SFL Div.4
Round 4
11-04-26
Kildangan 1-18 Ballymore 1-10
Our senior team made a statement of intent on Saturday evening in wintery More O'Ferrall Park by taking out second placed Ballymore. With a controlled and committed display, the team signalled their intentions for the remainder of the league and gave themselves a great opportunity of a top half finish.
Playing with the elements, Kildangan started the game brightly and had early scores on the board from Eanna Sherlock, Aaron Schofield and Mark O'Donavan to open up an early three point lead. Ballymore answered with a point of their own when a move out of the Kildangan defence broke down and was punished. Undeterred Kildangan hit back with Mark O'Donavan putting over a two pointer free. Ballymore answered with a point but Mark repeated the trick moments later with another two pointer free to give Kildangan a five point lead. Devan Abbey stretched the Kildangan lead further before Ballymore hit three points of their own from frees to narrow the gap. Ballymore were slowly getting a foothold in the middle third which required an answer from Kildangan. Aaron Schofield and Paddy Neary stepped up to get Kildangan on the front foot again with good points. A Mark O'Donavan point after a lay off from Ryan Moran was sandwiched between two Ballymore scores as we approached half time. Just when we wondered whether a four point lead at the break would be enough, Ryan Moran forced his way in from the left wing to bury a low shot past the Ballymore keeper leaving the half-time score Kildangan 1-11 Ballymore 0-7.
Kildangan's half-time lead was cut to five points with two early second-half points from Ballymore, who now had the wind at their backs for the second half. Kildangan required a score to get them moving and it came from joint-captain Aaron Schofield after a Ballymore clearance was blocked down by Devan Abbey. Kildangan increased their work rate all over the field at this point with Killian Scully and Thomas Browne rock solid at the back. Kildangan strangled the life out of Ballymore by holding onto possession for long periods before often finishing those long periods in possession with a score. The Reilly brothers, Paddy Neary, Alan Donaher, Luke McKenna and Aaron Schofield handled a lot of ball in the middle third in this period. Mark O'Donavan (2), Aaron Schofield and Oisin Irvin knocked over important scores to build Kildangan into a ten point lead. Ballymore struck for a goal, somewhat against the run of play, which kept the game in the melting pot. Mark O'Donavan calmed Kildangan nerves with a free, however Ballymore hit back with a score of their own. Ballymore were simply unable to get their hands on enough possession in the final ten minutes to hurt Kildangan and it was left for the returning Dan Gilbert to raise the loudest cheer of the day by knocking over the final score, to leave the full-time score Kildangan 1-18 Ballymore 1-10.
The win takes Kildangan into second place in the league table behind Monasterevin. The fitness and control of the team in the critical period in the second-half playing against the elements was clear to see. Liam O'Donavan on the Kildangan side-line made all the right calls at the right times in the game to ensure a good win. The team will look to build on the win next Saturday with a home game against Rheban.
Round 4
11-04-26
Kildangan 1-18 Ballymore 1-10
Our senior team made a statement of intent on Saturday evening in wintery More O'Ferrall Park by taking out second placed Ballymore. With a controlled and committed display, the team signalled their intentions for the remainder of the league and gave themselves a great opportunity of a top half finish.
Playing with the elements, Kildangan started the game brightly and had early scores on the board from Eanna Sherlock, Aaron Schofield and Mark O'Donavan to open up an early three point lead. Ballymore answered with a point of their own when a move out of the Kildangan defence broke down and was punished. Undeterred Kildangan hit back with Mark O'Donavan putting over a two pointer free. Ballymore answered with a point but Mark repeated the trick moments later with another two pointer free to give Kildangan a five point lead. Devan Abbey stretched the Kildangan lead further before Ballymore hit three points of their own from frees to narrow the gap. Ballymore were slowly getting a foothold in the middle third which required an answer from Kildangan. Aaron Schofield and Paddy Neary stepped up to get Kildangan on the front foot again with good points. A Mark O'Donavan point after a lay off from Ryan Moran was sandwiched between two Ballymore scores as we approached half time. Just when we wondered whether a four point lead at the break would be enough, Ryan Moran forced his way in from the left wing to bury a low shot past the Ballymore keeper leaving the half-time score Kildangan 1-11 Ballymore 0-7.
Kildangan's half-time lead was cut to five points with two early second-half points from Ballymore, who now had the wind at their backs for the second half. Kildangan required a score to get them moving and it came from joint-captain Aaron Schofield after a Ballymore clearance was blocked down by Devan Abbey. Kildangan increased their work rate all over the field at this point with Killian Scully and Thomas Browne rock solid at the back. Kildangan strangled the life out of Ballymore by holding onto possession for long periods before often finishing those long periods in possession with a score. The Reilly brothers, Paddy Neary, Alan Donaher, Luke McKenna and Aaron Schofield handled a lot of ball in the middle third in this period. Mark O'Donavan (2), Aaron Schofield and Oisin Irvin knocked over important scores to build Kildangan into a ten point lead. Ballymore struck for a goal, somewhat against the run of play, which kept the game in the melting pot. Mark O'Donavan calmed Kildangan nerves with a free, however Ballymore hit back with a score of their own. Ballymore were simply unable to get their hands on enough possession in the final ten minutes to hurt Kildangan and it was left for the returning Dan Gilbert to raise the loudest cheer of the day by knocking over the final score, to leave the full-time score Kildangan 1-18 Ballymore 1-10.
The win takes Kildangan into second place in the league table behind Monasterevin. The fitness and control of the team in the critical period in the second-half playing against the elements was clear to see. Liam O'Donavan on the Kildangan side-line made all the right calls at the right times in the game to ensure a good win. The team will look to build on the win next Saturday with a home game against Rheban.
