Double delight in IFC

Tipped by many to make a quick return to the junior ranks, we are already well on our way to preserving our intermediate status and possibly reaching the knockout stages after two huge wins in the space of five days.

A dramatic Shay Murtagh Intermediate Football Championship Round 1 1-8 to 0-9 victory over Ballynacargy at a rain-soaked TEG Cusack Park last Monday evening was followed by a 1-12 to 0-12 Round 2 defeat of Maryland in much more favourable weather conditions at Rochfortbridge on Saturday evening. Bearing in mind the losses in personnel we’ve suffered since last year’s successful JFC campaign, it’s a tremendous start which leaves us in a strong position going into our third round clash with Ballymore on the weekend after next.

Postponed by 48 hours due to a bereavement in the Ballynacargy club, our championship opener was decided by a late goal from Colm Heffernan, who had come off the bench just moments earlier. The incessant rain made for a scrappy yet enthralling contest between two evenly-matched sides. After a sluggish start, we recovered to lead 0-4 to 0-3 at the break before Bal’ dominated the third quarter to open up a 0-8 to 0-4 advantage.

But we upped the ante after that to grind out the win. Micheál Coffey eventually opened our second half account in the 46th minute before substitute Colin Draper shot an inspirational score from Conor Delaney’s pass. Delaney made it a one-point game from a 52nd minute free before a Jamie Loran free at the other end gave Ballynacargy some breathing space with three minutes of normal time remaining.

But the never-say-die attitude which was evident throughout last year came to the fore once again when a high ball into the square from Padraig Carton caused consternation in the Bal' defence and former rugby star Heffernan was on hand to punch to the net.

All of a sudden, we were a point up and pushed on with another score from a Delaney free. With the allotted three minutes of injury-time elapsed, Ballynacargy launched one final attack that saw the ball break to Philip Price in the danger area, but his shot was somehow deflected out for a ’45, which there wasn't any time left to take, as every Kilbeggan heart skipped a collective beat.

Against Maryland and with Sean Hanlon having departed for Australia in midweek, Michéal Coffey gave us an early lead before the Drumraney men hit back with four unanswered points to take control. Two Conor Delaney points reduced the deficit to the minimum before Maryland went 0-8 to 0-4 up, despite a Joey O’Neill ’45. 

Then, with two minutes to go to half-time, James Finnegan brought it back to a point with the game’s decisive score. An undercooked O’Neill free was collected by Padraig Carton who fed Finnegan for a goal which took a deflection on the way in. It was no more than we deserved after we had dropped half a dozen shots into the goalkeeper’s hands and also hit some poor wides.

Maryland replied with a point, but at 1-4 to 0-9, it was all to play for in the second half.

In contrast to the Ballynacargy game, we played our best football in the third quarter to turn the game on its head. With James Fox leading by example at full back, Shaun Pidgeon excelling in the sweeper role and Conor Carroll driving forward at every opportunity, we shot six unanswered points to open up a 1-10 to 0-9 lead. Nigel Scally started the scoring sequence when he added to Carton’s free by fisting over before a Conor Delaney free restored parity. Micheál Coffey’s second point edged us ahead in the 38th minute before further scores from Scally (free via the inside of the upright), Delaney and Mark Wrafter pushed us four ahead. One sensed that it was going to be Kilbeggan’s day when Maryland struck the woodwork twice in the same passage of play before they finally broke their second half duck after having a player black-carded.

We then went five up thanks to another Scally free and Delaney’s fourth from play before Maryland got two back to set up a nail-biting finish. Restored to 15 players, they almost scored an equalising goal in the third minute of injury-time, but county star Kieran Martin blasted to the left and wide as we held on by the skin of our teeth once again.

Team v Ballynacargy: Niall Rabbitte; Martin Ward, James Fox, Sean Hanlon; Conor Carroll, James Hanlon, Mark Wrafter; Darragh Coffey, Joey O’Neill; James Finnegan, Padraig Carton, Micheál Coffey (0-1); Shaun Pidgeon, Nigel Scally (0-1), Conor Delaney (0-5, 5fs). Subs: Colin Draper (0-1) for Finnegan, Josh Malone for J Hanlon, Colm Heffernan (1-0) for O’Neill.

Team v Maryland: Niall Rabbitte; Martin Ward, James Fox, Josh Malone; Conor Carroll, James Hanlon, Mark Wrafter (0-1); Darragh Coffey, Joey O’Neill (0-1, ’45); James Finnegan (1-0), Padraig Carton, Micheál Coffey (0-2); Shaun Pidgeon, Nigel Scally (0-3, 2fs), Conor Delaney (0-5, 1f). Subs: Colin Draper for Finnegan.

Underage

Our U14 boys’ opened their championship campaign last Wednesday evening with an excellent win over neighbours Lilliput Gaels.

Despite a very spirited second half showing, our U16 boys lost their championship opener to St Joseph’s last Monday evening. Meanwhile, our U20s received a walkover from Inny Shamrocks in their first round championship tie.

Cúl Camp
 

MJS Builds St James’ Park was a hive of activity all last week as it hosted a Kellogg’s Cúl Camp. Despite some heavy showers, the camp was a great success and was thoroughly enjoyed by the large number of children who took part.

 Lotto

Last week’s lucky numbers were 4, 10, 12 and 26. There was no jackpot or Match 3 winners; the lucky dip winner was M Donegan.

This week’s jackpot is €9,550. Don’t forget our new lotto box in Centra Kilbeggan which allows you to enter our weekly draw by filling in a lotto ticket and dropping it into the box. Draw takes place every Tuesday afternoon.
 

Win Coldplay tickets!
      

We have two corporate tickets to give away to see Coldplay in Croke Park on Sunday, September 1.  

Tickets for the raffle are now available on our ClubZap App or from any club member at a cost of €5 for one or €10 for three. They will also be available to buy at various locations in the near future. The Coldplay tickets are kindly sponsored by Martin and Sharon Dowdall, while printing of the tickets is sponsored by Midland Cladding.