Grange grab Intermediate win over Nurney after crazy 12-point swing in first half

Grangenolvin earned an impressive win over Nurney to open their account at Intermediate level. The eventual winners managed a 12-point swing in the 10 minutes before half-time to turn this game on its head.

Grange settled into life in National Electrical Wholesalers Kildare IFC football rather nervously with early wasted chances being punished by their Round 1 opponents. After a couple of solid turnovers and opportunities created for Grange, it was Nurney who hit the front when Cathal Hagney combined with Sean Murphy before finding the net.

Nurney ghosted in again to go four clear when Ciaran Callan fisted over.

Grange opened their account with a close-range free from Fionn Bergin but Nurney were quick to respond through Andrew Behan.

Nurney went six clear just past the midway point of the opening half when Hagney looked set to take aim at goal once again but the midfielder was dragged down inside the box and Niall Colgan stretched his arms wide to signal a penalty. Mikey Conway made no mistake; slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.

Andrew Behan dispatched a classy score after a fake shot deceived his man to send Nurney seven clear.

A Lee Doyle point for Grange in the 21st kicked off an incredible resurgence for the trailing side. Fionn Bergin finally forced his side back into this game when he hit the net while being knocked off-balance at close-range after a ball across the face of goal.

A minute later this game was level when Lee Doyle sent a ball forward which bounced over emerging Nurney ‘keeper Eoghan Fitzpatrick and into the path of Conall Bergin who nipped in and found the net.

Grange’s turnovers and pressure had finally turned to scores and Oran Bergin pointed to give them the lead for the first time in the 25th minute.

It was then the turn of wing-back Brian Cullen to get in on the act as Grange kept their foot on the accelerator. Cullen combined with Nathan Doyle before firing into the net from a tight angle. Nurney looked all at sea and yearning for the relief of the half-time whistle.

Tomas Cullen and Conall Bergin hit late points for the side in the ascendancy to send them in with a six-point lead at half-time after trailing by six just nine minutes prior.

Mikey Conway got the first score after the restart but back-to-back scores from Conall Bergin arrived in response soon after.

Theo Hanlon hit a fine two-point effort before Mikey Conway added another and Nurney were back within four.

Nurney got back within three when Damien Berns pointed after an exceptional fetch from Cathal Hagney. It was that particular margin that the trailing side found so hard to breach in the second half with Grange always doing enough to keep them at arm’s length.

Grange answered with consecutive frees from Fionn and Oran Bergin, the latter of which was the final action of the game from its scorer as Oran was carried off injured after scoring.

Nurney substitute Kevin Conway was next on the scoresheet and they trailed Grange 3-10 to 2-9 with 10 minutes to go.

Mikey Conway again got Nurney within single score range but David Conway’s side always had an answer. This time it was Paul Huntingdon to put them just out of reach once again.

Tomas Cullen grabbed a well-timed second point but Mikey Conway had a two-pointer ready to deploy to draw Nurney back to a margin of three points behind yet again.

Fionn Bergin got Grange’s final score of the game with Andrew Behan answering at the other end, but time ran out on Nurney’s endeavours.

These sides’ tit for tat pattern, which Nurney could not break, occupied most of the second half as Grange ran out 3-13 to 2-13 winners.

Grange: Fionn Bergin 1-4 (0-4 frees), Conall Bergin 1-3, Brian Cullen 1-0, Oran Bergin 0-2 (0-1 frees), Tomas Cullen 0-2, Lee Doyle 0-1, Paul Huntingdon 0-1.

Nurney: Michael Conway 1-4 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), Cathal Hagney 1-0, Theo Hanlon 0-3 (1 x 2ptf), Andrew Behan 0-3 (0-2 frees), Ciaran Callan 0-1, Damien Berns 0-1, Kevin Conway 0-1.

GRANGE: Timmy Doyle; Gavin Ivory, Lewis Gannon, Keith Holligan; Paul Huntingdon, Dylan Costigan, Brian Cullen; Johnny Lawlor, Conall Bergin; Cillian Bergin, Fionn Bergin, Lee Doyle; Nathan Doyle, Oran Bergin, Tomas Cullen. Subs: James Gannon for Johnny Lawlor (Half-time), Nicky Bowens for Oran Bergin (50 minutes), Jessie Moore for Sean Murphy (53 minutes), Aaron Phelan for Cillian Bergin (58 minutes).

NURNEY: Eoghan Fitzpatrick; Noel Kelly, Daragh Conway, Noel Lawlor; Ciaran Callan, Brian Reilly, Steven Conway; Owen Kealey, Cathal Hagney; Damien Berns, Michael Conway, Tadhg Hagney; Sean Murphy, Theo Hanlon, Andrew Behan. Subs: Daniel Kealey for Ciaran Callan (40 minutes), Kevin Conway for Owen Kealey (45 minutes), Ben Doyle for Damien Berns (57 minutes), Cillian Boyle for Tadhg Hagney (59 minutes).

Referee: Niall Colgan