“Rags” Cause Championship Upset.
The 2005 Kildare Nationalist Senior Football Championship got underway this weekend with games in all four Groups.
Last week’s newspapers indicated that the bookies had shown Allenwood as 7/4 favourites to win Group A and at 6/1 to win the championship. In contrast Kilcullen were quoted at 8/1 for the group and rank outsiders at 25/1 for the championship. However, on Sunday evening at St. Conleth’s Park the form book was thrown out the window as the “Rags” caused a major upset and forced a share of the points with last year’s county champions.
Kilcullen started the match in a positive manner and Shane Lambe had an early effort smothered on the goal line. Allenwood fought back and went into an early lead with two pointed frees from county captain, Johnny Doyle, but Kilcullen rallied and a point from a 45 by Mick Williams and a Cormac Aspell free brought them back on level terms.
On fifteen minutes a fine solo effort resulted in a Christopher Howard point from play. The Allenwood number eleven, Adrian McAndrew, kicked a point and another Johnny Doyle free saw Allenwood edge in front. Shane Lambe, who was causing difficulties for the Allenwood backs throughout, was pulled down on his way through on twenty three minutes and Cormac Aspell converted the resultant free.
Kilcullen continued to press forward and when Darren Barker was fouled in the square their efforts were rewarded with a penalty. Mick Williams made no mistake from the penalty spot and hit the ball hard and low into the Allenwood net, leaving the half time score Kilcullen 1–4 Allenwood 0–4.
Allenwood started the second half in determined fashion and Kilcullen goalkeeper, Paddy Maher, was called on to make two saves in quick succession. The Allenwood pressure resulted in four unanswered points, including three from frees.
Following another foul on Shane Lambe in the sixteenth minute, Cormac Aspell brought Kilcullen back on level terms with a pointed free. Johnny Doyle and Paul Coffey exchanged points from frees as the game entered the last ten minutes. Allenwood nudged ahead with a point from play by Jason Judge, but Mick Kelly, who had turned in a quality display of fielding all through the match, put Kilcullen back on level terms with a point.
With twenty-six minutes gone Johnny Doyle popped up to notch what appeared to be the match winning point for Allenwood. Kilcullen did not panic, however, and following a pushing and shoving incident involving players from both sides, the referee awarded a free to Kilcullen in the last minute of playing time. Cormac Aspell, showing great coolness under pressure, stepped up to pop the ball over the bar from forty meters to leave the final score at the end of a keenly contested football game; Kilcullen 1 – 8: Allenwood 0 – 11.
Kilcullen still have to meet the other two teams in Group A, Moorefield and Carbury, but after today’s result the bookies may well have to reconsider their odds on Kilcullen. To draw with last year’s county champions on their first outing in the 2005 Championship is a major achievement for the players and mentors of the Kilcullen Senior Team. If they continue to show the spirit and determination on display on this performance then the odds may be expected to shorten in a dramatic fashion.
Kilcullen Team: Paddy Maher, James Burke, Ronan Aspell, Brian Fox, Jamie Lambe, Kevin O’Brien, Ger Shannahan, Michael Kelly, Mick Williams, Darren Barker, Brian Bell, Paul Coffey, Christopher Howard, Shane Lambe, Cormac Aspell. Substitutes used: Fergus Aspell, David Phelan, Ian Barker, Warren Kinsella.
John Martin
