Eoin leads the way as Kilclief flex muscles

Eoin leads the way as Kilclief flex muscles

7 May 2025

THERE were goals galore for Kilclief Ben Dearg as they eased past Aughlisanfin and maintained their perfect record in ACFL Division 4.

Kilclief dominated the first half and as they repeatedly carved through the Aughlisnafin defence, their frequent goal-scoring opportunities often eliminated the need to go for points.

They found the net four times in the opening 10 minutes and added another major, with Ronan Shields, Eoin Kelly (2), Fionn McFall and Conall Magee on target, to lead 5-6 to 0-6 at half-time.

The ‘Fin were much improved in the second period, racking up scores of their own, but they struggled to keep pace with the free-scoring Kilclief, who added three more goals through Eoin Watterson and another Kelly double.

Aughlisnafin put the first point of the game on the board with a Breanainn McComiskey free and although Kilclief’s first effort sailed wide, Shields opening goal quickly made amends.

A point from McFall followed, before Kelly carved through the away defence and smashed home to open his account.

The hosts must have felt hard done by to not add to their fast start, with Faelan Murphy saving McFall’s point-blank effort, Kelly’s rebound cleared off the line and a point attempt rattling the upright, all in the space of 10 seconds.

As they continued to push on, Thomas Fitzsimons split the posts, Kelly strolled through the defence to ripple the back of the net and McFall found himself free for a tap-in.

Despite McComiskey scoring his side’s second point, Kilclief frustrated their opponents with diligent defending and McFall increased the margin once more.

Aughlisnafin found consecutive scores for the first time of the evening after 16 minutes, when Eddie Molloy and Conor Matthews kicked over, but McFall and Kelly added to their tallies with fine points.

While McComiskey and Shaun Murnin converted late in the first half, Kilclief had one more major in them before the interval and Magee strolled past several men to join the growing list of goalscorers.

McComiskey got the second half scoring underway, firing a superb two-pointer over the bar.

However, the home side had the perfect reply up their sleeve, with Watterson netting and Kelly making it a hat trick, either side of two ‘Fin scores.

Kelly needed less than five minutes to bag his fourth, leaving the visiting defence in his dust and rolling the ball past a helpless Murphy.

Kilclief showed no signs slowing down either, pointing through Fitzsimons, Magee, Kelly and substitute Caolan Vaughan to stretch their lead to a whopping 25 points.

To Aughlisnafin’s credit, their work-rate never ped and they soon hit a purple patch of their own.

While he went scoreless until the 48th minute, Eoin Travers hit the next two scores of the game, pointing from just inside the arc and following up with a dazzling two-pointer.

He soon added another couple of points, supported by Sean Fitzsimmons, who was unlucky not to find the net when his goal effort clipped the bar and went over.

Kilclief, however, were already home and dry before the ‘Fin really got the cogs turning and with time winding down, goalkeeper Mario Atorrasagasti’s 45 and a final point from Kelly put the icing on the cake.

Kilclief: M Atorrasagasti, L Gordon, N McMullan, L McEvoy, M McMullan, T Fitzsimons, J Shields, R Óg Sharvin, C Fitzsimmons, R Shields, E Kelly, E Watterson, F McFall, C Magee, A McCann.

Subs: O Dorrian, O Fitzsimons, O Livingstone, T McMullan, F O’Neill, M Rooney, L Tolan, C Vaughan.

Aughlisnafin: F Murphy, R Murphy, R Tweedie, S Willoughby, C Matthews, P O’Hare, S Murnin, B McComiskey, S Fitzsimmons, E Molloy, D Tumelty, F Quinn, E Travers, M Rooney.

Subs: D Fitzpatrick, M Valentine, O O’Toole