Kilbrittain 2-14 Owen Gaels 2-06

For team photo (only) see Match Photos here> Scarce in numbers but bountiful in spirit, the Kilbrittain Minor team took to Ballinascarthy, the home of Owen Gaels, last Sunday morning for the opening round of the Rebel Óg West Minor Div 2 Football League. The first fifteen minutes were characterised by attacking play from Owen Gael's self-assured forward line, their centre forward and full forward notching up a goal and four points between them. In the same period, Kilbrittain seemed a little more shy on the ball, just managing a point but they rallied with a brace of frees courtesy of villagemen; on form Niall Egan with two frees from the left and another free from Darragh Crowley on the right. Crowley also was on hand to rattle the net and put a goal on the scoreboard for Kilbrittain. Owen Gaels were putting pressure on the backline and Manus Coughlan, Adam Desmond and Rowen Piper had their hands full holding back a confident Gaels side. One of the final scores of the first half was an intercept by the home side which lead to a goal despite the best efforts Kilbrittain's goalkeeper Oisin O' Regan, who had done well to deny some earlier efforts.

Kilbrittain had their own opportunities in front of goal too, Cillian Madden and Ronan Sheehy coming close to scoring while Shaye Ustianowski had an excellent effort shave the uprights. Ronan Sheehy also managed three points himself, so while Owen Gaels finished ahead at the break 2-04 to Kilbrittain's 1-06, there were moments of good forward attacking play from the black and amber and the brand of football was positive.

HALFTIME: Owen Gaels 2-04 Kilbrittain 1-06

The second half got off to a much more determined start for the Kilbrittain contingent, following an interception from James O'Mahony who brought the ball to Cillian Madden, the latter pointing over. The well worked interplay, between O'Mahony, Ustianowski and Madden, a feature of the game. With Owen Gaels doing well, the next score was crucial for Kilbrittain and it came in the form of a goal. With a little scramble around the goal line, consensus credits Jack O'Neill, although Madden, Sheehy and Tom Hogan were in the mix.

O'Neill was instrumental in getting the ball to Crowley next, who followed with a point.

Crowley added another free as the match progressed and Madden pointed over from play, assisted stylishly by Ustianowski, who was eager in attack mode. A feature of the second half was the defensive arc and counter attacking play of the half back line stewarded by O' Mahony, setting up Madden and Ustianowski to break through the opponents half back line. Communication on the field and Kilbrittain's determined, swarming style, began to tell as Owen Gaels started to falter. Exciting attacking play from Cillian Cronin and Hogan kept Owen Gaels under pressure and is certainly something to build on for the remainder of the season . Final scores from Ronan Sheehy, Cathal Callaghan and Tom Hogan finished off an entertaining game, with Kilbrittain going home the victors 2-14 to Owen Gaels 2-06.

Kilbrittain play Ahan Gaels next on Friday April 3rd at 6.30pm in Kilbrittain, while Owen Gaels take on Ballinhassig same day, same time in Ballinhassig

Scorers D.Crowley (1-01) (0-02f), R. Sheehy (0-05), N. Egan (0-02f), J. O'Néill (1-0), C. Madden (0-02), C. Callaghan (0-01), T. Hogan (0-01)

Team: Oisín O'Regan, Manus Coughlan, Adam Desmond, Rowan Piper, Tom Hogan, James O'Mahony, Niall Egan, Brian Kelleher, Cathal O'Callaghan, Shaye Ustianowski, Darragh Crowley, Cillian Madden, Ronan Sheehy, Jack O'Neill(Sub: Paul Kingston 40')