Sallins reach Kildare IFC Final with convincing win over Milltown

Sallins 3-16

Milltown 1-12

Sallins are the first team to book their place in the 2025 National Electrical Wholesalers Kildare Intermediate Football Championship Final with a Semi-Final win over Milltown.

Sallins opened the scoring with a well-worked score from Stephen Kelly after just 37 seconds.

They pushed three clear a couple of minutes later when the watching crowd got their first visual representation of the night's breeze when Cian Grimes knocked over a two-point free from 50m with plenty to spare.

Milltown got their first score on the five-minute mark through Paddy Donoghue who latched onto a teammate’s wayward shot.

The trailing side were then back to within one when Sallins breached the 4x3 rule and Paddy Donoghue knocked the 13m free over. However, the new rules would pay double for Sallins moments when Cian Grimes knocked over another two-point free after Colin O’Shea failed to hand the back following an infringement.

Leading 0-5 to 0-2 after 13 minutes, Sallins got their first goal when Emmet Ralph slipped in James Dalton and, after Omar Dunne failed to commit to coming out of his goal, the corner-forward sidefooted the ball into the net past the late emerging Milltown stopper.

Milltown had a case for a push in the build up to that first goal but there was little time to dwell on the matter before Sallins were in again.

James Dalton turned provider for Colm Dalton who cut inside and finished low into the net at the near post to make it 2-5 to 0-2 after a quarter of an hour. It was a brutal one-two to the side now nine adrift after a more than positive opening few minutes.

Milltown were given a boost on a counter-attack of their own when Paul Farrelly was sent to the line for a clear trip on Callum Murphy for which he received black card.

The trailing side would only be able to add another two points between that offense and half-time time however while Sallins built on their already impressive lead.

A Conor Sheerin free for Milltown was answered on the double at the other end by Stephen Kelly and Colm Dalton with two well-taken Sallins scores.

Sheerin got Milltown’s fourth and final point of the half in the 27th minute, which was matched by Sallins midfielder Paul Farrelly moments after his return to the field.

The final score of the first half felt significant and indicative as Cian Grimes knocked over his third two-pointer and first from play just before the break to send the sides in at 2-10 to 0-4.

Milltown had worked hard and put it right up to their opposition but two quick-fire goals and full advantage taken of the conditions meant Sallins carried a 12-point lead into the second half. Wind at their backs or not, it was going to be a mammoth task against such a strong team

The trailing side put a dent into that lead straight after the restart when Ben Curran knocked over a two-pointer of his own in the 31st minute.

Sallins answered with a point from Cian Grimes, which preceded Milltown’s first goal.

A roaming and unaccompanied Joe Dunne, who had a brilliant first half and indeed game overall, was fed in by Paddy Donoghue. The midfielder gathered possession and finished exceptionally into the far corner off the outside of his boot to make this game 2-11 to 1-6.

Sallins showed the Championship mettle they have been lacking in years gone by and responded by taking back control of the ball and registering the game's next three points in as many minutes.

With the Milltown goal wiped off the board in essence, Sallins sat off and didn’t score again for 20 minutes.

Milltown managed just five points in this period with quality chances hard to come by and plenty of wasted ball in the forwards. Poor decision-making met stern defending with Sallins coming out on the right side of things.

Sallins ended their drought through Luke Kelly whose score was quickly added to by another back, Ruairi O’Domhnaill, who fisted over from close-range to put Sallins 2-16 to 1-10 ahead with two to go in normal time.

Second half substitute Kevin Byrne got Milltown’s second two-pointer just before the hour mark to reduce the gap.

There would be final flourish for the leading side as late substitute Sean Conway got on the scoresheet with a late goal. Conway’s shot was blocked, bounced, but found the bottom corner as Sallins finished as 3-16 to 1-12 winners in Manguard Park to book their place in this year’s decider.

Sallins, Cian Grimes 0-8 (0-4 frees, two 2pt frees, one 2pt), Colm Dalton 1-1, James Dalton 1-1, Sean Conway 1-0, Stephen Kelly 0-3, Paul Farrelly 0-1, Luke Kelly 0-1, Ruairi O'Domhnaill 0-1.

Milltown, Joe Dunne 1-1, Kevin Byrne 0-3 (one 2pt), Paddy Donoghue 0-2 (0-1 frees), Conor Sheerin 0-2 (0-2 frees), Ben Curran 0-2 (one 2pt), Alan Dignam 0-1, Ben Heuston 0-1. 

SALLINS: Matthew Farrelly; Ruairi O'Domhnaill; Mark Moynihan; Sean O'Domhnaill; Luke Kelly; Eoin McConnon, Glen McEvoy; Daragh Mangan, Paul Farrelly; Cian Grimes, Colm Dalton, Luke Killian; Stephen Kelly, Emmet Ralph, James Dalton. Subs: Alan Marshall for Emmet Ralph (14 minutes), Emmet Ralph for Paul Farrelly (47 minutes), Aaron Carney for Sean O'Domhnaill (54 minutes), Sean Cox for Stephen Kelly (58 minutes), Jamie Cox for Cian Grimes (61 minutes).

MILLTOWN: Omar Dunne; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Sean Murphy; Shane Daly, Colin O'Shea, Liam Kelly; Conor Sheerin, Joe Dunne; Hugh Hamilton; Alan Dignam, Paddy Donoghue; Ben Curran, Callum Murphy, Ronan O'Shea. Subs: Aaron Jacob for Shane Daly (35 minutes), Kevin Byrne for Hugh Hamilton (38 minutes), Ben Heuston for Callum Murphy (53 minutes).

Referee: Fergus Devereux

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