Milltown put down an early marker in Division 1 with Johnstownbridge win

Milltown began life in Division 1 of the Hanlon Concrete Kildare Senior Football League with, a slightly surprising, but well deserved one point victory over Johnstownbridge on Friday evening last.

After three promotions in a row through the leagues Milltown were the hungrier side over the 60 minutes and they turned in an impressive performance picking up the opening two points of the campaign.

Five of the first six scores, inside the opening 15 minutes, were two pointers. Darragh Sloane fired over from outside the arc after Paul Cribbin played him through and sixty seconds later Kevin Byrne came forward from wing back to level matters with another two pointer.

A foul on Dan Flynn gave Josh O Donoghue another chance of a two pointer and he didn't disappoint. 15 minutes in Johnstownbridge, now firmly in control, worked Darragh Sloane into space and he added his second two pointer. The 'Bridge were now 0-6 to 0-2 ahead.

Milltown were creating plenty of chances but four wides in a row didn't help their cause. The home side had gone 16 minutes without a score when Ronan O 'Shea fired over left footed to reduce the gap. It was a short-lived reprieve as Johnstownbridge quickly opened seven-point lead.

Joey Higgins played in Josh O'Donoghue for his third. He added his fourth on 24 shortly after Paul Cribbin got his name on the score sheet before Aaron McNally completed the four in a row five minutes before the break.

Milltown continued to misfire and two balls into Eoin Sheehan's arms and three more wides threatened to derail their chances of getting back into the game. However over the closing three minutes of the half they added three scores. The impressive Joe Dunne, surprisingly relieved of his place on the county U20 panel, fired over after a fine catch on the edge of the square.
Ben Heuston added his first before Alan Dignam fisted over as injury time approached.

Joey Higgins turned provider again and it had to be Darragh Sloane with his third two pointer who pointed to leave the visitors 0-12 to 0-6 ahead as Ken Doyle brought the half to a close.

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Less than 60 seconds after the restart Dan Flynn had a great chance to push The 'Bridge nine ahead but Omar Dunne was down low to his left to keep Milltown in touch. They duly responded with two two-pointers through Conor Sheerin and Paddy Donohue. Johnstownbridge corner back Sean McKeon added a nice score off the left to keep the gap at three.

Milltown were now enjoying the majority of possession around the middle as Joe Dunne and Conor Sheerin were dominant in the air while on the ground Colin O Shea and Alan Dignam were pulling the strings. Paddy Donohue, from a free, Ben Curran and Ben Heuston had the sides level with 13 minutes remaining. 

Johnstownbridge substitute Sean Holton showed great composure as he pushed the Bridge back in front with only their second point of the half.

Paddy Donohue leveled with a free but Milltown then saw Ronan O'Shea black carded for an earlier body check in the build up.

Josh O'Donoghue from a free and a fine effort from substitute Kelvin McNally pushed The 'Bridge two ahead before O'Shea returned.

Milltown were patient in their build up play and as time was ticking away they got Ben Curran on the ball and the corner forward leveled it with a brilliant score. A draw might have been a fair result but with three minutes of injury time to play

Milltown took advantage of a turn-over and it was Ben Heuston who fired over the winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

MILLTOWN: Omar Dunne, Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Sean Murphy, Kevin Byrne 0-2 (2pt), Colin O Shea, Niall Finnegan, Conor Sheerin 0-2 (2pt), Joe Dunne 0-1, Shane Daly, Alan Dignam 0-1, Paddy Donohue 0-4 (2pt,2f), Ben Curran 0-3 (2pt), Ronan O'Shea 0-1, Ben Heuston 0-3. Subs: Dylan Casey for Kevin Byrne 17; Karl Downey for Dylan Casey H/T.

JOHNSTOWNBRIDGE: Eoin Sheehan, Shane Grimes, Tomas Van Engelbrechten, Sean McKeon 0-1, Ryan Rainey, Keith Cribbin, Aaron McNally 0-1, Shane Flynn, Joey Higgins, Darragh Sloane 0-6 (3x2pt), Paul Cribbin 0-1,Cathal McNally, Josh O Donoghue 0-5 (2ptf,2f),Daniel Flynn, Dean Kelly. Subs: Sean Holton 0-1 for Shane Flynn 40; Kelvin McNally 0-1 for Cathal McNally 44; Kieran Ryan for Ryan Rainey 44.

REFEREE: Ken Doyle.