June 16th, 2021

EMS Copiers Senior Football League Division 1

St Laurences: 3-13(22)
Naas: 0-19(19)
In a tightly contested game in Old Grange, Naas had a promising start, with a well-taken score from corner back David Shaw. They added two more scores before the Larries opened their account with a fine point from Padraig Fogarty. Aaron Kennedy worked hard to score the Larries first goal and Fogarty was involved again to add another goal, before the first-half water break brought the scores to 2-2 to 0-5.
Naas dominated for much of the remainder of the first half. Paddy McDermot and Eamon Callaghan tagged on more scores for Naas. However, the Larries enjoyed a late surge before the half-time whistle with scores from Jason McHugh and Aaron Kennedy to leave the scoreboard at 2-7 to 0-11 at half-time.
Naas chalked up some early points at the start of the second half to bring the scores level. It was tit for tat for much of the second-half until a well-taken point by Mark Glynn and a Jason McHugh penalty put the larries ahead by two. Naas added a late score but were unable to break down the Larries defence. A late point by Tommy O’Neill sealed victory for the Larries.
St Laurences: Kevin Eustace, David O’Driscoll, Luke Gorman, PJ Cullen, Eoin Curley, Niall Clynch, Stephen Mann, Mark Glynn, Roger Glynn, Aaron Gorman, Jason McHugh, Padraig O’Neill, Aaron Kennedy, Tommy O’Neill, Padraig Fogarty. Subs used: Daragh Miley, James Fahy, Jack Dargan.
Naas: Barry Reynolds, David Shaw, Alin McDermott, Joe Murphy, Paddy McDermott, Brian Kane, Eoin Archibald, David Gahan, Sean Cullen, Paul McDermott, Eamon Callaghan, Colm Joyce, Ciaran Doyle, Tom Browne, Dermot Hanifin. Subs Used: Barry Murphy, Luke Griffin, Drew Costello.

EMS Copiers Senior Football League Division 2

Leixlip 3-11(20)
Two Mile House 0-20(20)
Leixlip and Two Mile House played out a lively draw in the first round of the Kildare Senior Football League in Radley Park, Leixlip. After the visitors looked like they would run out comfortable winners, midway through the second half, it was Leixlip who staged an almighty comeback to snatch the draw with a late penalty by Tommy Moolick.
The first half opened up with a quickfire score from Jack Barrett, followed by a point by Two Mile House, from the boot of Chris Healy. Paddy Meagher, Leixlip centre-forward added a point from play but Two Mile House responded with three scores on the trot – a Healy free, a point from Two Mile House midfielder, and another Healy free. Ciaran Fadian steadied the ship for Leixlip by knocking over a low shot, but the House responded with yet another point from a free, and two points from play through Jaimie Gaire and Adam Connelly. At the first half water break, the score read Leixlip 0-3, Two Mile House 0-7. In these opening 15 mins, both sides were guilty of wides and shots dropping short and some off the post, including a speculative shot by the full-forward from Two Mile House, collected by Kyle Costello.
Post water-break in the first half, the House continued where they left off with a fine point by midfielder Donnacha Higgins. What followed was a great move in response, by the hosts: corner-back Eanna McHugh broke up the field after a fine dispossession, and passed off to Ronan Fitzimons. The latter was deemed to be fouled, with a possible footblock. No free was awarded, although Leixlip pointed through the resulting ‘45, from Eamonn Murphy. Two-Mile House closed out the half much stronger than Leixlip and kicked a brace of points from Christy Burke and Liam Coleman. Moolick responded near the half-time break with a fine long-range effort, leaving the scores at Leixlip 0-5, Two Mile House 0-9.
The second half opened at a blistering pace, and the ever-reliable Tommy Moolick added a score, shortly followed by Paddy Meagher. However, the House began to dominate midfield, and tagged on four points in-a-row leaving the scores at 0-13 to 0-7, with points coming from Tony O’Connor, Chris Healy, Pete Kelly and Jack Collins. Moolick managed to muster a solitary score for the home side before four more points, all from play, were fired over by Two Mile House. Scorers included no.17, Adam Connelly, Mark Sherry, and again midfielder Tony O’Connor. Leixlip were in trouble by the time of the second water-break.
Then came the first goal from Tommy Moolick, to mark the beginning of a comeback. Substitute Mark O’Toole followed up with a tricky angled score, reducing the deficit to five. Chris Healy again widened the gap to six with a fine score from play, but the Leixlip fightback continued. Eamon Murphy hit the back of the net for a second goal, after a great burst forward by wing-forward Darren McDermott. Murphy later added a point after Two Mile House responded through Chris Healy again. Two Mile House added another score through goalkeeper Didier Cordonnier, from a massive long-range free. As full-time approached, it looked as though the visitors would escape with a win for the second year running, however true grit shown by Leixlip through stout defending by Quinn, Conneely, and McHugh helped the home side rescue the situation. Substitute Rory Flynn raised a white flag with minutes remaining, leaving 3 between the sides. Then the final decisive score: a long burst forward and a weaving path created by Paddy Meagher who was fouled, led to a
fine strike of a penalty from the boot of Moolick. This tied matters on 3-11 to 0-20 with the final whistle blown.
Overall the game was a tightly contested affair. When Two Mile House stretched the lead on two occasions in the second half, Leixlip dug deep to rescue the situation, twice. It was a tough but fair game between two well-drilled sides, and Leixlip will be happy with sharing the spoils. There were some great performances from players on both sides throughout.

EMS Copiers Senior Football League Div3

Straffan 1:13(16)
Allenwood: 0:16(16)
In the balmy Straffan evening Straffan and Allenwood served up a feast of exciting football. Spectators who might not have realised what they were missing during the Covid months soon engaged the thriller.
Straffan opened the brighter but a flurry of wides didn’t open daylight. A brace from Aaron Kiernan got Straffan off the mark. Scott Dunne and a Darren Judge free was the Allenwood response. The ding-dong continued to half-time with both teams on 7 points. At the second half water break it was still “even Stephen” at 0 – 10 each.
On resumption Allenwood edged in front but a splendid fetch by Sean O Connor over the forever Johnny Doyle won the mark which resulted in the ball being played over the top of the defence to the on-running John Tracey who ripped the net to give Straffan a 2 point lead. 2 frees pointed by John Tracey and Austin Allen left Straffan 4 points clear. It looked as if victory was secure for the home side. Allenwood were not beaten, however.
With Paul Donovan side-lined by a second yellow Allenwood took command. They piled on the pressure and point by point cut the deficit. One being elegant from substitute Jack O Brien. With time up, Allenwood were awarded an out-of-range free. A minor piece of controversy ensued when referee, Fergus Devereux, moved the ball forward to within range asserting that a Straffan player had distracted the intended kicker. Up stepped Johnny Doyle who floated the equaliser over the Straffan crossbar with the last kick of the game.
Scorers. Straffan:- John Tracey (1-6, 0 –4f), Austin Allen (0 – 4, 0 – 1f)    Aaron Kiernan (0 – 2). Andy O Neill (0 -1)
Allenwood:- Darren Judge (0 – 6, 0 – 3f) Johnny Doyle (0 – 5, 0 – 3f), Scott Dunne (0 – 2), Eoin Bagnall (0 – 2), Jack O Brien (0 – 1)
Teams. Straffan:- Matt Duggan, Alan Byrne, Niall Devane, Mike Tracey, Rory Byrne, Ed Neenan, Lee Donoghue, Paul Donovan, Aaron Kiernan, Terry Shanley, John Tracey, Sean O Connor, Austin Allen, Andy O Neill, Brian Tracey. Sub. Tom McGoldrick for Mike Tracey.
Allenwood:- Stephen Carey, Cregg Lenihan, Sean Moore, Cillian Moran, Ronan Guilfoyle, Fionn Moran, Stephen Conlon, Johnny Doyle, Rory Moran, Mark Byrne, Eoin Bagnall, Colm Moran, Scott Dunne, Darren Judge, Mark Hogarty. Subs. Oran O Sullivan for Fionn Moran, Jack O Brien for Mark Byrne, Aaron Lenihan for Scott Dunne.
Referee:- Fergus Devereux.

EMS Copiers Senior Football League Division 4

Kildangan 0:12(12)
Ballykelly 2:12(18)
A warm More O’Ferrall Park was the venue for Kildangan’s opening round of their senior league which saw them facing local rivals Ballykelly. The Kildangan team were looking to build on last week’s championship final success but missing some key players and facing a good Ballykelly side meant that victory wasn’t meant to be for Kildangan as the hard fought game would end in favour of the visitors, on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-12.
The game started well for Ballykelly as they set a marker for the game, gaining possession from the kick out and opening the scoring with a point before they quickly added to their lead with a goal in the opening minutes and making it difficult for Kildangan to get settled. But Kildangan didn’t let this stop them as they began to build from midfield, fielding the ball well and working it up the pitch, opening their scoring account with a free and a lovely point from play.
Ballykelly looked to get in on goal again but a superb save from young keeper Séan Fitzgerald ensured that Ballykelly would be denied on this occasion. A cynical foul from Kildangan midfielder Robert McGrath left Kildangan battling with 14 men and in this time Ballykelly made the most of their extra man outscoring Kildangan by 1-02 to 0-03. Kildangan finished the half with a lovely team score and left the score line at 0-06 to 2-05.
After the break the game flowed well with scoring chances taken by each team, keeping their leads building one point at a time. Ballykelly were keen to get in on goal but fantastic defending in the back and brilliant saves on numerous occasions by the Kildangan keeper meant that Ballykelly would build on their lead through points alone. Kildangan fought hard and managed to reduce the visitors lead to a goal after converted frees from Jack Drumm, Cian Murtagh and a point from play from Eoin Murphy.
Both teams saw a black card each in the game, while Ballykelly unfortunately saw two reds, playing the second half with a man down and losing another in the closing minutes but even with the man advantage Kildangan couldn’t manage to get keep the score board ticking and stop Ballykelly from building too. The two first half goals from Ballykelly proved the difference between the teams as the game finished 0-12 to 2-12.
In the end there was many positives that the Kildangan team and management could take from the game with stand out performances from a number of players, great scores and a performance they could be proud of. Ballykelly worked hard for their win and deserved it. Kildangan will look to build on this performance when they take on Milltown away next weekend!