A late Derrytresk goal left Kildress in a bit of a sweat in a game they probably should have won more comfortably as eight second-half wides threatened to cost them dear. Played in good conditions on that wonderful sward at The Hill, this was a good, well-contested game where referee Eugene Hughes let the play flow. Derrytresk, though missing some key players, led by 0-3 to 0-1 early on but with Eoin Brannigan (0-1) very strong at full-forward and Matty McGuigan (0-4) and Adam Connolly (1-1) very pacy on that great surface, Kildress rattled off six points in a row to lead by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break.
Adam Connolly’s early second half goal put The Tones in a strong position but from there to the finish they were outscored by 1-5 to 0-4, missing several chances their good play had created. Had Derrytresk’s goal come earlier, things might have been different but the Kildress support was delighted to see Des Treacy (0-1) and Martin Grimes combine at the death to score that victory-sealing final point at 1-11 to 1-9. This was Kildress’ first win in five games and in a good all-round side that was glad to welcome key men back after injury, Martin Loughran, Shane Donnelly, the Connolly and McAleer brothers, Des Treacy, Philip Lennon (0-4) and Eoin Brannigan caught the eye.
