Robertstown too strong for Ballykelly in Kildare Junior 'A' final

Robertstown 1-11

Ballykelly 0-8

Robertstown are back in the winners enclosure after they overcame Ballykelly by six points on Friday evening last to capture the Tom Cross Transport Kildare Junior A football title.

In a game that never really got up to speed it was Robertstown's wastefulness in front of goals that kept Ballykelly in the game at half time. A Danny Scully goal proving vital after eight opening half wides.

Ballykelly got the perfect start as Padraic Cullen and a Daragh Byrne free had them two up inside seven minutes.
Ballykelly were well organised defensively and it took ten minutes for DJ Percival to register their opening score.

Percival added a second on 12 before Danny Scully put Robertstown in front for the first time. They had plenty of changes to extend the lead but the shooting boots were left behind.

Cillian Fitzgerald and DJ Percival traded points before Daragh Byrne levelled with his second free after Simon Luttrell was brought down close to goals.

Danny Scully should have had a goal after Kevin Dowling played him in but with only the keeper to best he shot wide.
Scully did eventually get his goal after good work from Joe Kavanagh and Brion Kennedy left him with a simple tap in.

With the clock ticking towards injury time Luke Gill was rewarded for his long range effort and the two pointer left Roberstown 1-4 to 0-6 ahead at the break.

The second half failed to live up to the level of the opening 30 minutes and it was Ballykelly's turn to spurn some good scoring chances. DJ Percival, Danny Scully and a Murray O'Byrne free had moved Roberstown four ahead with 48 on the clock.

After missing a long range free and a simple 20 metre effort Daragh Byrne finally landed a Ballykelly point with only 10 minutes to play. It refuced the gap to three but Ballykelly could only land one more point before the end.
Robertstown did go down to 14 after 42 when Jason Butler saw black for his words to an official.

The men in blue have been in plenty of finals over the years and the black card wasn't to upset them. They weren't about to let this opportunity of silverware slip away.

DJ Percival hit his fifth and seventh points either side of a Jason Butler white flag after he returned to the field.
Percival's last score was a two pointer free that he manufactured himself. Luke Gill did land a late free for Ballykelly but Robertstown had done enough for the 1-11 to 0-8 victory.

Robertstown will always be competitive at Junior level but this final appearance will be of major benefit to a young and improving Ballykelly side.

ROBERTSTOWN: Richard Price; Cole Lyons, Craig O'Sullivan, Anthony Moran; James Keely, Peter Hogarty, Diarmuid Healy; Kevin Dowling, Danny Scully 1-2; Dara Cosgrove, Joe Kavanagh, Murray O Byrne 0-1 (1f),; Jason Butler 0-1, DJ Percival 0-7 (1f,2pf), Brian Kennedy. Subs: John O'Sullivan for Diarmuid Healy 54; Shane Ward for Jason Butler 59.

BALLYKELLY: Conor Murphy; Calum Grattan, Owen Whelan, Shane Dunne; Daragh Sinnott, Ciaran Byrne, Cillian Fitzgerald 0-1; Eddie O'Connell, Jack Smith; Luke Gill 0-3 (1f,2pt), Daragh Byrne 0-3 (3f), Josh Lawler; Eoin Sinnott, Padraic Cullen 0-1, Simon Luttrell. Subs: Sam Rainbow for Josh Lawler 40; Mikey Murphy for Simon Luttrell 54; Russell Grattan for Cillian Fitzgerald 54; Jason Dunne for Eoin Sinnott 59.

REFEREE: Mark Murphy

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