Strong second half sees title head to Killeshin
Killeshin NS who won the Cumann na mBunscol Buachaillí Roinn 1 Shield final in Laois Hire O'Moore Park Photo: Alf Harvey
Killeshin 3-2
Killenard 1-6
KILLESHIN brought Day 1 of the 2025 Cumann na mBunscol football finals to a close with victory over Killenard.
Trailing by a point at half-time, they got the better of Killenard in the second half with DJ Fogarty coming to the fore.
Killenard were first out of the traps here as John Behan pointed from distance. Killeshin’s first score was as dramatic as a long ball in was punched to the net by Cian Dowling.
Killenard responded with points from Christian Gorry and Louie Milligan, but Killeshin had the ball in the net. Dowling struck the crossbar with a thunderbolt, but DJ Fogarty was there to finish the rebound.
James Hand added a point, but Killenard took the lead just before we reached half-time. This was from another long ball, and Ruadhan Gallagher got the telling touch to leave them ahead 1-5 to 2-1 at half-time.
Christian Gorry extended the lead when play resumed with a free, but then Killeshin regained the advantage. A long-range free from DJ Fogarty dropped into the net, and Killeshin led by one with ten minutes to play.
Killenard almost regained the lead, but Ciaran Sweeney pulled off an unbelievable save to deny Ruan Gallagher.
Rian Buggy then made a goal-saving block to deny Noah Neilon, and then DJ Fogarty kicked Killeshin two ahead with a minute to play.
Killenard went in search of the goal they needed to win the game, but time ran out and Killeshin were champions.
SCORERS:
Killeshin: DJ Fogarty 2-1, Cian Dowling 1-0, James Hand 0-1.
Killenard: Ruadhan Gallagher 1-1, Christian Gorry and John Behan 0-2 each, Louie Milligan 0-1 KILLESHIN: Rian Bradley, Ross Murphy, Abdullah Habib, Liam Brennan, DJ Fogarty, Cian Dowling, Shane Hennessy, Charlie O’Neill, Kai O’Neill, Cian Murphy, Scott Mullarkey, Callum Murphy, Dylan Murnane, Ciarán Sweeney, Finn O’Driscoll, Tommy Curran, Alex Scully, Brenin Haughney, Kyle O’Brien, Ódhran O’Reilly, Sean McDonald, Ryan Freimanis, Regan Dunne, Ben Farrell, Dónal Farrell, Charlie Doyle, Dara McDonald, Eoghan Brennan, Alex Page, Ben Aylesbury, David Clifford, John Jackson.
KILLENARD: Adam Hughes, Michael Costello, Odhran Carroll, Jack Costello, Hugh Donoher, Zak Campbell, Louie Milligan, Conor Quinn, Noah Neilon, Ruadhán Gallagher, John Behan, Christian Gorry, Matthew Ferguson, Fabian Lima, Darragh Coleman, Joe Boland, Noah Hendry, Finn Coleman, Mateo Mannion, Sam McElwee
