Kildress put on their most spirited display yet in this year’s Donnelly Division I League but in the end fell just marginally short against Coalisland this evening. Damian Kelly (1-1) and Des Treacy (0-2) shared Kildress’ first half-scores, Kelly’s goal following good work by Caolan McNamee, who was a handful for the Fianna defence throughout, whilst Cormac O’Hagan’s exceptional free-taking for the Fianna helped level the teams at 0-6 to 1-3 at half-time.
Padraig Hampsey powered through for a fine Fianna goal in the third quarter but Kildress refused to buckle and points from Treacy (0-2), Kelly, Martin Grimes and Philip Lennon kept the game on a knife-edge. With minutes to go Caolan McNamee was upended for a Kildress penalty but Niall Quinn’s kick hit the post and two late, spectacular points from Peter Donnelly closed the game out at 1-11 to 1-8 for the home side. Best for a Kildress team that played well throughout were Gerard Grimes, Dean McNally, Stephen McGurk, Aidan Donaghy, Conor McAleer, Caolan McNamee and that evergreen trio of Grimes, Kelly and Treacy.
