Killeen blitz Clonaghadoo in 18-goal thriller
St Abban's NS Killeen who played Clonaghadoo NS in the Cumann na mBunscol Football Finals in Laois Hire O'Moore Park Photo: Alf Harvey
KILLEEN NS made a blistering start to the Division 4 Boys Championship final and never looked back as they powered past Clonaghadoo with an outstanding attacking display.
With Dan Leigh, Oliver McDonald and Thomas Julian in superb form from the outset, Killeen quickly established control. Julian struck for 1-1, McDonald added a goal and Leigh chipped in with a fine point from distance as they raced into a 2-2 to 0-0 lead.
Clonaghadoo responded through Evan Conroy, who found the net to get his side off the mark, but Killeen's attacking threat continued to cause huge problems. Julian, Leigh and McDonald all added further goals and points as the lead stretched to 5-6 to 1-0.
Clonaghadoo refused to go away, however. James O'Connell fired over an excellent point from play before his brother Michael struck for a goal to offer some encouragement. But Killeen continued to finish clinically. Finn Enright, Michael Cassidy and McDonald all raised green flags before the interval as Killeen built a commanding 8-6 to 2-1 advantage by half-time.
Michael O'Connell opened the second-half scoring with a point for Clonaghadoo, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished. Caden Keightley, Dan Leigh and Finn Enright all struck for goals, with Keightley also adding a superb point from play as Killeen maintained complete control.
To their credit, Clonaghadoo kept battling until the end. Evan Conroy and James O'Connell both grabbed second-half goals, while Cooper Ryan impressed with a well-taken point.
However, Killeen always looked in control and rounded off an excellent team performance with late points from Michael Cassidy, Caden Keightley and Dan Leigh. Their sharp finishing and relentless attacking play ensured they ran out deserving and highly impressive Division 4 Boys champions.
Charlie Young, Cian Hinch, Michael O’Connell, Dominykas Bezrukovas, Evan Conroy, James O’Connell, Robert Lowndes, Seán Deffew, Michael Duffy, Cian Daly, AJ Holom, Shane O’Brien Dempsey, Cooper Ryan, Jack Lowndes, Loughlin Poleon, Carter Dardis, Kaden Carroll, Dani Tavartkiladze, Dylan Sheahan.
ST ABBAN’S KILLEEN: Rían Dempsey, Charlie Horahan, Harry Brown, Michael Cassidy, Ben Mc Grath, Oliver Mc Donald, Dan Leigh, Thomas Julian, Jack Horahan, Caden Keightley, Finn Enright, Joshua Tipping, Aaron McDonald, Lachlan McDonald, James Bannan, George Baldwin.
