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14 Dec 2025

Kildare's Grangenolvin hold off Fighting Cocks to take Leinster crown

Brilliant win for Junior Champions

Kildare's Grangenolvin hold off Fighting Cocks to take Leinster crown

Conall Bergin celebrates his goal for Grangenolvin

Reporter:

Seamus Dillon

14 Dec 2025 3:48 PM

Email:

sport@leinsterleader.ie

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Grangenolvin are the AIB Leinster junior football champions are they had to withstand a massive Fighting Cocks effort over the closing 30 minutes.When composure was needed Grangenolvin had it in abundance over the closing minutes and despite rge Carlow side getting with four Lee Doyle and Nathan Doyle kept their noses in front.

Grange enjoyed the benefit of that strong breeze in the opening half and they took full advantage to build up a sizeable lead at the break.1-9 to 0-1
Conall Bergin combined with brother Oran after a great run by Lee Doyle to open the scoring inside 90 seconds.
Timmy Doyle made it two before Conall Bergin added his second four minutes in.
The Grangenolvin defence were playing like men possessed as they easily sniffed out any Carlow attack.
Grange did ad a fourth through Oran Bergin before the 10th minute.In between they had a goal disallowed but the referee had signalled long before the ball found the net.A block on the 50 metre line presented Fighting Cocks with their only score of the half as Aaron Dowling added the free.
The closing quarter of the half was all Grange.Fionn Bergin pointed a free after Conall was fouled and then the games opening goal arrived.Nathan Doyle won possession 30 metres out but Conall Bergin was coming in off the left and Doyle found him for a brilliant finish.
Brian Cullen got on the end of brother Tomas's pass to tap over before Nathan Doyle,Fionn Bergin,from a free after Conall was fouled as he was about to ad a second goal.Oran Bergin finished the half with his second as Grange led BT eleven. 
Fighting Cocks were always going to respond such was the strength of the breeze and when Cillian McElligott and a two pointer from Willie Kelly reduced the gap it was game on.Five minutes in it got considerably better as Cillian Fagan waltzed through for a brilliant goal.
Brian Cullen settled the nerves with a much needed point 12 minutes into that second half.Aaron Dowling responded with a fine two pointer and the gap was down to four.Oran Bergin, who was fantastic throughout, got on the end of Lee Doyle's to extend the lead to five.Nathan Doyle got on the end of Fionn Bergin's pass to fisted Grange six ahead.
Late points for Aaron Dowling and Cillian Fagan reduced the gap but Grange had done enough to claim the Leinster title.They have waited 20 years since the last chance and they weren't going to let the chance slip.Superb afternoon for the Kildare side who vmcan look forward to an All Ireland semi final in the new year.
Grangenolvin: Conor McMahon, Gavin Ivory, Lewis Gannon, Lee Doyle, Paul Huntingdon, Dylan Costigan, Brian Cullen 0-2, Cillian Bergin, Conall Bergin 1-2, Keith McGloin, Tomas Cullen, Fionn Bergin 0-2 (2f), Timmy Doyle 0-1, Oran Bergin 0-3, Nathan Doyle 0-2.
SUBS: Ross Dooley for Keith McGloin 40.; Aaron Phelan for Timmy Doyle 43.; James Gannon for Tomas Cullen 51.; Johnny Lawlor for Cillian Bergin 60.; Danny Cullen for Brian Cullen. 60.
 
Fighting Cocks : Darragh Byrne, Conor Ruane,James Hickey,Dylan Ruane,Billy Molloy,Willie Kelly 0-2 (2pf),Billy Nolan,Cormac McElligott 0-1,Liam Sheppard,Trevor Watchorn,Jack McDonald,Emmet Moran,Cillian Fagan 1-1,Alan Quigley,Aaron Dowling 0-4 (1f,2ptf). Subs: Glenn O Rourke for Trevor Watchorn 40.; Matthew Dowling for Alan Quigley 40; Matthew English Hayden for Billy Molloy 55.
Referee Colm McCullough (LH)

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