Surge of emotion greets Kilbride's return to the big time

David O'Leary's late point seals dramatic victory for Anthony Moyles' side

Kilbride...0-20

Castletown...1-16

Seldom, in all the county finals played at Pairc Tailteann down the years, can the surge of emotion have matched what was whipped up at the Brews Hill venue on Saturday when the IFC final came to a conclusion.

The noise, the outbreaks of joyful hugging between Kilbride players, mentors, supporters, the cheers, the tears, the fireworks that were unleashed at one of the old ground soon to receive a major facelift, all told their own story of a club so long in the wilderness. A club that had emerged from the darkness. Big time.

No doubt that unrestrained expression of bent up emotion was partly down to the fact that they were so long in exile; so long out the golden circle, the senior ranks. Now they are back.

Partly too the expression of bent up emotion was down to the nature in which Saturday's gripping encounter concluded. The tension that that steadily built up as the contest swayed one way then the other in the closing minutes before David O'Leary swept over the final point of the game for the score that ultimately gave Kilbride their cherished, treasured victory.

There was 58 minutes on the clock when O'Leary showed real calmness and composure to slot the ball over the bar after he took a pass from Conor McWeeney who had embarked on yet another of his searching runs. Kilbride led by one.

Inevitably Castletown came back looking for an equaliser. They mounted the final attack of the game. Rian McConnell, Declan Cribbin, Eoin Reid, Killian Price, Daragh Kelly were involved in working the ball to Kevin Ross. As his high ball floated towards the Kilbride posts the hooter sounded. The ball was knocked over end line and the umpire indicated a 45.

Ross didn't hesitate in walking over to bravely take the kick. He set himself, took aim but sent the ball to the right of the posts and wide. Cue the explosion of noise in the stands and the remarkable, memorable scenes of unrestrained celebrations on the pitch.

No wonder the Castetown players, almost to a man, slumped down on the pitch, dejected, disbelieving what has just happened.

The sides were level four times during the second-half alone. No team led by more than two points in that second act as the contest swayed and swung like a three in a storm.

Somehow Kilbride, with their fitness and unshakable resilience, were able to survive everything their gritty, capable opponents were able to throw at them and come back for more.

The opening half set the tone with neither team able to get a commanding lead. Kilbride did register the opening four points of the game, unanswered, all of them scored by O'Leary including a two-pointer from a free.

However it wasn't long before Castletown's tendency to construct, fast-paced, well-rehearsed moves started to pay dividends. They hauled themselves back into the game and gave their cause a major boost in the 23rd minutes when they fashioned the only goal of the contest.

Rian McConnell, Evan Hoey, Darragh Weldon were just some of those involved in working the ball to Darren Finney, who was by some distance Castletown's man-of-the-match. With a little jink and a surge of speed he made some space for himself before firing the ball to the net.

Despite the concession of that goal Anthony Moyle's team led 0-11 to 1-7 at the interval but Castletown were the brighter, sharper side in the opening minutes of the second-half with the irrepressible Finney scoring the opening two points after the break to edge his team back in front.

The pendulum continued to swing from one side to the other throughout the second-half until those final, drama-filled, tension-packed few minutes when Kilbride's resilence and will to win helped them across the line.

With his nine points O'Leary was by some distance Kilbride's main score-getter with Josh Harford topping off a great deal of hard, direct running by firing over five points, four frees.

Kilbride were adept at dispossessing opponents and moving swiftly from defence to attack with three of their selected half-back line of Finn White (two), Timmy Farrell and Andrew McWeeney all getting on the scoresheet over the hour.

Conor McWeeney typified Kilbride's display with his ferocious workrate and willingness to run at the Castletown defence. He also slotted over two points from play.

It was significant that eight of Kilbride's scores came from frees while Castletown only garnered two points from placed balls. Kilbride had clearly focused big time on not giving their rivals any easy options to add their account. Their discipline paid off.

They were lucky not to be given a free against them in the closing stages when it looked like a Castletown player was fouled but no free was given. That could have been crucial.

Finney, not surprisingly, led on the scoring front for Castletown with 1-5 to cap a tour de force display while Darragh Kelly, Darragh Weldon, Ross, McConnell, Adam Matthews and Declan Cribbin were others who sustained their hopes with scores.

Ross, a great warrior for Castletown down the years, was brave enough to step up to take the final 45 in those final closing seconds. He wasn't, however, able to prevent Kilbride from securing the win that was greeted with such joy by their long-suffering supporters.

Kilbride - Luke Faherty; Mark Dempsey, Ronan O'Leary, Cian Harford; Finn White (0-2), Timmy Farrell (0-1), Andrew McWeeney (0-1); Daniel Boyd, Coalan Howard; Conor McWeeney (0-2), James Gavin, Gareth Rooney; Josh Harford (0-5 four frees), David O'Leary (0-9 one two-pointer, free, two frees). Subs - Cathal McKeon for Adam Malone 41m, Zack McGovern for Rooney 52m.

Castletown - Johnny Ginnity; Sean McKeown, Evan Hoey, Killian Markey; Eoin Reid, Killian Price, Daragh Kelly (0-2); Rian McConnell (0-2 frees), Adam Matthews (0-1); Kevin Ross (0-2), Killian Smyth, William Bellew; Darren Finney (1-5), Darragh Weldon (0-2), Declan Cribbin (0-2). Subs - Seamus Doherty for Bellew 49m.

Referee -Joseph Curran (St Michael's).