Kill capture the Intermediate title with scorching second half
A blistering second half rally from Kill as they hit an unanswered 1-7 saw them claim victory in the Joe Mallon Motors Intermediate Football Championship
Kill 2-12
Balyna 3-6
A blistering second half rally from Kill when they hit an unanswered 1-7 saw them claim victory in the Joe Mallon Motors Intermediate Football Championship and claim a place in the 2025 Joe Mallon Motors Senior Championship.
It was the underdogs, Kill, who quickly opened the scoring with points from Niamh Kelly and Anna Coburn before a Niamh Sinnott free for Balyna opened their day's account.
From here the sides looked to get the measure of their opponents with the teams exchanging points for the remainder of the half, a late Aoibheann Birchall goal proving the difference at the break.
A long ball into Erica Burke allowed the full forward to play a return pass to Sinnott, before the latter off-loaded to Birchall in front of goal to blast past Aoife Mangan and raise the green flag.
With this departing the sides at the break Balyna looked to build on this as the second half restarted. A Leah Doran goal minutes after the throw-in had Balyna six clear before Kill sprung to life.
Determined to not let Balyna seize control of the tie Coburn chipped over to cut the deficit to five.
From this Kill sprung to life, a penalty from Niamh Farrelly that beat Ruth Bergin before a brace of frees had the sides level with fifteen minutes to go.
Kill kept pushing forward with a fine point from Coburn to continue the run she began. An exchange with Trina Temple left Coburn with a tight shot off the end line, slotting over ensuring that Kill confidence was flying high before Mya Pardy sent Kill two clear.
A further brace from Farrelly took the advantage to four before Balyna were able to respond.
A free from Sinnott four minutes from time again had Balyna within a score and with the firepower they possess they know this was an opportunity.
With that so did Kill and determined to push Balyna out again, Farrelly gathered possession fifty yards from goal; beating Sadie Cullinan and Holly O’Keeffe, Farrelly was face to face with Bergin, hooting low across the face of goal, Bergin was unable to get down in time to prevent the back of the net rippling.
A late Aoibheann Birchall goal managed to narrow the deficit but with time up Balyna couldn’t muster the needed attack to get any closer and with that Kill held on to sent themselves to the highest level of football in Kildare.
Scorers: Kill: Niamh Farrelly 2-6 (1-0 pen; 5 frees); Anna Coburn 0-3; Mya Pardy 0-2; Niamh Kelly 0-1.
Na Fianna: Aoibheann Birchall 2-1; Niamh Sinnott 0-4 (2f); Leah Doran 1-0; Aisling Holton 0-1.
KILL: Aoife Mangan; Jenny Cahill, Laura Cahill, Lorraine Roche; Aisling Roche, Laoise Lenehan, Maisie Molloy; Cara Kennedy, Kathlyn Mikey; Trina Temple, Mya Pardy, Mikaela Bash; Anna Coburn, Niamh Farrelly, Niamh Kelly.
BALYNA: Ruth Bergin; Megan Cooney, Sadie Cullinan, Emma Farrelly; Lucy Cullinan, Julie Brannigan, Rachel Cribbin; Aisling Holton, Rachel Walsh; Aoibheann Birchall, Leah Doran, Caoimhe NiBhuirceal; Niamh Sinnott, Erica Burke, Ellen Morgan. Subs: Lauren Dixon for Walsh (42 minutes); Holly O’Keeffe for Farrelly (42 minutes).