Kilbride 3-16, St Mary's 0-3

The original  fixture between Kilbride and St Marys was another that fell victim to the bad weather at the weekend, the rescheduled rescheduled match was fixed for Ashbourne on Wednesday evening but another late change saw this eagerly awaited game changed to Dunganny. 

Kilbride are a lot of peoples favourites for the title this year having fell at the final hurdle last year when been outclassed in the final. Some will say that you have to lose one before you win one and it sees that this Kilbride team has the credentials to go all they way as they easily overcame a St Mary's challenge in Dunganny on Wednesday evening in round 1 of the junior B championship.

Kilbride were giving debut championship starts to four players and without the services of four experienced players one could be nervous about this as St Mary's have shown decent form in the league to date but the Kilbride lads put down a real marker with an outstanding display from start to finish.

Joseph Donnelly took the fight to St Mary's and finished with 1-5 his first coming after four minutes, veteran Finbar Clarke made it two on five minutes and an excellent point from David O'Leary from distance on six made it three point to no score. St Mary's were finding it hard to get there hands on the ball and when they did they were out muscled by a resolute Kilbride defence which was led by debutante Ronan O'Leary at center back. Dean Stapelton was mopping up all the breaking ball and showed great maturity by keeping it simple. Paul Donnelly playing in mid field for the first time coasted through the sixty minutes and he registered Kilbride fourth after ten minutes.

St Mary's created a real goal opportunity on eleven minutes but Craig Manning pulled off a wonderful save to keep them scoreless. From the resulting clearance Joseph Donnelly got another fine point as the ball was worked quickly down the other end . Further points from Finbar Clarke on twelve left it six points to no score. During the next eight minutes St Mary's had a purple patch but couldn't find away through a strong Kilbride defence, John Smith at full back was excellent when dispossessing St Mary's full forward as he raced through on goal, Paddy O'Neill and Jack Donnelly broke at every opportunity when defensive work was completed. Another point on twenty four from David O'Leary and Michael Farrells first on 25 left it 8 points to no score.

Joseph Donnelly rounded up the half with his third of the half.

It was an excellent first half display from all and especially from wing forwards Clarke and Brendan Courtney as they tracked back time and time again into defence to help out, they were excellent throughout.

Half time Kilbride 0-9 St Mary's 0-0

St Mary's won the second half throw in and mounted the first attached of the half but again Kilbrides defence was rock solid, Cathal Daly making his debut intercepted a pass that was quickly moved which resulted in David O'Leary find Donnelly out wide on the right but rather than turn and swing one over Donnelly cut in along the 14 yard line and let fly form ten yards to find the roof of the net. This was a major blow for St Mary's. Two David O'Leary frees on thirty three and on thirty five minutes stretched the lead out to 1-11. Another major blow as Kilbride scored there second goal through Michael Farrell after more serious work from the player out field that created the goal and the full forward made no mistake with his effort.

Kilbride management emptied the bench and introduced another debutante in Jamie McWeeney at wing back and he was straight into the action with an excellent point off his left boot on forty nine minutes. Joseph Donnelly got another as he collected the resulting kick out and a neat one two carved open the opponents defence and he easily slotted over. Kilbride introduced further subs and the pattern continued.

On fifty five and fifty six minutes St Mary's registered there first and second scores respectively, Jamie McWeeney got his second this time off his right foot for Kilbride on fifty six, another from St Mary's brought there total to three points before Donnelly got his fifth on fifty nine. But Kilbirde were not done as the impressive Stephen McMullen when introduced as a sub put his hand up for a starting place with his excellent 15 minutes performance and he got Kilbrides third goal on sixty minutes.

Full time Kilbride 3-16, St Mary's 0-3

As a Neutral reading this you might think that it was a miss match but it only became that because of the excellent performance from this Kilbride team and you can see why there favorites for the title and they didn't disappoint with an excellent performance through out

Kilbride: Craig manning, Paddy O'Neill, John Smith, Jack Donnelly, Dean Stapelton, Ronan O'Leary, Cathal Daly, David O'Leary (0-4), Paul Donnelly (0-2), Brendan Courtney, Cadhla McKenna, Finbar Clarke (0 2), Joseph Donnelly (1-5), Michael Farrell (1-1), Jeff Sheridan. Subs, Cathal McKeown for Sheridan, Stephen McMullen (1-0) for Farrell, Karl Stapelton for O' Neill, Jamie McWeeney (0-2) for R O'Leary, Stephen Walsh for Clarke, Gareth Lynch for Courtney.

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