Ballymore Eustace lift Kildare Division 4 title with narrow win over Monasterevin
Just two points separated the sides in the Hanlon Concrete Kildare SFL Division 4 decider
Ballymore Eustace are the Hanlon Concrete Kildare Senior Football League Division 4 league champions after they had two points to spare over Monasterevin on Saturday afternoon.
Ballymore led by two at the break but a rather lacklustre second half display, that only yielded two points, left them hanging on at the end.
Callum Barrett opened the Ballymore account inside ninety seconds. The second score of the game arrived on four minutes with Shane Barrett setting up Simon Murphy for a neat finish to the net.
Tadhg Barrett combined with brother Shane on six minutes and the midfielder fired over a brilliant two pointer.
Only eight minutes had elapsed when Niall Murphy, from a free, pushed Ballymore seven ahead. Monasterevin were yet to trouble the Ballymore defence but 12 minutes in Conor Lonergan got on the end of Cian Harrison's pass to fire home a brilliant goal.
DJ Earley converted a free and at the end of the opening quarter; Caolan Halpin set up Simon Murphy for point number five and despite falling to the ground Enda Stewart Byrne was able to fist over.
DJ Earley added his second free and then Hayden Kemmy had the gap back to three again seven minutes before the break.
Those closing minutes saw the sides share two goals. Firstly Enda Stewart Byrne got in to Simon Murphy's pass before finishing low past Charlie White. Niall Murphy had time for a two-pointer free to open an eight-point lead.
Both goal keepers were called into action late on, firstly Charlie White denied Niall Murphy before Sean McNally was equal to Hayden Kemmy's effort.
Earley had the last say of the half when he converted a penalty after Adam Kavanagh was fouled inside the large square. Ballymore still enjoyed the 2-8 to 2-3 lead as Owen Murphy brought the half to a close.
The second half was a real slow burner as the sides could only had six scores between them. In fact Ballymore didn’t add their two points until the 55th and 58th minutes. They would eventually prove to be the winning scores but such was Monasterevin's possession percentage over the closing 30 minutes they will wonder how they left this one behind.
Conor Lonergan added a two pointer 4 minutes after the break and 2 minutes later Lonergan landed a free to reduce the gap to two.
Ballymore never looked like breaking down a solid Monasterevin rearguard. With 12 minutes remaining a move involving Cormac Stapleton, Adam and Sean Kavanagh resulted in full back Stapleton leaving the minimum between the sides.
With 55 minutes on the clock Simon Murphy set up Niall Murphy for a much needed point. Adam Kavanagh was all over the pitch and he was rewarded with a 56th minute point.
Monasterevin threw everything at Ballymore in search of the leveller but fortune didn’t favour them. Right on the 60th minute a 3 up infringement allowed Niall Murphy to point the insurance free.
BALLYMORE EUSTACE: Sean McNally; Joshua Burke Hayes, Callum Ashmore, Jack Sammon; Tadhg Barrett, Michael Stewart Byrne, Caolin Halpin; Shane Barrett 0-2 (2pt), Patrick Murphy; Eoin Sheehy, Callum Barrett 0-1, Sean Broderick; Enda Stewart Byrne 1-1,Niall Murphy 0-5 (2ptf,2f), Simon Murphy 1-1. Subs: Mark Barrett for Callum Barrett 33; Nathan Fitzharris for Enda Stewart Byrne 52; Liam Crowe for Sean Broderick 60.
MONASTEREVIN: Charlie White; Kealan Meredith, Cormac Stapleton 0-1, Adam Barry; Adam Kavanagh 0-1, Gavin Worrell, Cian Harrison; Sean Kavanagh, Eoin Stapelton; Dj Earley 1-2 (2f), Conor Lonergan 1-3 (2pf,1f), Daniel Molloy; Hayden Kemmy 0-1,Adam Brennan, Noah Barry. Subs: Rhys O Reilly for Adam Barry 45; Gary Morrissey for Kealan Meredith 52; Mark Kelly for Daniel Molloy 52.
Referee: Owen Murphy.