Kilbride battle to

KILBRIDE NEWCASTLE 1-11 0-9

KILBRIDE battled past a spirited challenge from Newcastle to record a deserved victory in this JAFC Group 3 game at Joule Park, Aughrim on Saturday evening.

The men in navy blue possessed just a little bit too much class around the middle and up front in what was in truth a spirited but fairly disappointing game of football.

Kilbride got out of the blocks quickly but wasted a host of chanc- es and it was Newcastle who took an early two-point lead as Graham O’Brien and a Warren Merriman close in free were converted from the few forays up the pitch they had.

Kilbride created a hosted of chances but seemed to have left their shooting boots at home and had to wait till the 12th minute for Liam McGee to end their scoring drought as he converted a free on the right side in front of the dressing rooms.

A misjudgement from Kilbride keeper Stephen Kelleher saw him beaten to the ball after rushing out, off his line as Graham O’Brien beat him to the ball on the 21. O’Brien looked set to bear down on goal but was brought down in what looked to be a black card offence. No card was issued however and Merriman tapped over the resultant free to extend the lead.

The rest of the half followed a similar pattern as Kilbride seemed to have the edge but couldn’t really convert this pressure into points on the scoreboard. The side traded points, although Hughie Walshe should have hit the net having been put through on goal by Thomas McKeon, who had a good game for the winners.

Niall Toolis had the final say of the first half as he turned sharply and curled over a lovely point on the right side to give Kilbride a narrow 5 points to 4 lead at the