13/06/2023: “Take your points and the goals will come” and boy, did they come. Kildysart National School was crowned Division 2 champions after a whopping 5-11 to 2-6 victory over Miltown NS in Kilrush this evening. It was an evenly matched first half with Kildysart only up by 1 point at the break, 7 points to 6, but the second half produced a seven-goal bonanza that saw Kildysart NS take the title in the 13-a-side competition.

Robbie Kelly’s brace of frees started off the scoring for Kildysart and Oran Murrihy chipped a lovely ball over the bar to put Kildysart three points clear in the opening minutes. Miltown struck back to level the match with three frees on the trot. Kelly was again called upon and his free put Kildysart back in front. Jamie Eyres was threatening in front of goal and he had the keeper beaten only to be foiled on the goal line by Miltown’s fullback. Eyres’ second attack on goal was a screamer that was just centimeters over the bar for a point. Miltown went back on the attack and scored three points from play to put them ahead 6 points to 5. Andrew Watson’s defensive prowess coupled with his ability to get forward earned him the Player of the Match accolade and caused trouble for the Claret and Amber. Aaron Connelly split the posts to put the teams on level pegging before Kelly’s final free nudged the Blues in front by the break, Kildysart 0-7, Miltown 0-6.

Kildysart started brightly in the second half and concentrated on putting the ball over the bar with Eyres-(x2) and substitute Conor Neenan putting 4 between the sides. All his hard work finally paid off when Jamie Eyres got the goal that was coming all match. Kildysart 1-10, Miltown 0-6. Miltown wasn’t going away easily and raised two green flags in as many minutes to give them the lead once more, Kildysart 1-10 to Miltown 2-6. But that was the last score for Miltown as impact sub Cian O’Sullivan was taking charge of midfield and feeding the ball into the forwards. The roaming Andrew Watson’s goal put Kildysart ahead and then a point and a goal from Conor Neenan put some space between the sides. Eyres struck for his second goal to earn him the Highest Scorer trophy. Aaron Connelly finished off the barrage of goals with a strike to the lower right-hand corner. The whole team played some lovely football and kept the ball moving quickly with players always running off the shoulder. The future is bright, the future is Blue ! Final score: Kildysart 5-11, Miltown 2-6. Referee: John O’Connell.

Kildysart NS: Kevin Foley, Diarmuid Garry, Joe Doohan, SJ Casey, Andrew Watson, Liam Cook, Fionn Connelly, William Neenan-captain, Aaron Connelly (1-1), Robbie Kelly (0-4, 4f), Kyle Frawley, Oran Murrihy (0-1), Jamie Eyres (2-3). Subs: Cian O’Sullivan for Cook, Conor Neenan (1-2), for Frawley, Sean Pender for Murrihy, Oskar Brzozowski, Gavin Power for Kelly, Daniel Garry for A. Connelly Panel: Adam Finn, Cian Hayes, Nicholas Connelly, Jamie Finn, Cathal Finucane, Dean Kelly, Max Moloney, Liam Power, Donnacha Cleary. Coach: Emma O’Driscoll.