‘Nailer’ nails sweet win for Kiltegan

‘JAMES DOYLE, better known to his friends as ‘Nailer’ nailed St. Pat’s in the closing minutes of this close and hard-fought match at Kiltegan.

‘Darragh O’Sullivan had the ball in the Kiltegan net inside a minute and it looked for a long time as if that goal was going to haunt the home side to the end.

‘However, who was very much on his game ‘Nailer’ sent over three difficult frees, the last of them with two minutes to go to get the Carlow border side a draw.

‘John Farrell at full-back and Adrian Foley were the other Kiltegan stars.

‘Kiltegan scorers: James Doyle 0-5; John Keogh 0-3; Rory Finn 0-2; Anthony Furlong 0-1.

‘St. Pat’s: Darragh O’Sullivan 1-0; Stephen Duffy 0-4; Mathew Byrne 0-3; Chris Kavanagh 0-1. ‘AFTER leading by double scores - 0-8 to 0-4 – Baltinglass were hanging on in the closing minutes of this match, played at Baltinglass.

‘The wind had a bearing on this game but the home side could have made better use in the first half.

‘As always, the Slaneyside defence proved hard to beat in the second half and for a long time Tinahely made little impressing. The four points still separated the sides with five minutes remaining but then Jason Hedderman blasted home the only goal of the match and Joe Hayden’s men were back in the game.

‘In fact, Tinahely claim that they got the leveling point in the last minute.

‘The sequence of events started with full-back Brian Hickey taking a line ball, getting back the pass from Willie Dillon and sending in a mighty long-range shot.

‘Big Baltinglass goalie Ken Quirke got his fist to the ball. One umpire flagged it for a point, the other signaled a 45. Ref Pat Keogh awarded the 45 which dropped short and was cleared.

‘The win leaves Baltinglass clear at the top of the table.

‘Baltinglass scorers: Seán O’Brien 0-3; Henry Sinnott, Peadar Burke and Joey Kelly 0-2 each; Brian Fleming and Tommy Cullen 0-1 each.

‘Tinahely scorers: Jason Hedderman 1-1; Kevin D’Arcy and Alan Nolan 0-2 each; Tony D’Arcy, Damien Cullen 0-1.

‘Baltinglass: K. Quirke; B. Nolan, A. Nolan, E. Sweeney; P. Fleming, C. Foley, M. O’Shaughnessy; T. Murphy, P. Burke; J. Kelly, S. O’Brien, T. Cullen; H. Sinnott, B. Fleming, P. Osbourne. Sub. - J. Murray.

‘Tinahely: S. Nolan; D. Blake, B. Hickey, J. Blake; P. Hogan, W. Dillon, M. Byrne; D. Dillon, P. Brennan; T. D’Arcy, J. Hedderman, D. Cullen; A. Brennan, A. Nolan, K. D’arcy.