How Ellistown bounced back and became this year's Junior Football Champions

Ellistown 2-8

Kill 1-9

Ellistown survived a late surge to beat Kill and win the 2024 Tom Cross Transport Junior Football Championship. They lifted the Noel Moran Cup and restored their Intermediate status just a year after losing it.

As was the case across the weekend, conditions wreaked havoc on big games. This fixture's opening score came four minutes in when Cian Lawlor opened Kill’s account. The midfielder turned the ball over excellently before going on a driving run and scoring.

Ellistown were holding a great deal of the ball, but were struggling to break down Kill who were keeping plenty of numbers through the spine of the pitch to limit space.

After some sustained pressure at the other end, Kill doubled their lead when this year’s Junior Football Championship top-scorer Paul Kirwan spun in behind Andrew McLoughlin and fired over.

Ellistown got their first point after 12 minutes when one of their many spells of possession ended in the hands of Shane Maughan who sent over a brilliant long-range score.

Kill responded in kind a minute later when wing-back Finn Ryan took a mark and curled over a fine point. The scoring rate had now settled into a more regular pace as Ellistown made this a one-point game inside the same minute when Darragh Watson curled over a wonderful point from long-range.

Ellistown’s ability to score from range was crucial in this game as they faced a stern and superbly organised Kill defence.

The eventual winners were level on 17 minutes when Tadhg Watson got his first and only point from a close-range free.

These teams seemed to react to one another when it came to scoring as Kill pushed themselves back in front a minute later. Mark Lee drove at the Ellistown backline before cutting inside and firing over a super score.

Paul Kirwan pushed Kill two clear at 0-5 to 0-3 on the 20-minute mark with a free-kick.

At this stage, neither manager was 100% pleased (or had suffered injuries) as both sides made first half personnel swaps.

Ellistown possession once again ended in the taking of a brilliant score from distance as Man of the Match Eoin O’Loughlin got his first point.

Cian Lawlor created another score from nothing as he delayed possession before changing pace to move past his man and fire over. The Kill midfielders’ second point of the afternoon sent them in with an 0-6 to 0-4 lead at half-time.

After another period of sparring after the break, Ellistown got their fifth of the game through Eoin O’Loughlin. It wasn’t long after and they had then hit the net and took the lead for the first time through Pat Martin. Evan Donnelly was under pressure as Martin galloped beyond him and the corner-forward found his advancing captain with a superb looping handpass.

Martin drilled through the back of the ball and hit the net in the most emphatic of style.

Kill brought themselves back to within a point in the 40th minute with a lovely AJ Jordan free.

However, the goal seemed to ease Ellistown and allow them to take further control of proceedings. They went two ahead through first-half substitute Callum Donnelly.

Ellistown had a huge scare when the ball was turned over high up the pitch in the 49th minute. Kill midfielder Cian Lawlor was pouring through on goal and, with Paul Kirwan to his right and just one defender in front of him, he took aim below the crossbar. Lawlor’s effort was brilliantly blocked by the retreating Andrew McLoughlin and it was a moment all on its own that justified his inclusion in this team after recovering from injury.

Eoin O’Loughlin then sent his side three clear with 10 minutes to go with his third point.

After scores at each end, a Kill free from Paul Kirwan brought them back to within two points as this game hit the hour mark. 

Ellistown then hit the net to all but end this final as Eoin O’Loughlin latched onto a loose handpass to craftily flick the ball past the on-rushing goalkeeper. O’Loughlin’s green flag left this game at 2-8 to 0-9 in the 61st minute.

Kill weren’t quite ready to die yet as Paul Kirwan hit the net with an immediate response as two of the four added minutes elapsed.

Despite pouring further forward, Kill could not breach Ellistown again and the leading side were crowned this year’s Junior Football Champions after a stellar campaign.

MAIN MAN

EOIN O'LOUGHLIN

Eoin O'Loughlin received the Man of the Match award on the day and richly deserved it too. In a chance to give praise to others, James Neilson was absolutely everywhere for Ellistown in this final. Speaking after the game, his manager, Gavin Holligan, theorised that his corner-back may in fact have three lungs after he barrelled around Manguard Park wreaking havoc on his team's behalf for over an hour.

TURNING POINT

Pat Martin's goal gave Ellistown the lead for the first time in this game. They were now two points clear and the raising of that green flag undoubtedly settled the nerves of the eventual winners. Ellistown now had time to maintain possession without the desperate urgency of chasing scores against a stern Kill defence.

WHAT NOW?

Ellistown now progress to the Leinster Junior Championship where the current holders are another Kildare team and the 2024 champs will be well up for trying to replicate Milltown's success last year.

Ellistown, Eoin O'Loughlin 1-3, Pat Martin 1-0, Shane Maughan 0-1, Darragh Watson 0-1, Tadhg Watson 0-1 (0-1 frees), Callum Donnelly 0-1, Evan Donnelly 0-1 (0-1 frees).

Kill, Paul Kirwan 1-3 (0-2 frees), Cian Lawlor 0-2, AJ Jordan 0-2 (0-2 frees), Finn Ryan 0-1 (0-1 mark), Mark Lee 0-1.

ELLISTOWN: Oran Donnelly; Ciaran Lindy, Sean Lindy, James Neilson; Andrew McLoughlin, Darragh Watson, Pat Martin; Conor Lindy, Shane Maughan; Darren Kelly, David Dunne, Eoin O'Loughlin; Tadhg Watson, Conor O'Loughlin, Evan Donnelly. Subs: Leo Lennox for David Dunne (7 minutes), Callum Donnelly for Darren Kelly (26 minutes), Max Lennox for Ciaran Lindy (52 minutes), Oisin O'Loughlin for Sean Lindy (55 minutes).

KILL: Mike Jones; Ciaran Devoy, Justin Halligan, Luke Purcell; Finn Ryan, Eoin Finneran, Derry Lenehan; Jack Healy, Cian Lawlor; Sam Lafferty, Stephen O'Leary, Mark Lee; AJ Jordan, Paul Kirwan, Alan Wren. Subs: Harry Kirwan for Sam Lafferty (26 minutes), Dara Challoner for Stephen O'Leary (49 minutes), Matthew Ryan for Alan Wren (61 minutes).

Referee: Alan Archbold