Cappagh shock Kill with top class display in Junior Championship

Cappagh 4-15

Kill 3-13

Cappagh produced an exceptional scoring display to upset Kill in Junior Football Championship Group B in Leixlip on Thursday evening last.

Cappagh, led by their exceptional full-forward Jack Mulligan, who hit an incredible 3-5 on the night.

Last year’s JFC finalists, Kill were the favourites heading into this game and held a narrow lead at the break at 1-8 to 1-7.

Kill’s first half star was undoubtedly Paul Kirwan who kicked an impressive five points with all but one of those coming from play.

Back to back points from Cappagh’s Thomas Jackman and Jack O’Connor drew the sides level on the 40 minute mark and the game hung in the balance once more.

However, it was Cappagh who kicked on in this game and get their second goal of the game through James Grogan. Grogan drove towards goal and drilled his effort past Robbie Hughes between the Kill sticks.

Just a minute later and Cappagh were in again as they turned the ball over high up the pitch. The forward line worked the ball smartly to the danger man Jack Mulligan who was fouled as he attempted to pull the trigger.

The referee flagged for a penalty and Mulligan himself would step up. The Cappagh talisman would make no mistake as he slotted his effort low beneath the diving ‘keeper. 3-10 to 1-10.

Cappagh added further distance between themselves and their shell-shocked opponents with points through Thomas Jackman and two from James Grogan.

Kill pulled a goal back through Cian Lawlor to give them a sliver of hope with eight minutes remaining.

That brief hope was quickly taken away just sixty seconds later as Jack Mulligan completed his hat-trick at the other end after rounding the ‘keeper.

Cappagh comfortably close out for a brilliant victory to get their first points of the 2023 Junior Football Championship on the board while Kill this is a set-back but no doubt they will dust themselves off get up and start again in the next round..

Scorers: Cappagh, Jack Mulligan 3-5 (1-0 0-2 frees), James Grogan 1-4, Thomas Jackman 0-2, Glen Carter 0-1, Brian McNally 0-1, Jack O'Connor 0-1, David Lovely 0-1.

Kill, Paul Kirwan 0-6 (0-2 frees), Conor Troy 1-2, Cian Lawlor 1-0, Carl Lennox 1-0, Finn Ryan 0-2, Dara Challoner 0-1, Alan Wren 0-1, Stephen O'Leary 0-1.

CAPPAGH: Dylan Whelan; Alan Duff, Oisin O'Cuill, Peter Warren; James Towell, Glen Carter, Iarla Nolan; David Lovely, Patrick Jackman; Jack O'Connor, James Grogan, Oisin Farrell; Brian McNally, Jack Mulligan, Thomas Jackman. Subs: Cillian Devine for James Towell (45 minutes), Shane Donohue for Jack O'Connor (49 minutes).

KILL: Robbie Hughes; Chris McCarthy, Luke Purcell, Liam O'Carroll ; Mark Lee, Justin Halligan, Finn Ryan; Dara Challoner, Stephen Rowley; Cian Lawlor, Owen Thompson , Conor Troy; Alan Wren, Stephen Corboy, Paul Kirwan. Subs: Stephen O'Leary for Liam O'Carroll (Half-time), Brian Heveran for Justin Halligan (33 minutes), Carl Lennox for Alan Wren (45 minutes), Gary Moran for Stephen Rowley (45 minutes).

REFEREE: Colm Kearney