Ardglass beat Kilclief GAC in an exciting, sporting final
Parador Lodge Down GAA Junior Football Championship Final,
Venue: Pairc Esler, Friday 17 10 25.
Final Score: Ardglass GAC 1-11 0-10 Kilclief GAC.
The long-awaited local derby between Ardglass and Kilclief was played out on Friday evening at Pairc Esler in Newry and it turned out to be an excellent display of football from both sides.
Ardglass beat St Michael’s in Round one and edged past Kilclief in Round 2 and had a strong win against Aughnislafin to face East Belfast in the semi-final. They beat East Belfast by a four point margin in a tight match to earn their place in the final.
Kilclief too came through beating Drumaness in Round One and were edged out by Ardglass in Round Two by 4 points. They went on to thrash St Michael’s and had a convincing win against Glasdrumman to get to the final.
As the game commenced, it was Kilclief who had the first kick at the Ardglass sticks and Eoin King went wide. Ardglass settled and on a run claimed their opening point.
Kilclief were looking sharp and a pass from Aidan McCann to Conan Hynds saw him on a one-to-one with keeper Dylan Murphy being blocked.
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King pointed for Kilclief, but shortly after Caolan O’Shea, the formidable Ardglass captain claimed his first point. Ardglass were showing patience and composure then on 10 minutes O’Shea pointed again.
O’Shea was on a roll and charged Kilclief goalkeeper Gregory Holland but O’Shea’s goal attempt bounced off the keeper.
Kilclief’s Conall Magee took an excellent point in play and then followed up with another challenge to the Ardglass goal but it was blocked. Hynds then within kicking distance made a snappy back kick over the Ardglass posts. The teams looked at this point very evenly matched.
Kilclief then went ahead when Conall Magee hit over at a sharp angle. And Callum Shields took an excellent point again for Kilclief. Ardglass anxiety levels must have risen as Kilclief mounted sereral attacks.
But Ardglass fought back with a goal from Pabhráigh O’Shea when Jamie McDarby who had upped his workrate hit at goal and the rebound was knocked safely into the Kilclief net.
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This was a defining moment in the match at 22 minutes in the first half. Kilclief bounced back and fought hard to get a goal but the Ardglass defence back line of Liam Kearney, Malachy Crangle and Conor Kearney were fairly solid.
Caolan O’Shea made a strong run into the Kilclief back line but was eventually taken down and in a reply Eoin King got past all the defenders unmarked and kicked safely over the bar not taking on the risky kick for a goal.
Just before the half-time whistle, King again kicked from 25 yards to claim another point for Kilclief making the half-time score Kilclief 0-7 1-05 Ardglass. At this stage Ardglass were just a point ahead.
As the second half commenced, Caolan O’Shea took a good point for Ardglass which kept Kilclief at bay. Ardglass almost got a second goal when McDarby was taken down and the Ardglass captain put the ball through to Michael Magee, a formner Down player, in centre forward position, who tried to palm the ball under the crossbar for a goal to press the Ardglass goal area but eventually claimed a point with a kick from King.
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At this point there were a few substitutions as managers made adjustments looking for an edge. For about 10 minutes there was was a dirth of points as both sides cancelled each other out. Then eventually McDarby pointed putting Ardglass 2 points ahead in a tight match.
Again Kilclief rallied and Louis Martin made a fine run to the Ardglass goal but was taken down and King pointed.
There was three minutes of extra time and the tension was palpable. There was only 3 points separating the teams and Kilclief hopes remained high.
Then the coffin nail came for Kilclief when sub John Polley pointed for Ardglass putting the game beyond Kilclief in the dying seconds of the match.
This was an great win for Ardglass against determined neighbours Kilclief who never gave up to the last. Caolan O’Shea as captain played extra well leading his team, but Ardglass were well disciplined and organised but there was not a great lot separating the teams except that will to win.
This was a sporting match, and a local derby, and weather conditions on the night were good.
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Starting line-ups.
Kilclief GAC: 1 Gregory Holland 2 Eoin Watterson 3 Thomas Fitzsimons 4 Nathan McMullan 5 Callum Shields 6 Aidan McCann (C) 7 James Shields 8 Paul Donnelly 9 Louis mcMullan 10 David Shields 11 Eoin King 12 Conan Hynds 13 Fionn McFall 14 Conall Magee 15 Ronan Shields.
Ardglass GAC: 1 Dylan Murphy 2 Liam Kearney 3 Malachy Crangle 4 Conor Kearney 5 Corey Mahon 6 Dara O’Shea 7 Shane Teggart 8 Jack O’Shea 9 Caolan O’Shea (C) 10 James Crangle 11 Michael Magee Shea Dorrian 13 Pabhráigh O’Shea 17 Jamie McDarby 15 Gavin O’Shea.
