Milltown sneak past Robertstown to take JFC title
Junior A Football Championship Final Milltown: 0-14 Robertstown: 1-10
THREE unanswered points in the closing stages of this Tom Cross Junior A Final sealed the win for Milltown over their fellow parishioners as St Conleth's Park witnessed scenes of jubilation on one hand and devastation on the other.
Milltown weren't expected to win this game, they weren't expected to win the one before it either, but there was no doubt they deserved to plying their trade in the intermediate championship next year.
Next year will see a very distant notion for the Robertstown players.
Like every year they will be named amongst the possible winners, but if they want to do it they will need to do more on the big days.
It was a game where fireworks were expected, but the crowd had to make do with sparklers up to the last quarter when this encounter kicked into life.
It was Milltown who were playing the football and driving on at the end and they were the better team without question.
Robertstown looked good at the start with Joe Kavanagh converting two dead balls. The full-forward failed to score from play, indeed the losing outfit's scores all came from frees bar one.
Milltown's opening score was a spectacular kick from a sideline ball courtesy of Ian Fitzgerald, he hit one of his right foot a minute later to raise a huge cheer from the large crowd.
Myles O'Reilly kept the momentum going with another free for the first of his six points of the match. Eoghan O'Toole fired over a 45 as Milltown were really dominating proceedings. They were two points up, but it could have been five a minute later as Eoin O'Sullivan hit fresh air with the goal at his mercy. As the ball came across two other men had the chance to put it away. Luckily for him he would not be ruing the opportunity at the final whistle.
Damien Leeson eased a free from the edge of the D to get Robertstown's first point in 15 minutes. Leeson was following his man Fitzgerald who was operating close to goal. This was not ideal for the Kildare junior player as it curbed his attacking threat.
Myles O'Reilly got two more points from placed balls as Milltown were looking to finish the opening 30 minutes strongly. This didn't go to plan as Robertstown got a goal just before the interval.
Midfielder Dave Mathews punched a high ball into the square to the net amid a crowd of bodies. Having failed to get going Robertsown went into the dressing rooms level.
Joe Kavanagh hit a free to get his side in front only for O'Reilly to cancel it out, and then Ian Fitzgerald finished after Kevin Dowling went on a great run.
Kavanagh raised another white flag to tie it all up once again before Mickey Moran got Robertown's solitary score form play. Another free from Kavanagh put his side ahead by two. Fitzgerald kept Milltown in touch with a free, before Damien Leeson hit another dead ball between the sticks.
Milltown then brought in fresh legs as they knew it was now or never.
Another free from Myles O'Reilly and a good score from Damien Keogh drew the game. Joe Kavanagh put Robertsown in front for the last time in the 55th minute.
Myles O'Reilly then picked the best possible time to swing over his only point from play, as Milltown looked stronger coming into the home stretch.
The substitutions worked well and two of the new men in got on the scoresheet. Michael Colleton ran up to slice over before Vincent Murray swung over in front of the posts.
With the last kick of the day Damien Leeson blazed his free over the bar as Milltown lined the goals.
Milltown looked the better side and had players like Fitzgerald, O'Reilly, and Emmet Mulhall who kept the heads throughout and showed their experience.
Robertstown have the players to win this competition, and they know they have a lot more to give than they showed on Sunday.
Milltown: Derek Moore, Colin O'Shea, Andrew Dunne, Rory Donohue, Owen Hearty, Hugh Garrett, Darren O'Shea, Emmet Mulhall, Eoghan O'Toole 0-1 (45), Kevin Dowling, Ian Fitzgerald 0-4 (2f), Wayne Dignam, Damien Keogh 0-1, Myles O'Reilly 0-6 (5f), Eoin O'Sullivan. Subs: Michael Colleton 0-1 for O'Shea (48m), Bernard Geraghty for Dowling (50m), Vincent Murray 0-1 for O'Sullivan (50m), Anthony Dunne for Dignam (54m)
Robertstown: Raymond Kelly, Niall Kane, Mark Kelly, Peter Dunne, John O'Sullivan, Damien Leeson 0-3 (3f), Frank Dowling, Dave Mathews 1-0, Frank Dowling, Kevin Fitzgerald, Mickey Moran 0-1, Adrian McNamee, Dave Nolan, Joe Kavanagh 0-6 (6f), Chris Byrne. Subs: Diarmuid Riordan for McNamee inj (15m), Declan Percival for Nolan (57m).
Referee: Fergal Barry.
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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