Kildangan seniors continued their unbeaten run with a home win against Athy last Friday night. 

Athy opened the scoring in the first half, but Kildangan answered with 3 of their own thanks to Sean Behan, Bryan Adams and Daniel Gilbert. Adam Balmer made his weekly goalline save but a goal and a point from Athy followed however, and Athy’s purple patch seemed to be only getting started. Mark O’Donovan thought otherwise. He answered with a goal of his own. A Bryan Adams point saw Kildangan go one ahead. Athy were about to make it level except for an excellent block from Kildangan’s star man Alan Donoher. Bryan Adams was unlucky to grab himself a goal but was denied by the cross bar. Athy attempted to make in-roads again, but this time Eoghan O’Fearghaill stepped up to deny them with a powerful block. Damian Cairns and Joe Broughall done an excellent job stopping Athy’s ever-moving attack and managed to get the ball up the pitch for Kildangan to score 1.02 before the break. (Mark O’Donovan 1.01 & Alan Donoher 0.01).

Half Time Score: Kildangan 2.05 - 1.04 Athy

Athy and Kildangan traded points for the 3rd quarter of the game (Kildangan’s points coming from Kevin McNally, Alan Donoher and Daniel Gilbert). Eoin O’Fearghaill’s services were called upon once again as he made an outstanding tackle. Just as Athy got it back to a 3 point game, Mark O’Donovan completed a wonderful hat-trick to put Kildangan 6 ahead. Alan Donoher and Mark O’Donovan kicked another 3 points between them to keep Kildangan ahead. Seán Fitzgearld denied an Athy goal as he palmed away a cross-the-box pass. Athy got the game back to just a one point game and Kildangan supporters were starting to get worried. A shot to make the game level was snuffed out by (you guessed it) Eoghan O’Fearghaill. A Daniel Gilbert free bridged the gap right at the end and Athy were unable to level it only scoring one point in the final minute. 

Moment of the match: Mark O’Donovan’s first goal was a massive statement that Kildangan were not to be taken lightly. Mark’s goal proved as a turning point in the game as he gave us a lead which we held to the very end.

Man of the Match: Alan Donoher; scored 3 points from wing back and also made some massive defensive plays (a block in the first half and a big turnover in the middle of Athy’s second half purple patch).

Well done to the team and management on a great victory. They sit top of the table after 3 games and are on a great run of form. They play Naas away on Friday the 17th in what will prove to be a vital game as it would put us in very advantageous position for a home semi final later on in the league.

Sean Fitzgearld, Joe Broughall, Adam Balmer, Damian Cairns, Killian Scully, Alex McCann, Alan Donoher (0.03), Eoghan O’Fearghaill, Daniel Gilbert (0.03), Oisin Irvin, Bryan Adams (0.02), Sean Behan (0.01), Cian Murtagh, Kevin McNally (0.01), Mark O’Donovan (3.02)

Subs: Luke McKenna, Rob Bocotan, Dermot Hickey, John Kelly, Paddy Behan.