The newly formed Abbey Rangers amalgamation of Kildangan and Ballykelly claimed their first piece of silverware with a hard fought victory over Milltown at the county grounds on Saturday. It took extra time to find a winner as the sides finished all square at the end of normal time.

There was little between the teams in the opening half as the lead swung no more than a single score in one direction or the other. Indeed much of the half was a kicking competition between Abbey Rangers' Robert Hanley and Milltown's Alan Dignam as both players gave an exhibition of free taking. Milltown's Brandon Heavey gave his team the lead midway through the half with a score that almost dipped below the crossbar but a fine individual score from Dermot Hickey drew Rangers level once more. As the half drew to a close, Hanley landed two late scores to send his team in 0.8 to 0.6 in front.

Abbey Rangers re-started at a blistering pace with Hanley scoring twice in as many minutes. The first was a sublime effort from play from 35m out and second from a free following a foul on Dean Porter. The game could have been ended as a contest when Eoin Sinnott put Dermot Hickey through for a goal but his shot came back off the crossbar.

Dignam and Hanley resumed their kicking contest before a weaving run from Milltown midfielder Kevin Byrne ended with his shot at goal skinning the crossbar to reduce the lead to three. The woodwork denied Milltown another score but Glen Smith soon reduced the lead to two. Adam Lawler had to be to his best in the Rangers goal to deny James Byrne and from Shane Ryan's resulting clearance Hanley restored the three point lead. Ranger's backs were firmly to the wall in the closing minutes as Milltown gave one final push. Alan Dignam showed his class one more landing three late points to draw the game on the stroke of full time at 0.12 each.

The critical moment in the game came in the opening minute of extra time when Ryan Moran was hauled to the ground for a penalty. Michael Murphy in the Milltown goal got down to Robert Hanley's low shot but just couldn't turn it outside the post as Rangers took a huge advantage. Hanley increased the gap to four when Moran was again fouled but a late Brandon Heavey point left just the goal in it as the teams changed ends.

Milltown showed their fighting spirit and reduced the lead to just a point as Dignam scored again. The Rangers defence was superb in the closing minutes with Luke Barry and Eoin Whelan marshalling their wing men to prevent an equalising score as it ended 1.13 to 0.15 in favour of the Kildangan/Ballykelly men.

It was a true reflection of the game that just one point separated the teams after over 80 minutes of football and both sides deserve great credit for their efforts. Joint captains Eoin Sinnott and Dara Gilbert collected the cup to the delight of their team mates, mentors and supporters.

ABBEY RANGERS: Adam Lawler; Cian Stafford, Luke Barry, Shane Ryan; Stephan McNally, Eoin Whelan, Josh Lawler; David O'Connell, Dara Gilbert; Evan Foley, Eoin Sinnott, Dermot Hickey 0-1; Robert Hanley 1-12 (1 pen, 9f), Dean Porter, Ryan Moran.

MILLTOWN: Michael Murphy; David Shannon, Andy Busuttil, Reece Murphy Lucako; Jack Nugent, Brandon Heavey 0-2, Glen Smith 0-1; Kevin Byrne 0-1, James Condon; Reece Gavin, James Byrne 0-1, Alan Dignam 0-9 (8f); Aaron Jacob 0-1, Cullen Desay, Sean Tiernan.

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