JFC Rundown Group A: Huge wins for Grange and Rathcoffey as Milltown cruise past Castlemitchell

Tom Cross Junior Fooball Championship got under way last week. Here is the full reports from each of the Group A, round two as Grangenolvin faced Ballykelly, Milltown played Castlemitchell and Rathcoffey faced Ardclough.

Grangenolvin 4-16

Ballykelly 0-4

Grange got back to winning ways after last week's defeat to Miltown in the Tom Cross Junior Football Championship Group A encounter.They had twenty four points to spare over Ballykelly in this totally one sided affair.

Played in horrible weather conditions the difference in the teams league positions was all to evident and Grange are back on track as one of the competitions favourites.

Wayne Dooley opened the Grange account inside a minute and a good strike from a 45 from goalkeeper Timmy Doyle on six extended the lead before Tomas Cullen made it three on thirteen.The opening goal of the half arrived on 14 when Wayne Dooley finished a good move.

Grange's dominance continued to the half time whistle Tomas Cullen adding a second goal on twenty one.

Wayne Dooley with two more white flags and four from centre forward Fionn Bergin left Grange 2-11 to 0-1 ahead at the break.Charlie White's lone free the only response from the Ballykelly men.

Despite playing against the elements in the second half Grange continued to push forward in search of scores.They dominated in all sectors.Four points in the opening ten minutes extended the lead.Fionn Bergin with three,Wayne Dooley and Tomas Cullen all adding points.A two minute spell between the 43rd and 45th minutes saw Grange ad two more goals through Fionn Bergin and Dylan Costigan.

Ballykelly to their credit kept plugging away and three late Charlie White frees was the total of their efforts.

Grange ran out comfortable 4-16 to 0-4 winners in a rather one sided affair.

Despite that opening round loss Grange proved their credentials and with a few players still to return from.injury they will only get stronger as the competition goes on.

Despite an round win over Ardclough Ballykelly will need to get back to winning ways after this heavy defeat to keep their interest alive.

Best for Grange were Dylan Costigan,Fionn Bergin and Wayne Dooley while Darragh Byrne and Simon Luttrell tried hard for Ballykelly.

GRANGENOLVIN: Timmy Doyle 0-1 (1 '45), Ross Dooley, Daniel Wall, Gavin Ivory, Tom Nolan, Dylan Costigan 1-0, Luke Thornton, Cillian Bergin, Keith McGloin, Lee Doyle, Fionn Bergin 1-7 (2 frees,1 '45), Michael Kelly, Tomas Cullen 1-2, Wayne Dooley 1-5, Conall Bergin 0-1. Subs: Aaron O Neill for Lee Doyle 4; Lewis Gannon for Dylan Costigan 49; Keith Holligan for Ross Dooley 53.

BALLYKELLY: David Moore; Darragh Perry, Damon Howard, Stephen McNally; Russell Grattan, Ciaran Byrne, Cole Grattan; Darragh Byrne, Owen Whelan; Jack Smith, Simon Luttrell, Luke Gill; Barry Kaye, Charlie White 0-4 (4 frees), Eddie O'Connell. Subs: Dougie Anderson for Damon Howard 54; Jordan Bolger for Eddie O Connell 55; Emmett Black for Jack Smith 55.

REFEREE: David Houlihan.

Milltown 0-15

Castlemitchell 0-6

Few could have predicted a nine point win for Milltown as we entered time added on with the favourites deservedly leading albeit by just two. However as the rain poured down it was Milltown who piled on the pressure hitting no less than seven unanswered points to chalk up their second win on the trot.

On a day, weather-wise, that was certainly conducive to decent football, the sides were level three times in the opening half, a half that saw scores hard to come by.

Kevin Byrne, who had a fine game for the winners operating in midfield, opened the scoring on three and we had to wait until the 13 minute before the second white flag of the game arrived, Patrick Donohoe converting a free for Milltown.

In between Aaron Walker picked up a black card on 10 minutes for the boys in green and red.

Castlemitchell, with the rain belting, down hit three points in two minutes, Ray Kavanagh, Darroch Mulhall and Ross Harris pushing The Mitchell into the lead on 18.

Sean Murphy leveled up affairs; Patrick O'Donohoe regained the lead a few minutes later.

Patrick Donohoe saw a shot dropped by the Mitchell keeper, the ball falling to Ronan O'Shea but his first time effort hit the butt of the left hand post and was cleared.

Points from Ross Harris and Ray Kavanagh edged Castlemitchell ahead by one on 25 minutes but Milltown it back to level before the break, Calum Murphy's effort going in off the upright to leave it 0-05 apiece at the break.

Patrick Donohoe edged Milltown in front with a free five minutes on the resumption while Castlemitchell were unfortunate not the find the empty net a minute later, the ball hitting a puddle of water and holding up before being cleared.

Ben Curtis converted a 45 before John O'Connor replied for The Mitchell, which was to be their sole point of the second half as Milltown led 0-7 to 0-6 on 44 minutes.

Patrick Donohoe put two between them and that is the way it stayed until the 60 minutes.

Suddenly Milltown moved up the gears and between here and the 665 minute pulled away with points from Alan Dignam (2), Ben Curtis, Patrick Donohoe (2), Hugh Hamilton and the final score of the game from substitute Alan Dignam to record the win on a final score line of Milltown 0-15 Castlemitchell 0-6.

Scorers: Milltown, Patrick Donohoe 0-5 (5 frees), Alan Dignam 0-3, Ben Curran 0- 2 (45), Calum Murphy 0-1, Kevin Byrne 0-1, Sean Murph 0-1, Omar Dunne 0-1, Hugh Hamilton 0-1.

Castlemitchell, Ray Kavanagh 0-2, Ross Harris 0-2, Darroch Mulhall 0-1, John O'Connor 0-1.

MILLTOWN: Ian Fitzgerald; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Karl Downey; Sean Murphy, Colin O'Shea, Shane Daly; Kevin Byrne, Aron Walker; Aaron Jacob, Karl Heuston, Ben Curran; Calum Murphy, Ronan O'Shea, Patrick Donohoe. Subs: Declan McKenna for Karl Heuston (39 minutes); Omar Dunne for Aaron Walker (48 minutes); Hugh Hamilton for Calum Murphy (48 minutes); Alan Dignam for Karl Downey (55 minutes).

CASTLEMTICHELL: Shane Kelly; Jordan Horgan, David Ryan, Mark Kelly; Luke Maher, Ray Kavanagh, Shane Kavanagh; James Harris, Ross Harris; Mark Fennelly, Darroch Mulhall, Paddy Ryan; John O'Connor, Emmet Hyland, Conor Curtis. Subs: John Fennelly for Conor Curtis (44 minutes); Ray Fitzgerald for John O'Connor (53 minutes); Brian Kavanagh for Paddy Ryan (59 minutes); Oisin Fennin for Mark Fennelly (63 minutes).

REFEREE: Padraig McGivern

Rathcoffey 5-18

Ardclough 0-3

No surprises in Manguard Park on Thursday evening when Rathcoffey had their expected victory over Ardclough in Round 2 of the Tom Cross JFC.

It was two wins from two for Rathcoffey who defeated Castlemitchell in their opening round while Ardclough were defeated by Ballykelly.

No doubt Ardclough are struggling these days to even field a team but in fairness they should be complimented as they were fighting a losing battle a long way from the final whistle but they battled on manfully right up to the final whistle.

Rathcoffey played some fine football it has to be said. Slick passing, plenty of running off-the-ball, decent around the middle and a few fine performances up front, they will have a big say as to how this championship eventually pans out.

While Padraig McManamon opened for the winners, Shane McEvoy equalised with a free on two minutes.

The opening goal arrived soon after when Ardclough keeper Joe Ahern made one of some excellent top class saves, saw the breaking ball fall to Cillian McGovern who made no mistake from close range.

Dermot Carr replied for Ardclough but slowly but surely Rathcoffey turned the screw, adding 1-7 before the break, the second goal coming from full forward Michael O'Connor that saw his side leading at the break 2-9 to 0-3.

Joe Aherne continued to do his utmost to keep is goal in tact but he was finally beaten again with Conor Harris, who had an excellent game, finding the net.

Shane McEvoy converted his third free and his side's final score of the game on 37 minutes as Rathcoffey continued to dominate, adding goals from half-time substitute John O'Donoghue, and a second from Cillian McGovern to win on a final s score line of Rathcoffey 5-18 Ardclough 0-4.

Scorers: Rathcoffey, John O'Donoghue 1-3, Conor Harris 1-3, Cillian McGovern 2-0, Jason Action 0-5 (3 frees), Michael O'Connor 1-1, Cillian McGovern 1-0, Cathal Travers 0-2, Padraig McManamon 0-1, Evin McGovern 0-1, PJ Heslin 0-1, Oisin Brilly 0-1.

Ardclough, Shane McEvoy 0-3 (3 frees), Dermot Carr 0-1.

RATHCOFFEY: Shane Stone; Nathan Orrill, Eoghan McDonnell, Jamie Brilly; Oisin Brilly, Mark Holligan, Cillian McGovern; Padraig McManamon, Cathal Travers; Evin McGovern, Conor Harris, Colum Fagan; John Coyle, Michael O'Connor, Jason Acton. Subs: John O'Donoghue for Michael O'Connor (half-time); PJ Heslin for Evin McGovern (40 minutes).

ARDCLOUGH: Joe Ahern; Tom Costigan, Donal Delahunt, Michael Freyne; Sean Whelan, Connor Duggan, Tadhg McCarthy; Chris Gilmartin, Michael Byrne; Cillian Burke, Dermot Carr, Ben Culliton; Shane McEvoy, Gary Delahunt, Liam Hanley. Sub: Tristan McGarr for Tadhg McCarthy (32 minutes).

REFEREE: Paul Donnelly.