Scarcely had the dust settled on a memorable night for our Senior team in the Championship Final on Friday night when our U12's were kicking up dust of their own in a local derby against Monasterevin on Saturday afternoon. Our U12 are down to the last 4 in their Championship and this was Round 1 in the last 4 group so we knew there were going to be no easy games for the team. Monasterevin sent out a strong side to face us but we were ready to take on the challenge head on.
Right from the throw in exchanges were very competitive with no quarter being asked or given. Kildangan were in the zone and ready for a battle and kicked the opening two points of the game from Josh O'Rourke to take an early lead. With Niamh Gleeson and Jack Fitzpatrick dominating in the middle of the field against their opponents, Kildangan continued on the front foot for the opening ten minutes. On their first real attack Monasterevin won a free which rather fortunately looped over the Kildangan backs and goalkeeper on the line to put Monasterevin one point ahead. Kildangan answered quickly with Josh O'Rourke smashing home a goal after a goalmouth scramble following good work by Sean Casey and Seamie Fitzpatrick. Exchanges continued to be fiercely contested all over the field with Abigail Fenlon and Annabelle Torpey breaking up many Monasterevin attacks with tenacious defending. Cameron Kavanagh and Jack Ryan were introduced in the Kildangan forward line and were a thorn in the side of the Monasterevin defence. Alice Mahon broke through from wing forward to kick a nice point for Kildangan to stretch our lead. Jack Fitzpatrick got the point his general play deserved as we closed into halftime. This left the halftime score Kildangan 1-4 Monasterevin 1-0.
The second half opened with Monasterevin coming more into the game after making several substitutions. Despite this, Casey McEvoy MacCullagh kicked a nice point from a free to open Kildangans second half account. Monasterevin replied when a long ball into the Kildangan goalmouth hopped over the bar for a point. Sophie Murray, Sam Worrell and Ross Kenny were introduced for Kildangan and were making their presence felt with some good tackling. With Oisin McWey dangerous at wing forward, Kildangan worked a goal chance that was blasted to the net by Casey McEvoy MacCullagh to put daylight between the teams. The halfback line of Senan O'Tuama, Sophie Stynes and Daragh Coughlan were rock solid and many Monasterevin attacks faltered when they reached this line of defence. Monasterevin did get through for a goal to narrow the gap when the Kildangan fullback line found themselves drawn out the field. This left four points between the sides and the game hanging in the balance. Jake Curran steadied things down for Kildangan at fullback and Aidan Casey dealt with several awkward balls around the goalmouth which ensured no further goals were conceded by Kildangan. The insurance score was kicked by Casey McEvoy MacCullagh from a free to a loud cheer after a foul on John Gargan which was brought forward for dissent. This left the final score Kildangan 2-6 Monasterevin 2-1.
This was a massive win for Kildangan. Many of the team had witnessed our Seniors make history the night before and they seemed to want to make their own bit of history themselves by making a final in Hawkfield. With the team made up of boys and girls, and of mixed ages from 10-12 it would have been easy for some to take a back seat against an all boys team. No such thing happened however with every player standing up and being counted in a tight local derby. Our next game is against St Laurences away next Friday (see clubzap fixtures) and a win will almost certainly put us in a Championship Semi-Final, so all is to play for. Training continues Monday in preparation for that game.
