Kill upset Grange' and book Junior Championship final spot
Kill ran out winners over Grange by 0-12 to 0-9
Kill 0-12
Grangenolvin 0-9
Kill somewhat upset the odds with a well-deserved three point win over Grangenolvin to book their place in the Tom Cross Transport JFC decider at Hawkfield on Saturday afternoon.
Kill certainly dominated for most of the opening half and at one stage held a five point lead as Grangenolvin were finding the tough, but fair, tackling of Kill hard to overcome.
And while Grange' made a gallant effort in the final quarter, in the end the honours went to their rightful place.
That operning half saw no less than four yellow cards dished out by referee Eoghan Murphy.
Having said that it was Grange' who opened the scoring on three minutes, Oran Bergin, one of four brothers on the Grangenolvin side, who opened but Kill replied almost instantly with Paul Kirwan firing over.
Nathan Doyle edged the boys from the south of the county ahead but again Kill responsed quickly, this time wing-back Derry Lenehan raising the white flag.
Conditions were difficult with a swirling breeze not really favouring either side as Kill hit the front with a fine free from wide on the right, into the Milltown goal, being converted by AJ Jordan.
A bit of handbags saw referee Murphy had out yellows to Brian Cullen (Grange') and AJ Jordan of Kill, before Paul Kirwan pushed the lead out to two on 19 minutes.
Kill were now enjoying most of the possession and after Timmy Doyle (Grange') picked up a yellow, Kill extended the lead with an excellent cross-field pass by Alan Wren saw Sam Lafferty split the posts; Joe Corrigan left his defensive duties behind to come forward and leave four points between them on 23 minutes.
Fionn Bergin saw his free come off the upright and cleared before Cian Lawlor (Kill) was next into the little black book.
A long ball in was gathered by Paul Kirwan, the full forward was fouled and Kill now led 0-7 to 0-2. However Grangenolvin gave themselves a lift with two converted frees from Fionn Bergin as the long whistle arrived with the score board reading Kill 0-7 Grangenolvin 0-4.
Kill certainly came in the second half with all guns blazing and with points from the influential Paul Kirwan, AJ Jordan and Kirwan again as Kill now led by six.
Grange' then carved out a great goal chance when Oran Bergin shrugged off three defenders before going for goal but his effort was brilliantly knocked away by a diving Mike Jones in the Kill goal with nothing coming from the resultant 45.
A major moment in the game no doubt.
Grange' gradually dug into the Kill lead with three converted frees from Fionn Bergin cutting the lead back to two with 55 gone.
Kill eased their growing worries after Sam Lafferty carried the ball into the danger area, was fouled and AJ Jordan converted.
Lee Doyle reduced the lead back to two but Kill were not for turning and it was that man Paul Kirwan who fired over after a foul on Stephen O'Leary.
Grange' threw everything at Kill in the dying minutes; a wide was over-ruled by the match official and a 45 awarded but again nothing came of it and then a late, late free was taken short but the referee immediately blew for full time with Kill upsetting the pre-match favourites and booking a place in this season's junior decider.
Scorers: Kill, Paul Kirwan 0-6 (4 frees), AJ Jordan 0-3 (2 frees), Kevin Corrigan 0-1, Derry Lenehan 0-1, Sam Lafferty 0-1.
Grangenolvin, Fionn Bergin 0-6 (6 frees), Nathan Doyle 0-1, Oran Bergin 0-1, Lee Doyle 0-1.
KILL: Mike Jones; Ciaran Devoy, Justin Halligan, Luke Purcell; Finn Ryan, Kevin Corrigan, Derry Lenehan; Jack Healy, Sam Lafferty; AJ Jordan, Stephen O'Leary, Mark Lee; Cian Lawlor, Paul Kirwan, Alan Wren. Subs: Owen Thompson for Luke Purcell (50 minutes); Liam O'Carroll for Alan Wren (54 minutes).
GRANGENOLVIN: Timmy Doyle; Keith Holligan, Lewis Gannon, Gavin Ivory; Daniel Cullen, Cillian Bergin, Brian Cullen; Keith McGloin, Conall Bergin; Dylan Costigan, Nathan Dole, Wayne Dooley; Oran Bergin, Fionn Bergin, Tomas Cullen. Subs: Lee Doyle for Wayne Dooley (35 minutes); James Gannon for Daniel Cullen (45 minutes); Paul Huntingdon for Dylan Costigan (45 minutes).
REFEREE: Owen Murphy.