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05 Jan 2026

Kildare GAA: Heartbreak for Grangenolvin

Kildare and Leinster Champions come up just short

Kildare GAA: Heartbreak for Grangenolvin

Grange Cillan Bergin lays off his hand pass before Ballymacelligott Mairtin McKivergan can challenge

Reporter:

Seamus Dillon

03 Jan 2026 9:29 PM

Email:

sport@leinsterleader.ie

Grangenolvin's magic journey through to the All Ireland Junior Football Semi Final came to a heart-breaking end in Rathkeale on Saturday afternoon.The Kerry and Munster champions Ballymacelligott had three points to spare in the end but  two Ballymacelligott goals inside the opening four minutes were always going to be a tough hurdle to overcome for the Kildare side.
Grange' made the perfect start when Conall Bergin fired them in front inside the opening minute but the early momentum was quickly shelved as Ballymacelligott hit two goals inside 4 minutes.A intercepted pass by Tadhg Brick was quickly fed to Donal Daly who played in Niall Collins for a brilliant finish into the top corner.
A brilliant piece of fielding from Aidan Breen saw the Kerry side break at pace and this time Adam Sheehy was on hand to raise a second green flag as he pulled first time on a lose ball.Two Darragh Broderick frees extended the lead to seven  and Grange had a mountain to climb.
The Kildare and Leinster champions responded as you would you would expect and 7 Fionn Bergin frees and a Tomas Cullen effort from play left only two points between the sides  before the break.Aidan Breen,a Darren Daly free and a point from the impressive former county minor Jack Joy helping the Munster champions to the half time buffer.The loss of Dylan Dunne, to a black card, two minutes before the break didn't really impinge on the balance of play.
Despite the late opening half rally it was Ballymacelligott who opened the second period well on top Four pointed frees  from Darragh Broderick including a two pointer pushed the lead  out to to four despite a Keith McGloin point on 35 for Hrange.Tomas Cullen and and Broderick, again from a free, swapped points to leave 5 between the sides as we moved into the final quarter.
Grange have shown great character throughout the year and they responded again with points from Conall Bergin, Fionn Bergin with two and a fine effort from Dylan Costigan and suddenly the gap was back to one.Its as close as Grange could get and Ballymacelligott booked their place in the All Ireland final with three late  points to run out 2-13 to 0-16 winners.
Ballymacelligott : Christy Lee,Eoin Creedon,Daniel O Shea,Eoin Moriarty,Dylan Dunne,Tadhg Brick,Michael Reidy,Aidan Breen 0-1,Darragh Broderick 0-6 (4f,2pf),Adam Sheehy 1-0,Martin McKivergan 0-1,Jack Joy 0-2,Niall Collins 1-0,Donal Daly 0-2 (1f),Daire Keane 0-1. Subs  Duarmuid Galvin for Dylan Dunne 41; Cathal Dunne for Adam Sheehy 56.; Josh O Keeffe for Eoin Creedon 54.
Grangenolvin : Conor McMahon,Gavin Ivory, Lewis Gannon, Lee Doyle, Paul Huntingdon, Dylan Costigan 0-1, Brian Cullen, Cillian Bergin, Conall Bergin 0-2, Keith Holligan, James Gannon, Fionn Bergin 0-9 (5f,2pf), Tomas Cullen 0-2,Oran Bergin 0-1 (1f),Nathan Doyle. Subs: Keith McGloin 0-1  for Lewis Gannon H/T; Timmy Doyle for James Gannon 38.; Aaron Phelan for Fionn Bergin 60.
Referee James Molloy

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