'Rags' Squeezed Out

Kilcullen’s senior footballers went to Naas on Saturday evening knowing that a win against Carbury was essential to keep their championship hopes alive. They were most unfortunate to end up in a tied match which proved to be enough to send Carbury through to the next stage of the competition.

Kilcullen played some of their best football of the season and dominated the game for long periods, but in the end Carbury did just enough to sneak a draw.

Carbury went into an early lead but Kilcullen fought back and registered two wides before Shane Lambe was fouled close in and Cormac Aspell pointed the free to level the scores after five minutes. Carbury exerted pressure for a period but the Kilcullen defence stood firm with Ronan Aspell prominent. Terry Rossiter put Carbury into the lead with a point after six minutes but at the other end Cormac Aspell was successful with a long range free to level matters again.

Kilcullen were playing an attractive brand of football and instituted some good moves out of defence but the forwards were finding scores difficult to come by. Carbury scored again when the lively Andrew Dermody pointed but another Cormac Aspell pointed free after a foul on Shane Lambe left the scores level at three points each at half time.

Carbury started the second half in determined fashion and notched a point directly from the throw in. The Kilcullen defence was in top form, however, and tigerish tackling and some great blocking kept the Carbury forwards frustrated. Kilcullen were getting on top at midfield at this stage and the pressure on the Carbury back line resulted in Cormac Aspell converting two frees to put Kilcullen in front on the score board. Carbury responded with a point but Kilcullen were in control and further points from Cormac Aspell, Shane Lambe and Christopher Howard left the score eight points to five in Kilcullen’s favour after twenty minutes.

Kilcullen continued to keep up the pressure and when Jamie Lambe drifted in behind the Carbury defence his powerful shot brought a magnificent save from the Carbury goalkeeper. Another Cormac Aspell point from play left Kilcullen four points clear and looking comfortable. Carbury saw their championship hopes slipping away and went in search of a goal. With time running out Paddy Maher made a fingertip save at the expense of a forty-five which yielded a point for Carbury. In a last gasp effort Carbury launched a speculative high ball into the Kilcullen square which ended up in the net to leave the score level again. Both sides had chances to clinch the issue but the score at the final whistle remained Kilcullen 0–9; Carbury 1–6.

Players, mentors and supporters will be disappointed with the result in a match in which the general consensus was that Kilcullen deserved to win. However they can take heart from the excellent performance. This was a mature display from a young team and augers well for the future of football in Kilcullen.

In what was a total team effort Ronan Aspell, Ger Shannahan and Kevin O’Brien stood out in the back line, Mick Williams at midfield was prominent throughout and up front the ever reliable Cormac Aspell received solid support from Shane Lambe and Christopher Howard.
Another draw in the section between Allenwood and Moorefield means that Moorefield and Carbury advance and Kilcullen will have to meet Allenwood in a relegation decider.

John Martin.