their new state of the art club gym and community walking track.
Kilbride winning panel: Stephen McMullen, Cian Harford, Ronan O’Leary, Caolan Howard, Mark Dempsey, Jack Donnelly, Dean Stapleton, Timmy Farrell, Cathal McKeown, Josh Harford 0-2, Zack McGovern 0-7, Ben Donnelly, David O’Leary 0-3, Joseph Donnelly 1-0, Adam Malone.
Subs, Finn Hughes for Adam Malone, Andrew McWeeney for Dean Stapleton, Paul Hayes for Joseph Donnelly.
Subs not used, Fiachra Gorman, Anthony Barker, Conor O Driscoll, Karl Stapleton, Craig Manning.
Manager Leo Turley, selectors Anthony MoyleS, Eamonn Moyles, Stats Claire Harford, Physio Louise Hoste.
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