Blues Denied by Last-Gasp Kilanerin-Ballyfad Winner
AIB Leinster Senior Club Football Championship Round 1
Newtown Blues 1-13 Kilanerin-Ballyfad 0-17
At Chadwicks Wexford Park
Newtown Blues’ Leinster campaign came to a premature end as Kilanerin-Ballyfad snatched victory with a close-range free in the dying moments of a gripping first-round encounter at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
The Blues started brightly, with Conor Branigan opening their account after Eoin Hughes had put Kilanerin-Ballyfad ahead. Ross Nally then found the net in the fourth minute to give the Drogheda men an early boost.
Kilanerin-Ballyfad responded through Dean O’Toole, while Conor Mac Criosta kept the Blues ticking over. The Wexford champions began to find their rhythm, with Niall Hughes landing a two-pointer before O’Toole and Hughes added further scores to move them in front.
Conor MacCriosta of Newtown Blues in action against Mikey Hughes of Kilanerin-Ballyfad. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Emmett Carolan and Branigan replied for the Blues, but Kilanerin-Ballyfad continued to edge clear. O’Toole converted a free before Hughes struck another two-pointer in the 24th minute, stretching the advantage to seven.
The Blues situation could of got a whole lot worse after Kilanerin-Ballyfad were awarded a penalty, but Ronan Browne produced a superb save to deny Niall Hughes. Ciaran Downey converted a free before the break to leave the Drogheda side trailing by three at half-time.
Half-time: Newtown Blues 1-5 Kilanerin-Ballyfad 0-11
Browne was called into action again shortly after the restart, making another important save to deny a goal before Tom Mordaunt pointed for Kilanerin-Ballyfad.
The Blues responded through Mac Criosta, but Cian Hughes added to the visitors’ tally before Branigan sparked a Blues revival with a brilliant two-pointer. Downey followed with another two-point score to cut the gap to one.
Conor Branigan of Newtown Blues in action against Padraic Hughes of Kilanerin-Ballyfad. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
O’Toole steadied Kilanerin-Ballyfad with a free, and he added another from a placed ball soon after. The sides traded scores through Cian Hughes and Alan Connor, while Jamie Kelly’s free brought the Blues back within a point entering the closing stages.
Downey levelled the contest in the 60th minute, setting up a dramatic finish. But after two minutes of added time, Kilanerin-Ballyfad were awarded a close-range free, and Sean Forde converted to snatch victory and end the Blues’ provincial hopes.
Sean Forde of Kilanerin-Ballyfad scores the winning point from a free. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Full-time: Newtown Blues 1-13 Kilanerin-Ballyfad 0-17.
Newtown Blues team: Ronan Brown; Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly, Alan Connor (0-1), Ian Connor; Liam Branigan, Daire Nally, Jamie Kelly (0-1, 1f); Emmett Carolan (0-1), Conor Branigan (0-4, 1tp); Conor Mac Criosta (0-2), Ciaran Downey (0-4, 1tp & 1f), Andy McDonnell; Conor Moore, Ross Nally (1-0), Ewan Hoban.
Subs: Colm Judge for Conor Moore 39 mins, Ryan Kelly for Ewan Hoban 45 mins.
Kilanerin-Ballyfad team: Conor Hughes; Andrew Smyth, Conor Jones, Kian Steadmond; Paraic Hughes, Eoin Hughes (0-1), Padraig Jones; Tom Mordaunt (0-1), Mikey Hughes; Niall Hughes (0-5, 2tp), Micheal McGonigle, Conor Devitt; Cian Hughes (0-2), Conor Kinsella, Dean O’Toole (0-7, 5f).
Subs: Sean Hughes for Tom Mordaunt 41 mins, Vincent Higgins for Micheal McGonigle 44 mins, Sean Forde (0-1, 1f) for Mikey Hughes 53 mins.
Referee: James Foley (Carlow)
Photos: Matt Browne / Sportsfile
