Dutton does the trick Substitute hits two late points to help Kilcoole to victory
KILCOOLE BALTINGLASS 0-13 0-11
THE introduction of Kilcoole substitute Lee Dutton with eight minutes to go in the Division 3 league final against Baltinglass in Joule Park Aughrim provided the Goosebank men with the extra ammunition to power on and claim the crown after a thoroughly entertaining game of football.
Dutton fired over two points from play within minutes of arriving on the field and took his side from being level with the Baltinglass men to two points in the clear and looking good for victory.
Baltinglass would pull one back after 30 minutes of the second half, but a late Matt Gilbert free would finish the scoring and see the Kilcoole men claim their first silverware of 2018 and give them a major boost after they had lost out so narrowly in last year’s Junior ‘A’ football championship.
Baltinglass had an excellent opening to this game and led by 0-4 to 0-1 after nine minutes and looked to be in complete control. Points from Jamie McTiernan, Tadgh O’Toole, William Hanlon and Lee Furlong got them off on the front foot with a superb Vinnie Quigley effort the only reply from Kilcoole.
Baltinglass were full value for their lead, showing great hunger and ambition in front of the Kilcoole goal and under the Kilcoole kick-out.
Two sweetly struck Matt Gilbert frees pulled Kilcoole right back in the game as Vinnie Quigley, Eoin and Ronan Keddy started to get to grips with the Baltinglass midfield.
William Rogers went all Mark Jackson then and converted a 45 to put some more daylight between the sides but Kilcoole gathered their thoughts and pressed on big time, two Gilbert points from frees, a lovely Eoin Keddy score, a Danny Kavanagh converted free, a superb score from Declan Roper and a point from Luke Evans left the Goosebankers leading by 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.
As in the opening half, Baltinglass started brighter with their young players really shining in the early stages of the second half. Within a matter of minutes, they were all square again at 0-9 apiece thanks to points from Rogers (free), two from Jack Timmins (one free) and a Tommy Cullen point that deceived the Kilcoole defence and hopped over the crossbar.
Superb work on the Baltinglass end line earned Eoin Keddy some space for a pop over the crossbar and his second point of the game and Jack Timmins replied at the other end with a converted free to level matters at 0-10 apiece.
Tiredness was creeping into the game at this stage and some very poor wides were collected by both sides, including the game’s best goal chance that fell to Matt Gilbert who showed lovely feet but his effort from the floor off his left was dragged wide when an open goal gaped before him.
Kilcoole sent in Lee Dutton for Declan Roper.
His first real involvement was to drive hard at the Baltinglass defence and fist over to give his side the lead.
He then collected a ball on the Baltinglass 45 and lofted it over the bar with a beautiful stroke.
Tadgh O’Toole hit back but Gilbert who is a fine striker of a placed ball swept over the last score of the game to give his side the victory.
– Kilcoole: Matthew Gilbert 0-5 (5f), Eoin Keddy 0-2, Lee Dutton 0-2, Luke Evans 0-1, Danny Kavanagh 0-1 (f), Declan Roper 0-1, Vinnie Quigley 0-1.
Baltinglass: Jack Timmins 0-3
Scorers
(2f), William Rogers 0-2 (1 45, 1f), Tadgh O’Toole 0-2, William Hanlon 0-1, Lee Furlong 0-1, Jamie McTiernan 0-1, Tommy Cullen 0-1.
Glen Tighe; Luke Reilly, Matthew Mannix, Keith Reynolds; Dara Keddy, Colm NcGovern, Kevin Condron; Peter O’Brien, Ronan Keddy; Eoin Keddy, Vinnie Quigley, Luke Evans; Declan Roper, Danny Kavanagh, Matthew Gilbert. Subs: Lee Dutton for D Roper (47min), Patrick Woods for V Quigley (56min), Declan Roper for E Keddy (56min).
Kilcoole:
William Rogers; Darragh Doyle, James Keane, Karl Furlong; Michael Dowling, Tommy Cullen, Peter Gethings; Tommy Murphy, Lee Furlong; Fabian Dunne, Tadgh O’Toole, Jason Sinnott; Jack Timmins, William Hanlon, Jamie McTiernan. Subs: Aaron Phelan for W Hanlon (46min), Ross Nolan for R McTiernan (52min), Johnny Donegan for P Gethings.
Brendan Furlong
Baltinglass: Referee: