A week ago Kildress struggled all over the field against Naomh Eoghan but they left that well behind them earlier tonight with a strong 2-11 to 0-6 win over an Eskra team that was put on the back foot from the start by having to face into a strong wind at a chilly Gortacladdy.
This time Kildress were comfortable all over the field and established an early grasp of things that they never really let go. Whilst the Emmets did equalise Matty McGuigan’s opening point, that was as good as it got for them and when Corey Holland scored the first of his ‘goal double’ on the night in the second quarter, it gave the Tones a 1-5 to 0-2 lead that even then looked decisive.
By half time the lead had stretched out to 1-8 to 0-3 and a couple of early second half points from the very influential Pauric Lagan pushed the Kildress advantage into double figures. It wasn’t just one-way traffic though and it took some good play by Nathan McKernan, Niall Connolly and the powerful Dean McNally to thwart an Eskra side that just wouldn’t give in.
Corey Holland’s well-finished second goal brought an end to a period of missed Kildress chances and really put the result beyond any doubt. Two very welcome League points in Tyrone’s most competitive League Division.
Kildress impressed in all sectors of the field, with good showings from their half back line of Johnny Connolly, Stephen Loughran and Shea Loughran, centre-fielders Pauric Lagan and Conor McAleer and attackers Shea Quinn, Matty McGuigan, Philip Lennon and Corey Holland.
Cathal Kearney was an excellent referee.
Kildress: Nathan McKernan | Aaron Loughran, Dean McNally, Niall Connolly | Jonny Connolly, Stephen Loughran, Shea Loughran | Enda McAleer, Pauric Lagan (0-3) | Philip Lennon (0-1), Shea Quinn (0-1), Shea Loughran (0-) | Shea Murphy (0-2), Mattie McGuigan (0-3), Corey Holland (2-0) | Ben Donnelly, Cormac Loughran, Eoin Brannigan, Odhran O’Driscoll
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Kildress Reserves meanwhile continued their good start to the season with their 2-19 to 2-9 win over the same opponents, the goals coming from Ben Donnelly and Shea Tracey.
