Kilmainham 0-17, Kilbride 1-14

Junior B side Kilmainham welcomed Senior outfit Kilbride to Kilmainham on Saturday 16th May 2026. This was only a formality for most but unfortunately that’s not how we operate in Kilmainham. Since our Tailteann cup success over Kilbride a few years ago, they have handed us out two big beatings. They are a club on a crest of wave and are competing for league promotion this year, while we are fighting at the wrong end of the table and in need of points. 

Kilmainham got off to a dream start. Dylan Morgan hit two free’s and centre back Harry Neman hit a rare point to put us 3 points to no score up. Then came a wave of Kilbride attacks. They scored the next 5 points in a row. Their powerful off the shoulder running proving difficult to contain. Kilmainham were in no mood to lie down. Scott Lynch hit a nice point on 20 minutes. Dylan Morgan hit a good point from play before Kilbride hit two good points. Mickey Hoey hit a brilliant long range two pointer to level it. We suffered a sucker punch just before half time when Kilbride got in for a goal. There was very little that we could have done about it as the Kilbride forward finished low to the Kilmainham net. Kilbride led by 3 points at the break. 

Half-time score: Kilmainham 0-7, Kilbride 1-7 

Would the goal before half time spur Kilbride into life and cause Kilmainham heads to drop? Could Kilmainham contain the senior outfit for full 60 minutes? These questions were emphatically answered in true Kilmainham grit and determination. Kilbride scored the first three points of the second half as we faced an avalanche of attacks from the away side. Some brilliant movement and long-range kicking a trait of the senior side. We were 6 points down. Kilmainham refused to lie down. Scott Lynch hit his second of the match, Dylan Morgan clipped over a free before Mickey Newman landed a brilliant two pointer. Game on. Kilbride responded with a point. Some brilliant turnovers in the Kilmainham defence thwarted the Kilbride attacks. Our work rate and defensive structure were excellent as the game was in the melting pot. From here both teams went for the win. Dylan Morgan hit a point from play and followed this up with two excellent two pointers. The second a brilliant score from a difficult angle. Kilmainham were winning everything around the middle. Kilbride did break away to hit another two points of their own to go one up. Dylan Morgan slotted over a free on 29 minutes to level it. Kilmainham won the kick out, retained possession and then won a free with time up. The free was almost 50 metres out against the wind. With time up Dylan Morgan was instructed to go for it. He hit it well but unfortunately the ball just dropped short into the goalies hands as referee Peter O’ Halloran blew for full time. A pulsating match ending in a draw. This was a brilliant match from start to finish with very little separating the teams. A draw probably being a fair result on the day. 

This performance will give the lads great belief going forward for their remaining league matches. Nobody in Kilmainham will be getting carried away by this result but will take confidence in today’s draw. The team put in probably their best team performance of the year but know that there are loads of areas that they can still improve on as we head into the summer. 

Next up. Our second team will travel to face Kilmainhamwood seconds in round 6 of the Division 11 A League on Friday 29th May at 7.30pm, while our first team will travel to Junior A side Syddan in round 7 of the Division 3 A League on Saturday 30th May at 6pm. That concludes 3 matches for the club in 5 days. Thanks for all the support at this week’s games. 

Best for Kilmainham were: Dylan Morgan, Lewis Curran, Declan Mullen and Jamie O’ Sullivan. 

Kilmainham: Terence Daly, Padraig Caffrey, Stephen Newman, Phily Mahon, Shane Morgan, Harry Newman (0-1), Lewis Curran, Declan Mullen, Mickey Newman (0-2), Michael Hoey (0-2), Mark Newman, Jamie O’ Sullivan, Scott Lynch (0-2), Dylan Morgan (0-10), Ger Morgan. 

Subs: Conor Kilgallen for Lewis Curran, Sean King for Scott Lynch, Shane Butler, Jake O’ Rourke, Adam McManus. 

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