Milltown and Rathangan finish level in dramatic Kildare IFC cracker

Milltown 2-18

Rathangan 2-18

In a match up between two of the competition's top contenders, Rathangan and Milltown could not be separated in their Group A Round Two meeting of the Kildare IFC.

After Rahangan top-scorer Sam Savage opened the scoring, Milltown took over the early part of this game and hit 1-5 without reply in an electric start.

Alan Dignam levelled quickly before a Paddy Donoghue two-pointer built them a lead.

Milltown moved the ball so quickly through the hands and they added two more points through Callum Murphy and Liam Kelly with some sharp interplay.

The game’s opening goal came in the 15th minute when Alan Dignam got his head up and picked out a brilliant through ball out to Ronan O’Shea who coolly finished past Craig Shannon.

After a further point at either end, a Sam Savage two-pointer lifted the considerable Rathangan support as they reduced the gap to five points.

Milltown responded to the double a minute later with their second goal. Ben Curran won an opposition kickout and drove at the open Rathangan defence. Curran faced up the Rathangan ‘keeper and drilled the ball into the roof of the net.

At 2-6 to 0-4 behind after 20 minutes, Rathangan lifted themselves to rattle off three without reply and claw back the gap after the goal.

However, it was Milltown who finished strongest and two set-pieces, a Donoghue free and a Dignam ‘45, sent them in at the break with a 2-8 to 0-7 lead.

Milltown opened the scoring after the breakthrough from Liam Kelly, but it was Rathangan who made a real impact after the restart.

After a point from Aran Teahan, Rathangan hit two goals in the space of a minute of play to reduce the gap to a single point.

Midfielder Michael Fitzsimons got down the side of Milltown and burst back inside before firing into the net low off his left side.

A break in play delayed things but Rathangan raised another green flag in the next phase of play. Stefan Lawler, only on the field from the bench 10 seconds previous, hit the net after cutting inside much like Fitsimons had moments earlier.

Milltown responded superbly to the setback with three points without reply from Donoghue, Curran and substitute Ben Hueston.

Rathangan responded with a two-pointer from Muiris Curtin to reduce the margin back to two.

By the 52nd minute, Rathangan were back level at 2-14 to 2-14 after further scores from Lawler and Curtin. They then took the lead for the first time since 20 seconds into this game with a point from Sam Savage.

A monster Aran Teahan two-pointer put Rathangan three clear with six to go, but Milltown answered through Alan Dignam with a two-point free.

Paddy Donoghue was the man to level things again and in turn Stefan Lawler gave Rathangan the lead again in the first of six added minutes.

The last score of this game was the leveller as Conor Sheerin burst through the lines and fired over to make this game 2-18 to 2-18 in fine style.

It was, in the end, the finishing scoreline but Milltown had huge claims for a foot block from a late Alan Dignam effort at the goal deep into added time. No offence was called and these sides finished as they started, level, after the best game of the Championship so far.

Milltown, Ben Curran 1-2, Paddy Donoghue 0-5 (0-2 frees, one 2pt), Alan Dignam 0-4 (0-2 frees, 0-1 '45, one 2pt free), Ronan O'Shea 1-0, Callum Murphy 0-2, Liam Kelly 0-2, Conor Sheerin 0-2, Ben Heuston 0-1.

Rathangan, Sam Savage 0-6 (0-2 frees, one 2pt), Stefan Lawler 1-2, Aran Teahan 0-4 (0-1 45', one 2pt), Michael Fitzsimons 1-0, Muiris Curtin 0-3 (one 2pt), Austin Donegan 0-2, David Murphy 0-1.

MILLTOWN: Omar Dunne; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Sean Murphy; Kevin Byrne, Colin O'Shea, Liam Kelly; Conor Sheerin, Joe Dunne; Shane Daly; Alan Dignam, Paddy Donoghue; Ben Curran, Callum Murphy, Ronan O'Shea. Subs: Ben Heuston for Kevin Byrne (36 minutes), Hugh Hamilton for Callum Murphy (56 minutes).

RATHANGAN: Craig Shannon; Niall Ahern, Daniel Mulpeter, Shane O'Loughlin; Alex Conlan, David Vaughan, Mark Fitzsimons; Michael Fitzsimons, Rian Teahan; Conor Jamieson, David Murphy, Aran Teahan; Sam Savage, Muiris Curtin, Austin Donegan. Subs: Eoin Curtin for David Vaughan (25 minutes), Stefan Lawler for David Murphy (34 minutes), Alan Tyrell for Niall Ahern (42 minutes), Eoghan Boyle for Michael Fitzsimons (49 minutes), Sean Behan for Conor Jamieson (57 minutes).

Referee: Frank Delaney

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