Mount Leinster Rangers 1-11

Kildavin-Clonegal 0-10

Michael Lyng Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 3

At Netwatch Cullen Park

By John Whelan

With Rathvilly finishing the group stages unbeaten prior to this match, MLR and Kildavin-Clonegal both knew they would contest a quarter final. Old Leighlin’s victory over Éire Óg meant that they would play the winners of this match.

Daniel St. Ledger got Kildavin-Clonegal off to a blistering start when he played a one-two with Aidan Kelly before St. Ledger popped the ball over the bar with just fourteen seconds on the clock. MLR took a few minutes to settle into the tie before Diarmuid Byrne forced an impressive save from Ronan Brennan in the Kildavin-Clonegal goal. Moments later MLR were in on goal and again they were denied but this time Diarmuid Byrne fisted it over the bar to level the sides.

Denis Roche put MLR ahead on eleven minutes after he dazzled Kildavin-Clonegal as the he turned two players inside out before stroking it over the bar. St. Ledger responded for Kildavin-Clonegal with their first score since the first play. Jack Murphy reclaimed the lead for MLR with a converted free on eighteen minutes.

Two points in quick succession for Kildavin-Clonegal from Richie Sinnott and St. Ledger saw the tie flip in favour of the Kildavin-Clonegal men once more. The lead didn’t last long and two points inside a minute from Diarmuid Byrne gave the MLR men the lead with just six minutes left in the half. A Joe Roberts free ensured it would be all square at half time.

Ed Byrne gave MLR the lead on thirty two minutes, a lead they would never relinquish. St. Ledger added to his tally once more but MLR’s response was another quick double from Diarmuid Byrne and Ed Byrne.

Diarmuid Byrne made no mistake from the penalty spot as he found the back of the net to give MLR a five point lead with fifteen minutes remaining. Points from Liam Roberts and Joe Roche looked like they might bring Kildavin-Clonegal right back into the game but MLR continued to score. Denis Roche edged the lead back out to four. Daniel Murphy kept the Kildavin-Clonegal challenge alive with a fine point before Ted Joyce cancelled it out with a score of his own with five remaining. Daniel Murphy got his second score in quick succession but they just couldn’t find the all important leveller of a goal, MLR continued to defend well and a Luke Roche point late on gave the MLR men a four point lead. MLR will now play Old Leighlin in one quarter final, Éire Óg will play Kildavin-Clonegal in the other.

Kildavin-Clonegal

Ronan Brennan, Paul Kelly, Mark Nolan, Paul Kavanagh, Liam Roberts(0-1), Donal Hickey, Fintan Harrington, David Byrne, Pauric Hickey, John Kirwan, Daniel St. Ledger(0-4,1f), Daniel Murphy(0-2),

Joe Roberts(0-1,1f), Aidan Kelly, Richie Sinnott(0-1, 1f) SUBS Kenneth Brennan, Pauric Byrne, Joe Roche(in for F Harrington 39 mins), Owen Roche, Owen Roberts( in for J Roberts 34 mins), Liam Murphy( in for R Sinnott 46 mins), Conor Fitzpatrick, Niall Murphy, Gavin Byrne

MLR

Thomas Brennan, Padraig Bambrick, Brian Nolan, Richard  Coady, John Coady, David Phelan, Gary Kelly, Jack Murphy(0-1, 1f) , Denis Roche(0-2, 1f), Paul Coady, Willie Hickey, Derek Byrne, Diarmuid Byrne(1-4), Edward Byrne(0-2, 1f), Ted Joyce(0-1) SUBS Conor Fenlon( in for D Phelan 37 mins), Chris Nolan, Kevin McDonald, Michael Malone( in for G Kelly at ht), Luke Roche( in for D Byrne 46 mins)(0-1), Niall Lynam ( in for P Coady at ht), Gary Kelly, Dean Grennan, Shane O’Neill, James Kelly( in for E Byrne 46 mins) , Daniel Ryan( in for J Coady 58 mins), Padraig Nolan, MJ Doran