Kilbride 0-15 St Pauls 2-3

Its been a while since Kilbride recorded a win in the opening round of the Championship but this was put right last Sunday with a somewhat comfortable win over neighbours St Pauls. Both teams made the short journey to St Peters of Dunboyne. One must complement them for how well their grounds looked and for their hospitality when arranging refreshments for both teams afterwards.

Kilbride were sharp and were intent from the start and with a young team lining out, St Pauls struggled to live with them early on and Kilbrides first point arrived from the boot of Finbar Clarke on eight minutes when he found space in behind the St Pauls defence and he slotted over a fine point. Joseph Donnelly pointed from a free on eleven minutes to go two up as Kilbride found there rhytem.

St Pauls were finding it hard to breakdown the well organised defence. Stephen McMullen got Kilbrides third on fourteen minutes and it was Donnely who followed with a magnificant effort from 45 yards. He recieved a pass from Michael Farrell out wide on the left and just as you taught there was nothing on Donnelly let fly off the outside of his boot and it sailed between the sticks. McMullen should have registered Kilbrides first goal only to be denied by the St Pauls keeper. Kilbride we dominating all over the field and another solo effort from Joseph Donnelly on seventheen minutes put Kilbride six up. St Pauls had to wait untill the eighteenth minute to get there first score. This would turn out to be there only score of the half. 

McMullen pointed his second and another from Donnelly on nineteen minutes stretched Kilbrides lead back to six. Another fine save from the St Pauls keeper kept them in it. They were also helped by poor shooting from the Kilbride men and they had to wait a further eight minutes before Kilbride would score again, this came from midfielder David O'Leary after excellent link up play that saw him slot over from thirty five yards.

Full forward Michael Farrell got his first on 31 minutes after another sweeping move when he slotted over off his left...Donnelly finished the half with Kilbride's eleventh score of the game to lead at the break 11 point to 1.

Kilbrides defence were tight in the opening half, Conor Mahon Karl Stapelton and Jack Donnelly were solid through out. The half back line of Clarke the younger of the Stapelton twins Dean and McGovern were both defending and attacking at every opportunity so the balance was good. The experienced John Bruton was the work horse in the middle along with the high fielding David O'Leary. 

Kilbride started as they had finished with another fine score from Joseph Donnelly before St Pauls struck for there second score of the game when corner back Jack Donnelly diverted into his own net when a mis placed free was looking like going wide. 

O'Leary got his second on forty seven with another fine move through the middle. Another soon followed when Michael Farrell got his second when a goal chance looked on.

Kilbride were searching for goals when points might have been a better option when St Pauls struck for there second goal when a speculative shot hit both post before settling in the net. St Pauls followed with two more points before man of the match Donnelly struck his eight and nineth of the day with pointed frees to end proceedings..

In summary this was a nervous win over our neighbours St Pauls but it was good to get the win. At times in the first half the football was excellent. With eleven of the starting fiftheen all under 20 years of age. The future is looking good and they will take alot of positives into round two when they take on Dunderry in three weeks time. 

Kilbride: Conor Storey, Conor Mahon, Karl Stapelton, Jack Donnelly, Finbar Clarke 0-1,Dean Stapelton, Jake McGovern, David O'Leary 0-2, John Bruton, Callum McGovern, Joseph Donnelly 0-9, Cathal McKeown, Brian White, Michael Farrell 0-2, Stephen McMullen 0-2

Subs. Conor Doyle for McMullen, Stephen Walsh for Jack Donnelly, Craig Sheridan for Jake McGovern and Paul Donnelly for Callum McGovern.  Un used subs. Aaron Dunne , Craig Manning, Colm O'Neill, Colm Faughan, Jeff Sheridan.

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