Kildress welcomed League leaders Aghyaran to Gortacladdy today and after an intriguing hour’s football were full value for the 0-9 to 0-9 draw that resulted.
The Tones played very well throughout, with their defence in particular just outstanding in the face of a strong and sweet-moving St Davog’s. This was always a tight struggle, very well refereed by Eugene Hughes who let the play flow, to everybody’s benefit.
Aghyaran were the better early on, moving into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, but once Kildress got it back level they were never again headed. In the end it took an admirable effort from Aghyaran to kick the game’s last three points to secure the draw that keeps them at the top of the League and cements Kildress’ third place position.
The teams were tied 0-4 each at half-time, with Shea Quinn and Matty McGuigan both firing over booming points from distance, whilst Aghyaran will feel they might have made more from their good attacking play. Early second half-points from Matty McGuigan and Enda McAleer put Kildress ahead again but, true to the pattern of the game, Aghyaran again levelled things up.
The introduction of Shea Murphy was a big play by Kildress and he made an immediate impact, adding power around the middle and firing over two massive points either side of another very fine effort from Shea Quinn. That put The Tones three ahead, but Aghyaran would not concede and, despite Kildress’ excellent defending, picked off the three points needed to tie things up.
This was definitely a warming game on a cold day, with every Kildress player doing well, particularly their defence. Shea Murphy had a big impact and Caolan McNamee was very strong for his team, whilst Corey Holland, Shea Quinn and Matty McGuigan constantly tested the St Davog’s defence.
Kildress: | Gerard Grimes | Aaron Loughran, Callum Holland, Tiernan McNamee | Jonny Connolly, Dean McNally, Stephen McGurk (0-1) | Eoin Brannigan, Enda McAleer (0-1) | Corey Holland, Shea Quinn (0-2), Adam Connolly | Matty McGuigan (0-3), Caolan McNamee, Marty Grimes | Nathan McKernan, Shea Murphy (0-2), Shea Loughran, Pauric Lagan
