IFC GROUP B: Larries impress against Towers and The Rags get battered by Monasterevan

Monasterevan 2-17 Kilcullen 1-8

Reporter: Tommy Callaghan

Fourth division, Monasterevin, took on third division Kilcullen in the opening game at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, on Saturday afternoon in what turned out to be a very one-sided affair.

And while Kilcullen finished mid-table in Division 3, it was the side playing in the bottom tier that showed their promotion was a sign they were on the right trajectory as they proved comprehensively on Saturday in the National Electrical Wholesalers IFC.

It was Gavin Holligan’s side that opened brightest firing over the opening four points inside nine minutes from Noah Barry (following a 4x3 breach); the same player, and two from Conor Lonergan, Kilcullen’s only attempt at scoring at that stage missed the target.

Ten minutes, and it was the impressive Donagh McKivergan, who opened for The Rags with an excellent two-pointer and two minutes later midfielder Ciaran Melinn had reduced the gap to a single point, and it didn’t take too long for the boys in black and white level when that man McKivergan fired over a free and the sides were all aboard with 13 minutes on the clock.

Monasterevan regained the initiative with a two-pointer from Conor Lonergan; Lonergan added a second two-pointer (free) DJ Earley a point, ‘keeper Charlie White a two-pointer free, a brilliant effort from Sean Kavanagh and the icing on the cake in the first half, a goal after Noah Barry found Paul Maloney and the full-forward made no mistake to make it 1-12 to 0-4 at half-time.

The game was effectively over at this stage of the proceedings, Monasterevan well in control while Kilcullen simply did not turn up.

Within five minutes of the resumption The Blues had added 1-2, points from Mark Kelly and the impressive Noah Barry and a second goal from Maloney having been set up by the aforementioned Kelly.

Donagh McKivergan replied with a single but Dan Molloy regained the lead of sixteen points before Eoin Stapleton was shown a black card on 40 minutes.

Donagh McKivergan sent in a high ball to the Monasterevan danger area and it was corner forward Dan Coughlan who got a hand to the breaking leather to palm to the net.t.

Two points from Paul Maloney, the second for another breach before Kilcullen’s Cathal Brophy was shown a straight red on 59 minutes, while Adam Brennan of Monasterevan picked up a black and while McKivergan got the final score of the game it was not enough as Monasterevan ran out comfortable winners on a final score line of Monasterevan 2-17 Kilcullen 1-8.

An excellent win for The Blues who played well throughout the entire game, they had seven scorers in total, some fine performances and they can now look forward with confidence to Round 2 of the National Electrical Wholesalters IFC.

For Kilcullen, on this display, survival will be high on their agenda, they had in Donagh McKivergan an excellent player who ended up scoring seven of his side’s 1-8 total.

Scorers: Monasterevin, Paul Moloney 2-2 (1 free), Conor Lonergan 0-6 (1 two-pointer, 1 two-pointer free), Noah Barry 0-3, Charlie White 0-2 (1 two-pointer free), Sean Kavanagh 0-1, DJ Earley 0-1, Dan Molloy 0-1, Mark Kelly 0-1.

Kilcullen: Donagh McKivergan 0-7 (1 two-pointer, 1 two-pointer, 1 free), Dan Coughlan 1-0, Ciaran Melinn 0-1.

MONASTEREVIN: Cathal White; Adam Barry, Cormac Stapleton, Daryl Dunne; DJ Earlley, Eoin Stapleton, Dan Molloy; Sean Kavanagh, Adam Brennan; Kealan Meredith, Conor Lonergan, Noah Barry; Mark Kelly, Paul Maloney, Wayne Freeman.. Subs: Hayden Kemmy for Mark Kelly (46 minutes); Adam Kavanagh for Dan Mollooy (52 minutes); Rhys O’Reilly for Adam Barry (57 minutes).

KILCULLEN: Cormac Barker; Daragh Burke, Jack Dooley, Jack Redmond; Turlouch Donnelly, Scott Fleming,, Cathal Brophy; Sean Knight, Ciaran Melinn; Sean Hurley, Donagh McKivergan, Jamie Buckley; Ciaran O’Brien, Paudy Clare, Dan Coughlan. Subs: Conor Bolton for Turlouch Donnelly (half-time); Paul Bell for Paudy Clarke (39 minutes)); Thomas Hickey for Jamie Buckley (39 minutes); Eddie O’Loughlin for Conor Bolton (42 minutes); Tom Maloney for Sean Hurley (61 minutes).

REFEREE: Jamie Lyons.

St Laurence’s 4-14 Round Towers 2-14

Reporter: Daragh Nolan

St Laurence’s came out on the right side of a cracking game with Round Towers in Newbridge. Larries were well worth their win over the 60 minutes but were made to work to the very last by a Towers side that refused to roll over for last year’s finalists.

It didn’t take long for scoring to get under way in this game with Felix Lawler pointing after 45 seconds.

Towers ‘keeper Colin English put them ahead with a fine two-point free and Alan Cullagh’s side looked to be in the ascendancy when DJ Flynn was fouled inside the box in the process of taking aim at the posts. Max Cosgrove went for power from the spot but saw his effort kept out by an impressive parry from Paul Clynch.

Towers were punished instantly. Larries flew up the other end of the pitch and Felix Lawler hit the net off his left side to gut-punch the Kildare Town men. Tom Dooley then opened his account to have St Laurence’s lead by three after six minutes.

The Towers ‘keeper slotted a second two-point free to get them back within one before that three-point margin was restored by back-to-back points from Dylan O’Dwyer.

St Laurence’s took over from here and put together a run of four points without reply before hitting the net for the second time.

O’Dwyer cut inside, had his first shot blocked down but got a second bite of the cherry and found the top of the net to put his side 10 clear.

Jay O’Brien, having come on as a substitute for his father 10 minutes prior, found the net in quick reply after being slipped in by Tadhg Donlon.

Max Cosgrove made amends for his earlier miss with a super two-pointer to bring his team within five points at the break (2-10 to 1-8).

After a slow start to the half, Dylan O’Dwyer put St Laurence’s six clear with his fourth point before Joe Hanamy extended their lead further.

This game then exploded into life again when Larries picked up their third goal through Ruaidhrí Lawlor, who was first to react to a rebound from Mark Glynn’s initial effort. Tom Dooley hit a point from close-range soon after and the leading side were seemingly at ease once again.

It was yet another false dawn however with Towers coming roaring back with a goal and a two-pointer inside the same minute. Ollie Deller raised the green flag before Jay O’Brien had the umpire reaching for an orange one as Towers kept within six at 3-13 to 2-10.

Sean Glennon grabbed his first of the day before Jay O’Brien registered yet another two-point free with a lovely strike and Towers were within three with six minutes remaining.

Cian Miley picked up a well-timed point to settle things for Larries who then put together a sumptuous forward move with Oisin Grufferty slipping in Felix Lawler who passed across for Joe Hanamy to punch into the net and finally win this game once and for all.

Towers substitute Charlie Mahony got the game’s last score as Larries ran out 4-14 to 2-14 winners after an all-action encounter.

St Laurence's: Dylan O'Dwyer 1-4 (0-2 frees), Felix Lawler 1-2, Joe Hanamy 1-2, Ruaidhrí Lawlor 1-1, Tom Dooley 0-3, Jason McHugh 0-1, Cian Miley 0-1.

Round Towers: Jay O'Brien 1-4 (2 x 2ptf), Colin English 0-4 (2 x 2ptf), Ollie Deller 1-0, Max Cosgrove 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Tadhg Donlon 0-1 (0-1 frees), Sean Gleeson 0-1, Sean Glennon 0-1, Charlie Mahony 0-1.

ST LAURENCE'S: Paul Clynch; Senan Gallagher, Ciaran Sullivan, Conor Clarke; Oisin Grufferty, Kevin Eustace, James Donnolly; Mark Glynn, David O'Driscoll; Felix Lawler, Ruaidhrí Lawlor, Jack McHugh; Dylan O'Dwyer, Tom Dooley, Joe Hanamy. Subs: Niall Clynch for Tom Dooley (49 minutes), Cian Miley for David O'Driscoll (49 minutes), Jack Dargan for James Donnolly (58 minutes).

ROUND TOWERS: Colin English; Dee Kelly, Jack O'Neill, Hugh McDonald; Sean Gleeson, Stephen Comerford, Ben Ryan; Cian Walsh, Danny Kelly; Max Cosgrove, Tadhg Donlon, Mark Byrne; DJ Flynn, Charlie Mahony, Jason O'Brien. Subs: Jay O'Brien (jnr) for Jason O'Brien (20 minutes), Ollie Deller for Tadhg Donlon (Half-time), Mark Byrne for DJ Flynn (Half-time), Matthew Kelly for Danny Kelly (45 minutes).

Referee: Frank Delaney