Sarsfields on top in Kildare Division 1 Reserve final against Raheens

Sarsfields got the better of Raheens to clinch the Kildare Reserve Division 1 title on a perfect late Sunday afternoon for football in Hawkfield.

Sarsfields got off to a great starty with two superb two-pointers; Ronan Fitzgibbon off the right from play on two minutes, and Cian Costigan with a free six minutes later, The Sash could boast a five point lead after Niall Costigan added a free after 12 minutes.

Raheens then had two goal chances squandered; first Cathal Moore got his hand to the ball to palm away David Malone’s squared pass, before Conor Earley couldn’t keep his shot on target after a very good run.

Raheens did score through points from David Malone and Rob Thompson, but other than that, they struggled to threaten the Sarsfields defence.

Niall Costigan and Gavin Anderson pointed for Sarsfields to ensure a 0-7 to 0-2 lead at the end of a lacklustre first-half.

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Sarsfields struck for their first goal within moments of the restart, when after Con Kavanagh’s point attempt rattled the post, Daithi Dowling was lurking to pounce on a lapse of judgement by the Raheens defence and finish the ball into the net. Raheens responded well to their credit, and scored two excellent two pointers in quick succession from Conor

Murphy and Killian Thompson, before Con Kavanagh grabbed a second goal in the 42nd minute to halt the revival efforts in their tracks.

Though Sarsfields held the initiative, Raheens did create some more goal chances in the second-half. Rory Thompson and Colm Power were all superbly denied by Cathal Moore, who had to earn his clean sheet on the day. Conor Murphy had an effort on goal which he dragged wide, and in added-time, Cian Hughes made a superb block to thwart Conor Murphy. Conor Early had another goal opportunity too, which he put too much power into and it flew over the crossbar instead of under it.

Raheens missed a few goal chances, two lovely two-pointers from Killian Thompson, but it was too late.

SARSFIELDS: Cathal Moore; Donal O’Brien, Cian Hughes, Jimmy O’Neill; David Shanley, Con Kavanagh 1-0, Daragh Conlon; Gavin Anderson 0-1, Shane Higgins; Daithi Dowling 1-0, Cian Costigan 0-2 (1two-pointer), Rian Beagan 0-1; Colm Harnett, Ronan Fitzgibbon 0-3 (1two-pointer), Niall Costigan 0-2 (0-1free). Subst: Ciaran McEaspell for Daithi Dowling (42), Tom Aspell for Shane Higgins (45), James Aspell for Donal O’Brien (49), Cian Edmond 0-1 for Colm Harnett (54).

RAHEENS: Declan Campbell; Cathal O’Toole, Tom Early, Jamie McLoughlin; Adam Malone, Tom Dore, Conor Early 0-1; Killian Thompson 0-6 (3two-pointers), Dara Cooke; David Malone 0-1, Daire Gilmartin, Shane Malone 0-1; Evan Gilmartin, Conor Murphy 0-2 (1two-pointer), Rob Thompson 0-2 (0-1free). Subst: Conor Dunne for Dara Cooke, Rory Thompson for Evan Gilmartin (39), Colm Power for Rob Thompson (46), Charlie Carr for Shane Malone (54).

Referee: PJ Cummins.