Kildangan 0-14
Ballykelly 1-10
Tom Cross JFC round one
The father and son duo of Thomas and Robert Moran led Kildangan to a come from behind victory over Ballykelly in St Conleth's Park on Sunday evening, as their tally of three points each ensured that there will be plenty of smiles around the breakfast table tomorrow morning. It was Robert who was the hero in the end for his side, as the youngster fired over a late point to claim the spoils over a Ballykelly outfit who looked to be on course for victory when they led by four points midway through the second half.
It was the elder statesman of the two, Thomas, who led by example early on as the full-forward stroked over a neat point after turning his marker to open the scoring.
The young pretender took note, and promptly went one better as he split the posts with a fabulous score from the left wing to put his side two points clear early on. Lee Moore was the most prominent forward for Ballykelly throughout, and he got them off the mark with a well taken goal after eight minutes. Andrew Kelly's shot for a point dropped well short of the mark, but Moore was alert enough to get on the end of it, before slamming the ball into the bottom corner.
Robert Hanley and Stephen Quigley re-established the lead for Kildangan with a pair of well taken points in quick succession, but matters were levelled up for the first time in the game when Moore curled over a delightful point from an acute angle.
Further scores were traded between Ryan Moran and Moore at either end, while the Kildangan corner-forward also had an attempt on goal well blocked, although Eric O'Hara was on hand to pick up the pieces and slot over the rebound.
As the game edged towards half-time it was finally time for another Ballykelly forward to register their name on the scoresheet, and it was Adam Fogarty who duly obliged with a composed effort from close range to tie the game. Another point from Moore after a fine individual run saw the south Kildare side into the break with a narrow 1-4 to 0-6 lead.
Ballykelly made all the early running at the beginning of the second half, with Moore continuing his splendid free-taking form amidst a torrential downpour that took the place of the blistering sun for a period of the second half. The corner-forward landed a long range free, before Padraig Cullen got the first of his three second half points to pushed Ballykelly further in front. Hanley responded at the other end, but further scores from Moore and Kevin Donoghue looked to have Ballykelly in a commanding position as they led by 1-8 to 0-7.
Kildangan steadied themselves however, and their response was both measured and uplifting. Eric O'Hara landed a superb score to cut the gap to three, while further points from Stephen Quigley and Thomas Moran left just a solitary point between the sides with two minutes left to play. Quigley levelled matters with a fine long range point as the game entered its final passage, and Robert Moran stepped forward to win the game for his side with a point in the final minute of the game.
The final whistles were greeted by cheers that would be more accustomed to a county final win than a first round victory, but Kildangan can be very happy with their evening's work.
Scorers for Kildangan: R Hanley 0-4(3f), T Moran and R Moran 0-3 each, S Quigley and E O'Hara 0-2 each.
Scorers for Ballykelly: L Moore 1-5(3f), P Cullen 0-3, K Donoghue and A Fogarty 0-1 each.
Kildangan
R Morgan; L Barry, B Adams, J Kaye; D Gilbert, D Christie, G Murtagh; P Casey, D Broughall; D Hickey, S Quigley, E O'Hara; R Hanley, T Moran, R Moran.
Ballykelly
D Fogarty; E Morgan, L Behan, C Merlehan; O Synott, O Whelan, E Black; K Donoghue, S Luttrell; P Cullen, M Behan, J Heavey; A Fogarty, A Kelly(G Lyons 37mins), L Moore.
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