Kilbrittain 4-10 vs Ahan Gaels 0-10

Good Friday April 3rd Minor Div 2 Football League For all images from the match see Match Photos here >

On Good Friday, Kilbrittain's minor footballers played their second game of the Rebel Óg West Div 2 Football League, against Ahan Gaels, in Kilbrittain. The homeside were first to open the scoring with a free from right corner forward Darragh Crowley, on the sunny yet cold evening. Not long after that, Tom Hogan initiated a ball through Ronan Sheehy and Daithí O'Donovan who circled possession back to Hogan for Kilbrittain's first goal of the night. Ahan Gaels did their best to respond but were put under pressure from Kilbrittain's backs, especially Manus Coughlan.

James O'Mahony reaches high over his mark for a high ball. While Kilbrittain were in control for the first quarter the Gaels still managed to convert three points over the bar themselves and so as the match entered the twentieth minute, the home team regrouped. Sheehy made for goal but found himself crowded with Gaels jerseys and so popped it over the bar instead. Crowley followed with a free.

Darragh Crowley takes a free. It might be noted that Crowley and Sheehy, the two who would end up being Kilbrittain's most prolific scorers of the evening, were also the only two on the team who wore their socks to full length. It doesn't make them lucky or anything but colour psychology is a real thing and those who understand it can use it to their advantage. Liverpool FC once wore red jerseys with white shorts and white socks. Bill Shankly, their legendary manager changed his sides strip in 1964 to all-red, in an effort to enhance the team and make them look bigger and more formidable. It worked. He noted in first seeing them with the full rig out "now you look bloody massive, you'll scare them to death". Vertical stripes always elongate and make someone look taller, thats Kilbrittain's height sorted. Add the horizontal stripes half way up the leg, which gives the optical illusion of wider stronger legs, instead of just an ankle sock and you've suddenly created an imposing character running toward a backline. Imagine a team of them. Indeed, look back at the GAA team photos from pre 2010. Bar when the elastic on the socks had worn out and they were falling down, those who hiked theirs up all the way, all appeared more impressive and intimidating.

Strong Ronan Sheehy eyes up his next opportunity to win the ball. The Gaels were gifted their own free down the other end but saw their effort go wide before they were lucky not to concede a goal when their goalkeeper made an important save on a dropping ball. As the referee blew for half time, Kilbrittain led 1-03 to 0-04. HALFTIME: Kilbrittain 1-03 Ahan Gaels 0-04 To Ahan Gaels credit they came into the second half all guns blazing, with three points in quick succession, levelling it 1-03 to 0-07. Kilbrittain earned the next free and freetaker Crowley confidently booted it through the uprights. Ahan looked flustered for a moment and sent their next scoring chance wide but then they refocused. Battling hard around midfield they won the next ball and pushed through Kilbrittain's defence driving for goal before tipping the ball over the bar for a handy point and levelling the sides again.

Darragh Crowley chases down a loose ball. Then, with not five minutes gone in the second half Kilbrittain made another push on goal, in a rehash of the first-half goal, where Hogan laid the groundwork. He brought the ball to Shaye Ustianowski, who drew the Gaels defence making space for Hogan again. Then when Shusti offloaded to Hogan he lobbed the ball into the square, likely eyeing a goal himself but it bounced just short and was collected by the goalkeeper. He however, fumbled it and ever vigilant Sheehy raced in, getting a hand to it and scooping it into the back of the net, 2-04 to 0-08.

Uncatchable Brian Kelleher made an impact around midfield. Next, Crowley and O'Donovan played the ball back and forth between each other before Crowley found himself in the square with three Gaels lads and a goalkeeper to beat, he let fly and the ball flew through their legs and into the back of the net with little fuss, 3-04 to 0-08.

Kilbrittain were ahead on the scoreboard and doing well, playing a nice style of attacking football, but their real strength for the rest of this half, was in defence. Adam Desmond, Cillian Cronin, Niall Egan, Coughlan and others were doing well to keep the ball movement for the Gaels disrupted. Rather than standing off the ball or running back with the Gaels and allowing them to take territory at their leisure, Kilbrittain stood firm or pushed against the visitors. This paid off and the Gaels next best opportunity to point from was sent wide, under pressure from Kilbrittain's marking.

Kilbrittain's James O'Mahony and Tom Hogan close in on an Ahan Gaels player.

Kilbrittain's fourth goal was assured with a volley of balls on Ahan Gaels goalmouth. The first from a strong strike off O'Donovan which hit the top corner of the intersection of the crossbar and upright and bounced back to the attentive Sheehy, who expertly slotted it home.

Sheehy blasts Kilbrittain's fourth goal into the back of the net off a rebound from the crossbar.

Crowley also secured another two frees and a point from play for Kilbrittain, widening the gap between the teams. While the Gaels did manage to come back into the game in the last ten minutes to earn a point from play and a free it was to be Kilbrittain's night after their flurry of goals captured the win 4-07 to 0-10. Scorers: D.Crowley (2-01) (0-06F), T.Hogan (1-0), R.Sheehy (1-01) Team: Oisín O'Regan, Manus Coughlan, Adam Desmond, Rowan Piper, Cathal Callaghan, James O'Mahony, Cillian Cronin, Brian Kelleher, Niall Egan, Tom Hogan, Odhran Madden, Daithí O'Donovan, Jack O'Neill, Ronan Sheehy, Darragh Crowley. Subs Shaye Ustianowski, Jerry O'Donovan, Loughlin O'Donnell, Paul Kingston