Rags cause major Championship upset.

Kilcullen 1 – 8; Sarsfields 1 – 7.

It was one of those evenings.

The first round of the County Championship. Kilcullen against the reigning County Champions, Sarsfields at St Conleth’s Park. Kilcullen go toe to toe with the Champs.

Score for score in the first half. Half time and its all to play for, six points apiece. Into the second half and scores are hard to come by, but the Rags edge in front by one point and then by two. Sarsfields come back into the game and sneak a point. Minutes to go, can the Rags hold out? Then a freakish goal is scrambled into the Kilcullen net by Sarsfields. Linesman’s intervention and Kilcullen are down to fourteen men.

Referee signals that there are two minutes left. But the Rags are far from finished. Displaying a fierce determination and pride in the jersey they sweep up field in search of the all important goal. Mick Williams puts his body on the line in a crunching tackle that leaves him on the ground but his effort means that Kilcullen retain possession. The ball is switched to the other side of the field, Captain Paul Maher collects and coolly delivers an inch perfect pass to Christopher Howard who is just on the pitch, and Christopher slides the ball to the net off the bottom of the right hand post.

The kick out, the final whistle and the Kilcullen supporters erupt, Sarsfields supporters look on in disbelief. Game, set and match to Kilcullen. This is championship football at its very best. And it's only the first round!

John Martin