Today started brilliantly well for Kildress as our Ladies qualified for the Junior Championship Final with a hard-won 2-13 to 2-9 victory over a strong and fine-playing Clonoe team at The Rock.
A couple of weeks ago the O’Rahillys had put in an unstoppable finish to overturn a sizeable Kildress lead in their League clash, and at times today in the last quarter it looked like that history might be repeating itself as they again ate into a sizeable Tones lead. But this time Kildress were able to weather the storm and deservedly went through to the Final.
When Clonoe goaled after ten minutes to take a narrow 1-2 to 1-1 lead, things didn’t look too healthy for Kildress. But instead of wilting they just took an increasingly firm grip on the game, scoring 1-9 before Clonoe next scored, some minutes into the second half.
The Tones half-time lead of 2-9 to 1-3 (Stacy Boone and Eimear McGarrity their goal-scorers) had become 2-13 to 1-5 by the time of the second water-break but from there to the finish it was Clonoe who had the better of things, adding a further 1-4 whilst Kildress, despite plenty of good play, failed to score again.
This was a game that was won by Kildress’ good play all over the field and their ability to move the ball speedily and accurately. It was also a game where both goalkeepers shone, making several startling point blank saves.
Kildress now face Moortown in the Final.
Brian McGinn was an excellent referee.
Kildress: Caoimhe Gilmore | Donna Hagan, Aoife O’Connor Cathy Connolly | Annie McKenna (0-1), Natacha O’Neill, Rachel McKenna (0-1) | Antaine McNamee, Emma McKernan | Eimear McGarrity (1-0), Stacy Boone (1-1), Eilis Keenan (0-2) | Chloe Tracey (0-7), Shannon Crilly, Ann-Marie Lennon (0-1) | Katie Rose Muldoon, Sinead Daly, Eimear McAleer, Nicole Keenan, Anna Lennon, Cara Loughran, Maeve Conway, Caitlin Murphy, Lanaoise Lagan, Leah McCrory, Rebekah McCaughey, Stacy Boone, Marie Daly, Ellen McGurk, Bronagh McAleer, Emma O’Kane, Aisling Hagan, Emma Gillen, Mairead Rafferty, Alanna McNamee, Niamh Brannigan, Charleen Quinn, Donna Mullin, Caitlin Murphy, Sinead Slane, Shannon O’Connor
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It might be the ‘middle’ Division in Tyrone football but Tyrone’s Division II is anything but ‘middling’ when it comes to the quality and competitiveness of its games.
Following on from the Ladies’ earlier victory, Kildress and The Rock served up yet another highly entertaining match that finished 2-15 to 1-15 in The Tones favour in front of a fine crowd at Gortacladdy. Two years ago both teams had delivered an outstanding Tyrone Junior Final but whilst on that day when the game was there to be won it was the St Patrick’s who stepped up to seize the initiative, today it was Kildress who rose to do the needful. And that was despite a masterful display of score-taking by The Rock’s Conor McCreesh, who hit an outstanding 1-10, never missing a single placed ball.
The Rock probably shaded the opening quarter, and edged into a 0-5 to 0-4 lead. The following 15 minutes saw Kildress well in the groove, rattling over five good points to reach half-time 0-9 to 0-5 ahead. They moved further ahead early in the second half but a stunning goal finish from Conor McCreesh brought his team right back into things only for Caolan McNamee to finish equally spectacularly for Kildress, following great work by Jonny Connolly and Eoin Brannigan.
Six of the next eight points came from The Rock but with the game level and really up for grabs, Conor McAleer drove through to finish low to the net and restore Kildress’ advantage. It was one they were not going to let slip and the game’s final four points were ‘team about’, keeping The Tones safely in front.
This was again another fine all round team performance from Kildress with good showings throughout the field. Jonny Connolly, Calum Holland and Marty Loughran drove forward to good effect out of defence, the McAleer brothers were again vital around the middle whilst up front Stephen Loughran, scorer of points at three vital times, Caolan McNamee, Adam Connolly and Matty McGuigan were real and constant threats.
Gary Gormley yet again had an outstanding game as referee.
Kildress: | Gerard Grimes | Aaron Loughran, Dean McNally, Tiernan McNamee (0-1) | Jonny Connolly, Callum Holland, Marty Loughran | Stephen McGurk (0-1) Enda McAleer | Stephen Loughran (0-3), Eoin Brannigan, Adam Connolly (0-2) | Matty McGuigan (0-6), Caolan McNamee (1-1), Conor McAleer (1-1) | Shea Loughran, Shea Quinn
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