SFL Div.4 (Top Four)
27-5-26
Ballymore 3-12 Kildangan 0-13
Kildangan's long trip to Ballymore on Wednesday last ultimately proved fruitless, despite a decent display against the in form hosts.
The opening half commenced with defences on top as both sides tried to suss each other out. It was expected that Ballymore would field a stronger team than in the previous meeting and so it proved. Kildangan started well however with the defence led by Paddy Neary at centre back keeping the Ballymore forwards well shackled despite them having plenty of possession. Ballymore did open the scoring 5 minutes in but Kildangan quickly answered with a two pointer free from Mark O Donavan. Mark extended the Kildangan lead moments later from a free after being fouled himself. Ballymore answered back themselves with a point, as play was end to end at this point. Devan Abbey and Ryan Moran extended out the Kildangan lead with neat points from play to leave Kildangan 6-2 ahead after 15 minutes played. The value of two pointers was clear to see as Ballymore had two sandwiching a Mark O Donavan free, to bring things back to a one point game. Kildangan were playing well at this point and the one point lead was rough justice for their early efforts. Daragh Murphy raiding from wing back stretched the Kildangan lead to two and when Devan Abbey was upended in the Ballymore square a penalty decision seemed assured. Inexplicably the referee allowed play to continue with play ending up with a Ballymore point at the other end. Kildangan got some measure of satisfaction minutes later when Ryan Moran regained the Kildangan lead but Ballymore answered with the final score of the half to leave the half time score Ballymore 0-8 Kildangan 0-8.
Kildangan were well in the game and had the host rattled as the second half commenced. Unfortunately Ballymore's first score of the second half was a goal to give them the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. Kildangan refused to buckle and had the game back to a one score difference with two Devan Abbey points. A two pointer free from Ballymore, followed by another free had the Ballymore lead out to four points. Disaster struck for Kildangan when a foul was called inside the Kildangan square for a penalty to Ballymore. If anything it looked like the foul was committed initially outside the square. The penalty was scored to effectively end the game as a contest. Ballymore added a point to stretch the lead to 8 points. Kildangan dug in and continued to chase the game Luke McKenna and Mark O Donavan replied with points for Kildangan but the fact the lead had stretched out meant that Kildangan began to chase goals at an early stage in the half. The goals Kildangan needed didn't arrive and the final score read Ballymore 3-12 Kildangan 0-13.
Despite being short a few regulars Kildangan will know they ran Championship frontrunners Ballymore closer than the scoreline might suggest. Ultimately two penalties decided the game, one not given, while the other was. The Seniors have a chance to test their mettle against high flying Suncroft on Sunday evening in Kildangan at 7pm. Come along and support the team in what should be a competitive encounter.
27-5-26
Ballymore 3-12 Kildangan 0-13
Kildangan's long trip to Ballymore on Wednesday last ultimately proved fruitless, despite a decent display against the in form hosts.
The opening half commenced with defences on top as both sides tried to suss each other out. It was expected that Ballymore would field a stronger team than in the previous meeting and so it proved. Kildangan started well however with the defence led by Paddy Neary at centre back keeping the Ballymore forwards well shackled despite them having plenty of possession. Ballymore did open the scoring 5 minutes in but Kildangan quickly answered with a two pointer free from Mark O Donavan. Mark extended the Kildangan lead moments later from a free after being fouled himself. Ballymore answered back themselves with a point, as play was end to end at this point. Devan Abbey and Ryan Moran extended out the Kildangan lead with neat points from play to leave Kildangan 6-2 ahead after 15 minutes played. The value of two pointers was clear to see as Ballymore had two sandwiching a Mark O Donavan free, to bring things back to a one point game. Kildangan were playing well at this point and the one point lead was rough justice for their early efforts. Daragh Murphy raiding from wing back stretched the Kildangan lead to two and when Devan Abbey was upended in the Ballymore square a penalty decision seemed assured. Inexplicably the referee allowed play to continue with play ending up with a Ballymore point at the other end. Kildangan got some measure of satisfaction minutes later when Ryan Moran regained the Kildangan lead but Ballymore answered with the final score of the half to leave the half time score Ballymore 0-8 Kildangan 0-8.
Kildangan were well in the game and had the host rattled as the second half commenced. Unfortunately Ballymore's first score of the second half was a goal to give them the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. Kildangan refused to buckle and had the game back to a one score difference with two Devan Abbey points. A two pointer free from Ballymore, followed by another free had the Ballymore lead out to four points. Disaster struck for Kildangan when a foul was called inside the Kildangan square for a penalty to Ballymore. If anything it looked like the foul was committed initially outside the square. The penalty was scored to effectively end the game as a contest. Ballymore added a point to stretch the lead to 8 points. Kildangan dug in and continued to chase the game Luke McKenna and Mark O Donavan replied with points for Kildangan but the fact the lead had stretched out meant that Kildangan began to chase goals at an early stage in the half. The goals Kildangan needed didn't arrive and the final score read Ballymore 3-12 Kildangan 0-13.
Despite being short a few regulars Kildangan will know they ran Championship frontrunners Ballymore closer than the scoreline might suggest. Ultimately two penalties decided the game, one not given, while the other was. The Seniors have a chance to test their mettle against high flying Suncroft on Sunday evening in Kildangan at 7pm. Come along and support the team in what should be a competitive encounter.
