Grange impress again in big win over Castlemitchell in Kildare JFC

Grangenolvin 4-21

Castlemitchell 0-8

Grangenolvin’s eye for goal was key in them getting another win on the board in Kildare’s JFC Group A.

The eventual winners opened their account after three minutes through Cillian Bergin who carried possession through a foul and knocked the ball over from close-range.

The scores remained with the Bergin’s with Fionn adding one from play and one from a free.

Grangenolvin raised their first green flag in the eighth minute after Keith McGloin lofted a superb ball into Cillian Bergin. The wing-forward plucked it from the sky, skipped away from his marker, and finished low into the net to make this game 1-3 to no score.

James Harris, who got all but one of his side’s first half points, got their first too after 10 minutes.

Grange responded to their first concession with their second goal and did so in brilliant style. After winning the breakdown from a goal-kick Brian Cullen carried the ball forward and found James Gannon in space who set up Fionn Bergin for a simple slap into the net.

Grange continued their forward momentum and led 2-6 to 0-3 after 20 minutes after points from Conall Bergin, Tomás Cullen, and James Gannon with just a James Harris two-point free going the other way.

Another Harris two-pointer (from play) and a Luke Maher single had Castelmitchell back to within six, but Grange with 1-2 scored in the final five minutes before the break.

Each of those three late scores came from the boot of Nathan Doyle whose surge of scoring sent his team in at the break with a 3-8 to 0-6 lead.

After adding a point through Fionn Bergin after the restart, Grange got their fourth goal a minute later when Cillian Bergin dispossessed the Castlemitchell goalkeeper, giving himself the easiest of finishes.

The leaders’ scoring pace slowed massively in the second half as they added just two more points until a five-minute spell between 48th and 53rd minute where Fionn Bergin knocked over three two-pointers to extend their lead.

Grange ran out comfortable 4-20 to 0-9 winners in a dominant display.

Grangenolvin, Fionn Bergin 1-11 (0-6 frees, one 2pt, two 2pt frees), Cillian Bergin 2-1, Nathan Doyle 1-3, Tomás Cullen 0-2, James Gannon 0-2, Conall Bergin 0-2.

Castlemitchell, James Harris 0-5 (0-3 frees, one 2pt, one 2pt free), Luke Maher 0-1, Thomas Davis 0-1, Evan Doogue 0-1.

GRANGENOLVIN: Timmy Doyle; Gavin Ivory, Paul Huntingdon, Keith Holligan; Aaron Phelan, Dylan Costigan, Brian Cullen; Keith McGloin, Conall Bergin; Ross Dooley, Tomás Cullen, Cillian Bergin; Nathan Doyle, James Gannon, Fionn Bergin. Subs: Johnny Lawlor for Ross Dooley (36 minutes), Conor McMahon for Timmy Doyle (46 minutes), Dennis Dooley for Brian Cullen (52 minutes), Graham Bowens for Gavin Ivory (52 minutes).

CASTLEMITCHELL: Jack Nolan; Luke Maher, JP Horgan, Eoin Coffey; Bryan Byrne, Liam Haughton, Shane Kavanagh; Oisin Boylan, Ross Harris; Paidi Kelly, Evan Doogue, James Harris; Ray Kavanagh, Thomas Davis, James Corcoran. Subs: Dean Hyland for Ray Kavanagh (half-time), Jamie Whelan for Luke Maher (half-time), Senan Coffey for Paidi Kelly (45 minutes), Conor Curtis for Thomas Davis (48 minutes).

Referee: Mark Murphy

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