Grange on top in Kildare Junior Championship cracker with Ballymore

Grangenolvin 1-23

Ballymore Eustace 2-15

Grangnolvin and Ballymore Eustace, two sides who would be expected to be in the thick of Kildare JFC action come the business end of affairs, played out an absolute cracking contest in this Group A opening clash at Cedral St Conleth's Park on Saturday afternoon.

In the end it was Grange' who prevailed but this one was right in the melting pot up to the last few minutes.
It was Ballymore who took the early initiative with points from Shane Barrett, Callum Barrett, Des Horan and Niall Murphy, Conal Bergin opening the Grange' account.

Keith McGloin had an early goal chance for Grange' but was denied by Nathan Fitzharris in the Ballymore goals.

Points from Thomas Cullen, Cillian Barret tied it up at 0-4 apiece before Fionn Bergin and Nathan Doyle edged Grange' two clear.

Ballymore hit back to level with Callum Barrett and Sean Dowling finding the range; Fionn Bergin had Grange' back in front before Niall Murphy hit a two-point free but Grange' finished the half strong with three points on the trot to lead 0-10 to 0-8 at the break.

The game swung back in favour of Ballymore when they hit 1-2 inside four minutes of the resumption, the goal coming from Sean Broderick, and while Dylan Costigan got a point back, BME extended their lead with two Caolan Halpin frees and when Lee Crowe and Michel Stewart Byrne pointed the Ballymore side led 1-12 to 0-10 on 40 minutes.

Grangenolvin, showing lots of endeavour hit back with five points in succession including a two-pointer from Dylan Costigan.
Niall Murphy extended the lead with a free before a great move involving Niall and Simon Murphy ended with Callum Barrett finding the net to see Ballymore now lead 2-13 to 0-17.

The scores were coming thick and fast and now it was the turn of Grange' with Fionn Bergin getting on the end of a move that involved Nathan Doyle and Niall Murphy to find the net.

Bergin brought the ball out to the arc — after a 3x3 indiscretion was well spotted by alert linesman Fergal Barry — was converted and Grange' now led 1-19 to 2-13 with 52 gone.

Back came Ballymore with frees from Niall Murphy and Calum Halpin but it was Grangenolvin who finished the stronger with points from Conall Bergin followed by a two-pointer free from Fionn Bergin, Tomas Cullen getting the final point of the game giving Grangenolvin the vital win on a score line of 1-23 to 2-15 after a cracking game of football, well referred by Jack O'Connell, with good assistance from his linesmen on the day.

Scorers: Grangenolvin, Fionn Bergin 1-10 (2 two-pointer frees, 3 frees), Dylan Costigan 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Conall Bergin 0-3, Tomas Cullen 0-2, Nathan Doyle 0-2, Brian Cullen 0-2 (45), Cillian Bergin 0-1.

Ballymore Eustace, Niall Murphy 0-6 (1 two-pointer free, 2 frees), Callum Barrett 1-2, Sean Broderick 1-0, Caolan Halpin 0-3 (3 frees), Shane Barrett 0-1, Des Horan 0-1, Michael Stewart Byrne 0-1, Liam Crowe 0-2.

GRANGENOLVIN: Conor McMahon; Gavin Ivory, Paul Huntingdon, Keith Holligan; Lewis Gannon, Dylan Costigan, Brian Cullen; Keith McGloin, Conall Bergin; Ross Dooley, Tomás Cullen, Cillian Bergin; Timmy Doyle, Nathan Doyle, Fionn Bergin. Subs: Luke Thornton for Ross Dooley (44 minutes); Dennis Dooley for Timmy Doyle (60 minutes); Aaron Phelan for Dylan Costigan (60 minutes).

BALLYMORE EUSTACE: Nathan Fitzharris; Callum Ashmore, Darragh Kelleher, Kevin Kelleher; Darragh Gilroy, Caolan Halpin, Des Moran; Sean O'Sullivan, Michael Stewart Byrne; Liam Crowe, Shane Barrett, Sean Dowling; Callum Barrett, Sean Broderick, Niall Murphy. Subs: Simon Murphy for Michael Sewart Byrne (44 minutes); Tadhg Barrett for Sean Dowling (44 minutes); Ben Noone for Des Horan (56 minutes).

REFEREE: Jack O'Connell.

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