Ballivor 4-9, Kilmainham 1-12

This match finally went ahead after a lot of chopping and changing due to various reasons. Our lads travelled to Ballivor on Tuesday 5th May low on numbers for a crunch bottom of the table league clash. There is rarely much to separate the teams each year, but the intermediate side have had the upper hand in previous years. Both teams needed the points as they sat at the wrong end of the table. 

Kilmainham started the match very well. Dylan Morgan was proving a handful inside. Ballivor deployed a sweeper to try and stop his threat. He hit the first point of the match and then had a great goal chance after he judged a long ball in by Michael Hoey brilliantly before missing the target. Kilmainham were defending in numbers and defending well. Mickey Newman then broke through the middle of the pitch and off loaded to Michael Hoey who carried the ball goal wards. He let fly with a brilliant effort that was heading for the top corner, but the Ballivor keeper made a brilliant save to push the ball over the cross bar. Two let off’s for Ballivor. Unfortunately, we were punished at the other end by Ballivor. Two well worked goals by them had us rattled and opened up a six lead for the home side. Kilmainham responded with a point to trail by 5 points at the break. A decent first half where we were right in this match. 

Kilmainham needed to get the first few scores of the second half to get back into this match but unfortunately it was Ballivor who hit the next three scores to take control. Kilmainham kept battling but Ballivor used all their intermediate experience to hold possession and work some good scores. Kilmainham resorted to some silly fouling which suited the home side. For the last 15 minutes Kilmainham found some new energy and threw everything at Ballivor. They put together some nice team moves and scores and they were reducing the deficit. Declan Mullen fired over a good point after an advantage was played, while Dylan Morgan and Michael Hoey got on the scoreboard and were causing problems for the Ballivor defence. Jamie O’ Sullivan then hit a nice point off his left. Ballivor were happy to keep possession and to slow the game down with their lead. We got the lead down to 6 points and this was as good as it got. Ballivor got their kick outs away too easily when we had them pinned in. Something to look at going forward. 

On conclusion, manager Mickey Newman will be happy with his sides work rate and competitiveness on the night. On another night those early goal chances go in, and the result might have been different. We are still waiting to get our full team out on the pitch together and we are still searching for a complete 60-minute performance but there are plenty of positives in a league campaign that has reached the halfway point. 

Another busy week ahead for our club. Our second team will play St. Pauls away this Tue 12th May in round 4 of the Division 11 A league at 7.30pm. Then on Friday 15th May our second team are out again as they host Eastern Gaels at home at 8pm in round 5 of the Division 11 A League. Our first team then take on senior side Kilbride at home in round 6 of the Division 3 A League with a 6pm throw in. Please come out and support the teams over the coming week. 

Best for Kilmainham were: Mickey Newman, Dylan Morgan, Michael Hoey and Shane Morgan. 

Kilmainham: Conor Kilgallen, Padraig Caffrey, Stephen Newman, Phily Mahon, Shane Morgan, Seanie Mahon, Troy Flanagan, Declan Mullen (0-1), Mickey Newman, Michael Hoey (0-4), Mark Newman, Jamie O’ Sullivan (0-1), Shane Butler, Dylan Morgan (1-6), Terence Daly. 

Subs: Harry Newman for Troy Flanagan, Andy Arkins for Shane Butler, Adam Mc Manus and Fergal Black. 

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