Rathangan secure winners group spot with win over Kilcullen

Rathangan 1-13

Kilcullen 1-8

A much better second half performance was enough to see Rathangan overcome Kilcullen by five points in the preliminary round of the Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate football championship on Saturday.

However the the pre-game favourites didn't have it their own way as an under strength Kilcullen side pushed them hard for long period.

On a blustery afternoon a strong wind favoured Kilcullen in the opening half but it was Aaron Mullins and Ross Teehan, from a free, that had Rathangan two up inside seven minutes.

A shot from Sean Knight was deflected for a 45 and County U20 keeper Cormac Barker made no mistake.

Ross Teehan, again from a free, and Mark Fitzsimons pushed Rathangan three ahead at the end of the opening quarter.

Kilcullen should have taken advantage of some good scoring chances but six scores in a row pushed them five ahead in that seven minute spell.

Liam Knight and Thomas Hickey were both successful with long range efforts before Ronan Toft found himself inside the Rathangan defence and the one time defender finished cooly to the net.

Robery Lee Sean Knight and Thomas Hickey ensured Kilcullen were rewarded for their dominance.Rathangan finished the half the stronger to get level at 1-6 each and after Ross Teehan landed a free on 23 they were fortunate to have a Muiris Curtin goal stand as Kilcullen's Cian Creaton was clearly fouled in the build up.

Sam Savage found time for the equaliser before Fergal Barry brought the half to a close.

Ross Teehan, from another free and Sam Savage pushed Rathangan two ahead before Kilcullen were dealt a major blow when midfielder Ciaran Melinn was black carded.

Cormac Barker reduced the gap to the minimum with a brilliant long range free as we hit the 40th minute

Kilcullen could only manage one more point, from a Thomas Hickey free and it wasn't going to be enough.

Rathangan finished the stronger and late points from Ben Murphy, Sam Savage and Ross Teehan, with his sixth saw out a good victory.

Rathangan move on to the winners group but based on their league title winning form they will want to get back there to be in the shake up later in the year.

Despite been short a few regulars Kilcullen should be happy with this display. Poor shooting and some decisions going against them didn't help but they have enough ammunition to guarantee relegation won't be a worry.

RATHANGAN: Josh Smullen; Alex O'Kelly, Dan Mulpeter, Shane O'Loughlin; Mark Fitzsimons 0-1, Michael Fitzsimons, Alex Conlan; Rian Teehan, Ben Murphy 0-1; Brandon Maloney, Ross Teehan 0-6 (5 frees), Stefan Lawlor; Sam Savage 0-3, Muiris Curtin 1-0, Aaron Mullins 0-1. Subs: Tadhg Fluskey for Aaron Mullins (40 minutes); Sean Behan 0-1 for Brandon Maloney (40 minutes); Robert Walsh for Alex Conlan (51 minutes).

KILCULLEN: Cormac Barker 0-2 (1'45,1free); Conor Bolton, Franny Shortt, Eoin Redmond; Cathal Brophy, Cian Creaton, Tim Carey; Sean Knight 0-1, Ciaran Melinn; Paul Bell, Thomas Hickey 0-3 (1 free), Liam Knight 0-1; Robert Lee 0-1, David Marshall, Ronan Toft 1-0. Subs: David Toft for Eoin Redmond (39 minutes); Sean McMahon for David Marshall (40 minutes); Nathan O Reily for Paul Bell (50 minutes); Colm Byrne for Ronan Toft (52 minutes).

Referee Fergal Barry.