Kildorrery edged out by Milford

Kildorrery 0-21 Milford 2-17

Milford emerged victors over Kildorrery by a two point margin in a thrilling Red FM Div 5B Co HL encounter at Kildorrery on Sunday.

The opening half saw Milford play with the aid of the strong breeze. In their first attack a delivery by Cillian O’Gorman was gathered by Anthony Watson who scored the game’s opening goal. They held a 1-4 to 0-2 lead by the 11th minute, with Peter O’Brien and David Kelly were on target for the home side.

As the half went on, Kildorrery got to grips with proceedings and were denied a goal scoring chance when the Milford keeper saved well from David Kelly.

Exchanges were keenly contested for the rest of the half. By the 25th minute a goal separated the teams, with the visitors leading 1-8 to 0-8. In the run up to the break both teams continued to enjoy some moments. Peter O’Brien and James McEniry with points for Kildorrery left the minimum between the sides. However, Milford’s response was swift and frees by Sean O’Connell and Brian Murphy saw them lead 1-10 to 0-10 at the interval.

The second half was again much the same between two evenly matched teams. Tommy Curran and Peter O’Brien traded early points, with Anthony Watson and Michael Walsh also trading points.

Kildorrery were exerting most of the pressure at this juncture and two long range efforts from Finbarr Stapleton and Dylan Kent reduced the margin to 1-12 to 0-14. Just when the home side looked like getting back on parity it was Milford that upped their efforts once more, with Michael O’Flynn (point) and Anthony Watson (goal) left the scoreline 2-13 to 0-14.

Kildorrery regrouped well and a very good spell yielded some cracking points by Shane Fitzgerald, David Kelly, James O’Sullivan, Peter O’Brien and Dylan Kent, that left it all to play for when the sides were tied at 2-13 to 0-19 by the 53rd minute. In a gripping finale, both teams sensed victory. Sean O’Connell had two points for Milford, while John Hunter pulled a point back for the home side. In the closing moments Tadgh Flynn and David Hunter swapped points. Kildorrery tried hard to get back on terms, but it was Milford that withstood the late revival. Sean O’Connell with a pointed free in injury time moved his side two clear.

Kildorrery had a chance to snatch victory deep in stoppage time when a close in free by Peter O’Brien was saved on the line.

Kildorrery: Ian Butler, Richie Hurley, Cormac O Baoil, Kevin Noonan, Jamie O’Gorman, James Keating, William Fouhy, Finbarr Stapleton (0-1), John Hunter (0-1), James McEniry (0-2), Michael Walsh (0-1), Peter O’Brien (0-7 - 0-5f), Tiernan Condon (0-1), Shane Fitzgerald (0-2), David Kelly (0-2). Subs: Dylan Kent (0-2) for James McEniry, Sean Kelly for Richie Hurley, James O’Sullivan (0-1) for James Keating, David Hunter (0-1) for David Kelly, Mattie Walsh-O’Grady for Kevin Noonan, Kieran Hurley for Tiernan Condon, Eamonn O’Connor for Shane Fitzgerald, PJ Keating for Mattie Walsh O’Grady (inj), Jerry McCarthy for Michael Walsh (inj).

Referee: Pat O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).