U20s impress in win over Killucan

Our first ever U20 football championship game yielded a superb 2-9 to 1-7 victory over Killucan in dreadful weather conditions under lights in Kinnegad last Friday night.

Full forward Jamie Stone scored 1-8 (0-5 from frees) in a virtuoso display as we put the bitter disappointment of last Saturday week's Leinster club JFC defeat to Young Irelands behind us to march into the quarter-finals. Our superior team-work and fitness was evident as we led from pillar to post to spring a surprise on our senior opponents. With Stone in unerring form from frees and open play, we took a 0-9 to 1-2 lead into the break and put the result beyond doubt with second half majors from Stone and young substitute Michael Murphy.

With the elements behind us, we raced into a 0-7 to 0-0 lead thanks to six points from Stone and another from Dylan Maloney before Killucan suddenly came to life by scoring 1-2 in the space of two minutes. But Stone replied with a brace of points to steady us and leave us four up at the interval.

As conditions deteriorated, the first score of the second half didn’t arrive until the 43rd minute when Killucan kicked a point. Stone replied with a goal almost immediately to double our advantage, but the Saffrons grabbed the next three points to leave it 1-6 to 1-9.

The game was now in the melting pot, but with eight minutes to go, we struck the decisive blow when the unmarked Murphy showed a cool head to dink the ball past the Killucan goalkeeper after Niall Carey had picked him out with a delightful pass.

Killucan applied strong pressure in the closing stages, but could only muster a point from a late 20-metre free as Thomas Finnegan and his defence kept them at bay. With Aaron McNamee, Martin Ward and possibly Colm Heffernan expected to be available for the next round, one suspects the best is yet to come from this promising team managed by James ‘Bomber’ Claffey, Brendan Nannery and Ciaran Daly.

Team: Thomas Finnegan; Mark Wrafter, Darragh Coffey, Aidan Stone; Ryan Coughlan, Rory O’Neill, Dylan Maloney; Niall Carey, Keith Corcoran (captain); James Hanlon, Cathal Maher, Cathal Finn; Jack Mitchell, Jamie Stone, Diarmuid Egan. Sub: Michael Murphy.

Sympathy

We extend our deepest sympathy to Enda Loughlin and family, Clonkill on the tragic death of baby Annabel last Friday. The Loughlin's are a great GAA family and have close connections with Kilbeggan.

Lotto 

Last week's lucky numbers were 1, 4, 5 and 21. Seamus Whelan, Colm Connolly and Danny McGee were the Match 3 winners. This week's draw will take place in Larrigy's with the jackpot standing at €15,000. Tickets, costing €2, can be purchased locally. Thank you for your continued support.

Tweet

Most Read Stories