Kilbride are the first team in 2017s Championship to secure a quarter final spot when they over came Boardsmill in Kilmessan earlier this evening in round four of the JB FC.

Only the brave were there as the rain poured down from the heavens but it was the team in red & green who adapted and were two points up within the first three minutes. The first of these coming from inform Stephen McMullen from a pointed free with only forty five seconds on the clock. It was McMullen again on three to put Kilbride two up. Kilbride were dominating the early exchanges, if not for the poor conditions Kilbride could have been further ahead. They were rewarded again on ten minutes when midfielder David O'Leary broke after excellent defending from Dean Stapelton,  he released John Bruton who fed his midfielder partner and he was away and he made no mistake from distance. There was alot of purpose to Kilbrides play but with the under food conditions getting worse Boardsmill were starting to get going themselves and they found themselves level after reeling off three quick scores of their own with 15 minutes gone. 

However Kilbride upped the tempo and were rewarded with a goal on twenty three minutes when Michael Farrell made no mistake when he slotted home from ten yards. Brian White increased the margin to four when he slotted over on twenty four minutes. It was that man again who could have had Kilbrides second goal only to be denied by the cross bar as he let fly a rasping shot that rebounded as the keeper never moved..At this stage Kilbride were dominating all over the pitch, Kilbrides defence were excellent and on numerous occassions Boardsmill were dispocessed in the tackle. Dave Barron, Dean and Karl Stapelton were strong throughtout while Finbar Clarke never put a foot wrong. Michael Farrell concluded the first half scoring on twenty six minutes with another point.

Half time Kilbride 1-5 to Boardsmill 0-3.

As Kilbride headed to the solice of the dressing room to escape the pouring rain you could only see one winner. They were full value for there lead with the only negative been that it should have been greater margin. 

Mick Ryan sporting a dry Referees top got us going for the second half and similar to the first Kilbride were first to score after two minutes (32) through center forward Michael Farrell. Veteran Brian White got his second on thirty seven to extend the lead to seven. Time and time again Boardsmill were coming up short due to excellent defending by the Kilbride lads. As a unit they were well oganised and as boardsmill were forced to kick from distance there wides were clocking up.  Mickey Farrell brought his tally to 1-3 when he slotted over from the right wing on thirty seven minutes to extend Kilbrides lead to eight points after great work from Craig Sheridan created the opportunity. 

Two pointed frees from Boardsmill reduced it back to six but again Kilbride responded through a Stephen McMullen free..Another point from midfield dynamo O'Leary on fifty minutes restored it back to eight. Midfielder John Bruton was getting through a massive amount of work all over the pitch and his experince was evedent as he was clever in pocession. Another two quick points through McMullen extended it out to ten points before Boardsmill rallied to finish with two points of there own but it was too little too late as referee Mick Ryan brought the game to an end. 

Full time 

Kilbride 1-12 Boardsmill 0 -7

At times in terrible conditions the Kilbride lads played excellent football, they had it all. They were excellent in defence, hard working in the middle and full of innovation up front. 

With one game left and a quarter final secured Kilbride head into round 5 looking to secure top spot. 

Kilbride Conor Storey. John Smith. Dave Barron. Karl Stapelton. Finbar Clarke. Stephen Walsh. Dean Stapelton. David O'Leary 0-2. John Bruton. Cathal McKeown. Michael Farrell 1-3. Craig Sheridan. Stephen McMullen 0-5. Brian White 0-2. Jeff Sheridan. 

Subs. Ollie Nolan for J Sheridan. Colin O Neill for C McKeown. Conor Mahon for J Smith. Unused subs. Craig Manning. Jake McGovern. Paul Donnelly. Jack Donnelly. 

 

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