Ellistown top of the Junior pile after final success
Ellistown team that land the Tom Cross Junior Football championship final with victory over Kill. Photo: Sean Brilly.
Ellistown are the Tom Cross Junior Football champions after they overcame Kill by two points in what was a hugely entertaining encounter between two of the form teams prior to throw in.
Second half goals from captain Pat Martin and man of the match Eoin O Loughlin were the deciding scores in a wonderful second half.
Kill led by two points, 0-6 to 0-4, at the break as they enjoyed the better of the opening half possession. Cian Lawlor opened the scoring after three minutes for Kill and Paul Kirwan quickly added a second.
It took Ellistown 11 minutes to register an opening score but it was worth the wait as he shot over from 45 metres. Daragh and Tadhg Watson added points either side of a Finn Ryan mark and as we passed the end of the opening quarter we were level at 0-3 each.
Kill finished the half the stronger. Mark Lee knocking over from 25 metres before Paul Kirwan and Cian Lawlor both added their seconds of the half.
Eoin O Loughlin again from distance kept Ellistown in contention as the sides went to the dressing rooms.
The early minutes of the second half were very similar in nature to the first but Eoin O Loughlin, again from distance reduced the gap to the minimum. The next attack saw the game’s opening goal arrive courtesy of captain Pat Martin. It was all about the footwork of Evan Donnelly as he evaded two defenders before playing Martin through.
Kill responded through an AJ Jordan free but Ellistown were a lot meaner with the space afforded to the Kill forwards and Ellistown pushed themselves two ahead after substitute Callum Donnelly linked up with Conor O Loughlin.
As we moved into the closing ten minutes Ellistown presented Kill with a glorious goal opportunity but as Cian Lawlor prepared to pull the trigger Andrew McLoughlin made a brilliant bock and Ellistown broke for Eoin O Loughlin to fire over his third. Evan Donnelly pointed what looked like the insurance point but there was still time for more drama.
AJ Jordan and Paul Kirwan with frees reduced the gap to two but the sides would share two goals in injury time to leave just two between the sides.
Eoin O Loughlin got on the end of a Tadhg Watson pass to fist past Mike Jones. Kill responded and when Cian Lawlor's shot looked to be drifting wide Paul Kirwan got a foot to it to direct past Oran Donnelly.
The clock would beat Kill and after four minutes of injury time Ellistown were champions and back to Intermediate for 2025.
Oran Donnelly, Ciaran Lindy, Sean Lindy, James Nelson, Andrew McLoughlin, Darragh Watson 0-1, Pat Martin 1-0, Conor Lindy, Shane Maughan 0-1, Darren Kelly, David Dunne, Eoin O'Loughlin 1-3, Tadhg Watson 0-1f, Conor O'Loughlin, Evan Donnelly 0-1f. Leo Lennox for Dunne (7), Callum Donnelly for Kelly (25), Max Lennox for C Lindy (51), Oisin O'Loughlin for S Lindy (54), Seamus Noonan for C O'Loughlin (59).
Mike Jones, Ciaran Devoy, Justin Halligan, Luke Purcell, Finn Ryan 0-1m, Eoin Finneran, Derry Lenehan, Jack Healy, Cian Lawlor 0-2, Sam Lafferty, Stephen O Leary, Mark Lee 0-1, AJ Jordan 0-2fs, Paul Kirwan 1-3 (2fs), Alan Wren. Harry Kirwan for Lafferty (25), Dara Challoner for O'Leary (49), Matthew Ryan for Wren (58).
Alan Archbold.
