JFC Rundown Group B: Kill hit 3-20 to no score as Roberstown and Athgarvan have tense encounter

Tom Cross Junior Fooball Championship got under way last week. Here is the full reports from each of the Group B, round two as Roberstown played Athgarvan and Kill faced Rheban. Cappagh were idle.

Roberstown 0-8

Athgarvan 0-7

Robertstown made it two wins from two when they defeated Athgarvan but it took a late point from Dara Cosgrave to get them over the line in Group B of the Tom Cross Junior Football Championship.

It was a game, however, that for long periods Athgarvan looked like the eventual winners but as we have seen so many times in the past you write off Roberstown at your peril.

In a very slow opening quarter it was Athgarvan who created the most clearcut chances but they struck the woodwork on three occasions before Cian Doyle, from a mark, eventually opened the scoring on 13 minutes.

Three minutes later Cillian Smith pointed a free after the lively Alan Sourke was fouled 20 metres out.
Roberstown were starting to gain some parity around the middle and after 22 minutes they finally got off the mark. Corner forward Brionn Kennedy cutting in from the right before hitting over with the left.

Athgarvan attacked from the kickout and when the Sourke brothers Callum and Alan combined it was Alan who landed a beauty expertly using the cross field breeze.

Brionn Kennedy did miss a few frees before the break and it was Dj Pervival who pointed the next from outside the twenty metre line to reduce the gap to the minimum as the half time whistle sounded.

Alan Sourke pushed Athgarvan two ahead eight minutes after the restart. They spurned a few chances to extend the lead but Jason Butler did take advantage to record Roberstown's third.

Neither team looked capable of opening a winning gap but as we past the third quarter Alan Sourke and Cian Doyle opened a three point lead for Athgarvan.
From no where Roberstown got a new lease of life.

Two Dj Percival frees for fouls on Brionn Kennedy were quickly followed by a brace from stalwart Joe Kavanagh.
On his first venture into Athgarvan territory he claimed a mark that he landed and 60 seconds later his weak shot bounced over the bar before goalkeeper Evan Comerford could get a hand to it.Roberstown were in front for the first time.

As we headed into injury time Athgarvan raised one last effort and when Finn O Brien was fouled twenty metres out Cian Doyle levelled it up.

Referee PJ Cummins still had some injury time to see out and when wing back Dara Cosgrave recieved a pass 40 metres out he only had a point on his mind. He didn't disappoint the vocal Roberstown faithful with an excellent score.
It rounded off a 0-8 to 0-7 victory for men in blue.

Two wins from two keep Roberstown's dreams alive but Athgarvan will be disappointed with their performance as they passed up a great opportunity to collect their second win.

ROBERTSTOWN: Richard Price; James Keely, Kenneth Ennis, PJ Ewing; Dara Cosgrave 0-1, Anthony Moore, Diarmuid Healy; Joe Kavanagh 0-2 (1 mark), Niall Kane; Peter Hogarty, Dean Bagnall, Conor Walsh; Jason Butler 0-1, DJ Perciva 0-3 (3 frees),Brionn Kennedy 0-1. Subs: David Percival for Dean Bagnall 56.

ATHGARVAN: Evan Comerford; Conor Cummins, Jack Lee Parnell, Dylan Ryan; Eddie Vaicacauskis, Callum Sourke, Steve Moore; Niall Murphy, Derek Nolan; Finn O'Brien, Cillian Smith 0-1 (1 free), David Butler; Alan Sourke 0-3, Paddy Mcareevy, Cian Doyle 0-3 (1 mark, 1 free). Subs: Hugh O'Mahoney for Derek Nolan 38; Cian Scanlon for Paddy Mcareevy 43; Cameron Hughes for Eddie Vaicacauskis 52; Frank Delaney for Cillian Smith 53.

REFEREE: PJ Cummins.

Kill 3-20

Rheban 0-0

The manner of Kill's victory and the fact that Rheban failed to register a score will do nothing for either side as the year goes on. The gulf in class was all to evident and surely a look at different structure might be in the offing.

Last year's beaten finalists, Kill, set their stall out early as they enjoyed the easiest of victories over Rheban in this Tom Cross Junior Football Championship Group B tie.

It was Kill's first outing of the year but after some impressive victories in last week's games they certainly added their name to the list of candidates for overall honours.

Their victory was built on an excellent 1-11 tally from ace forward Paul Kirwan. He was Kill's main man on their run to last year's final and he remains a vital cog on a hard working and youthful side. Minor victories in the league and championship last year has allowed the integration of some of those young players and they didn't disappoint.

Paul Kirwan opened the scoring inside a minute and it was the catalyst for an impressive 1-16 total before the break.
Kirwan goaled on twelve before bringing his first half tally to 1-8.The dominance of Dara Challoner and Cian Lawlor at midfield ensured that Rheban's chances were limited as the constant pressure meant attacks were few. Alan Wren, Owen Thompson, Stephen Rowley, Finn Ryan,Liam O Carroll and Cian Lawlor all getting first half points.

Despite facing into a stiff breeze Kill continued to dominate and they restricted Rheban to two second half efforts.

Two second half goals from Owen Thompson and hard working wing back Enda Finneran eased Kill to that comprehensive victory.

Paul Kirwan added three points to his personal tally Substitute Conor Troy got in on the scoring late on but the game as a contest was over a longtime.

Kill had excellent performances from Paul Kirwan,Dara Challoner and Cian Lawlor at midfield while Kevin Corrigan and Luke Purcell were on top in defence.

Rheban are a proud Clun and despite this disappointing result they will dust themselves down and be ready for round 3. The result was known early and despite injuries they kept battling.

KILL: Robbie Hughes; Luke Purcell, Kevin Corrigan, Eoin Finneran 1-0; Fionn Doyle, Jack Healy, Stphen Corboy; Dara Challoner, Cian Lawlor 0-; Owen Thompson 1-2, Stephen Rowley 0-1, Finn Ryan 0-1; Alan Wren 0-2, Paul Kirwan 1-11 (6 frees), Liam O Carroll 0-1. Subs: Conor Troy 0-1 for Liam O Carroll H/T; Alex Malone for Owen Thompson 40; Gary Moran for Alan Wren 45.

RHEBAN: Craig McDermott; Chris Wilson, Sean Foley, Cian Dempsey; Seamus Hickey, Kevin O'Shaughnessey, Luke Kelly; Keelan McConville, Chris Casey; Denis McEvoy, Conor Germaine, Oisin Brown; Dean Carthy, Tadhg Foley, Tom McEvoy. Subs; Conor Denehy for Oisin Brown 21; Leo Chambers for Chris Casey 49.