Kildalkey 1-17 Dunderry 2-7

Kildalkey claimed the inaugural Billy Byrne cup at Rathmolyon on Saturday after a hard earned 7 point victory over Dunderry. Photos

The semi final of this competition was played on the 4th of August but the long wait didn’t deter the men in blue but they were made fight all the way by a gallant Dunderry team.

Luke Rickard got his team off the mark in a lively first quarter and Brian Coneely followed up with another Will power converted a free and followed up with a point from play and his ability to win the ariel battles was causing problems for Dunderry 

The half back line of Ben Rickard, Brian Coffey and Enda Keogh were mopping up everything that came their way and Keogh and Coffey drove forward to hit 2 memorable points but the Village were guilty of messing up a couple of goal chances too.

Two more Power frees had Kildalkey in front by 0-8 to 0-4 at the first water break.

Dunderry came back into it in the 2nd quarter and hit 3 points and had Kildalkey on the back foot for a while as they struggled to find their flow and weren’t as fluent as in the first 15 minutes but with Tiernan Bird playing well and making a few long range delivery’s and Mattie Cully making a point blank save they battled away.

Will Power kept them in touch with 2 frees as they still led 0-10 to 0-7 at the half time whistle.

Sean Heavey then used all his experience as he hit the first 2 points of the second half to settle his team and Paul Fagan got a brilliant score after eventually shaking off his marker.

Dunderry then struck for a goal, before Power hit another 2 frees and was very accurate and steady with them all day as we headed for the second water break.

Kildalkey now led 0-15 to 1-7 but they knew the game was far from over as a big last quarter was needed to win as Dunderry were going to keep going to the end.

Luke Rickard clipped over his second point after good work out the field by his brother Matt who was winning his battle with his marker and Kelvin Lynch's determined running was paying dividends and Will Power with another free left 7 in it again but Dunderry struck for another goal to give Kildalkey some nervous moments. Paul Fagan got in for a goal as he has the knack of doing all year to seal the win and bring another trophy back to the club in what was a great year for Kildalkey 

It was very appropriate that Rathmolyon man Martin O'Halloran presented the Billy Byrne Cup alongside the Byrne family to captain Matt Rickard and he was honoured to be the first to lift it.

Although it was a week out from Christmas the Rathmolyon pitch was in great condition for the time of year and great credit must go to all involved in the club. 

Kildalkey team and scorers: M Cully, T Bird, E Fitzgerald, M Browne, B Rickard, B Coffey (0-1), E Keogh(0-1), M Rickard, S Reillly, S Heavey(0-2), L Rickard (0-2), W Power (0-9)(8f), B Coneely (0-1), P Fagan (1-1), K Lynch. Subs: S Corrigan for S Reillly, C O Sullivan for B Coneely, J Masterson for P Fagan, C Lyons for K Lynch

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