Kildare's Grangenolvin come good in second half of Leinster Championship opener

Kildare champions, Grangenovin, advanced to the next round of the AIB Leinster Junior Club Championship with a somewhat flattering nine point win over St Brigid's Croghan of Offaly at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbrige, this afternoon.

Few could have seen how this one would pan out after the visitors had dominated the opening half, led 1-6 to 0-4, and were full value for that half-time lead.

Grangenolvin did have a penalty saved in that opening half, and lined out without the services of star man Conall Bergin. Bergin did make an appearance at the start of the second half, raised three white flags, departing the scene before the final whistle.

St Bigid's certainly gave the Kildare champions a major fright in that opening half with Alan Scally, lining out at full forward, in sparkling form hitting 1-4 and causing a lot of problems.

However, with Bergin in midfield for the second period the Grangenolvin men took control with excellent displays from Cillian Bergin, James Gannon and Nathan Doyle (who got the goal); while incredibly St Brigid's only managed a single point in the entire second half.

Final score: Grangenolvin 1-16 St Brigid's Croghan 1-7.

Scorers: Grangenolvin, Nathan Doyle 1-2, Conal Bergin 0-3, Cillian Bergin 0-2, Fionn Bergin 0-2 (1 free), James Gannon 0-2, Dylan Costigan 0-1, Brian Cullen 0-1, Oran Bergin 0-1 (free), Timmy Doyle 0-1, Nickey Bowens 0-1.

St Brigid's Croghan, Alan Scally 1-5 (1 two-pointer free, 2 frees), Thomas Mogney 0-1, Cian Donohoe 0-1.

GRANGENOLVIN: Conor McMahon; Gavin Ivory, Lewis Gannon, Paul Huntington; Johnnny Lawlor, Dylan Costigan, Brian Cullen; Keith McGloin, Timmy Doyle; Cillian Bergin, James Gannon, Ross Dooley; Oran Bergin, Nathan Doyle, Fionn Bergin. Subs: Conall Bergin for Johnny Lawlor (half-time); Nickey Bowens for Timmy Doyle (48 minutes); Wayne Dooley for Cillian Bergin (56 minutes); Danny Cullen for Conall Bergin (56 minutes).

ST BRIGID'S CROGHAN: Liam Fox; Conor Davidson, Sean Briody, Conor Casey; Ronan Swords, Liam Cocoman, Dillon Donoghue; Cian Donohoe, Alan Scally; William Molloy, Thomas Mooney, Evan Rigney; Ben Kennedy, Dan Molloy, Bob Troy. Subs: Ethan Hannon for Evan Rigney (15 minutes); James Lynch for Sean Briody (47 minutes); Jamie Leavy for Liam Fox (52 minutes); Cameron Egan for Thomas Mooney (55 minutes); Shay Hannon for Alan Scally (58 minutess); Aaron Kennedy for Ben Kennedy (57 minutes).

REFEREE: Enda Kelly, Westmeath.

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