Stradbally remain unbeaten in Senior Football Championship with win over Kilrossanty

Stradbally made it three wins from three games in this years senior football championship at rain lashed Fraher Field on Sunday evening and in the process secured their place in the knockout stages of this competition possibly as the top seeded team in group A after a win over Kilrossanty who went into the game themselves with a one hundred per cent win record from their three games played prior to this game.

Not for the first time, Shane Ahearne finished the game as the top scorer for the reigning champions, kicking ten points, half of which came from placed balls.

For Kilrossanty, the depended on Paul Whyte to provide much of the inspiration in front of the Stradbally goal hitting 1-7, of which like Shane Ahearne for the Cove Men, half came from placed balls.

At the break in this game the winners held a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage on the score board and when they kicked a goal at the midway point in the second half to go five points in front it looked as if they were going to record a comfortable win over their near neighbours.

It was Stradbally that had the best start to this game as Robert Ahearne hit the first score after just twenty seconds and while Paul Whyte would level before the second minute had passed on the stopwatch, Stradbally would soon go three in front as Shane Ahearne put over a hat trick of points, the first two from frees and then a fisted effort with nine minutes played.

Paul Whyte and Shane Ahearne swapped scores before Pa Cunningham blasted across the face of the Stradbally goal with twenty minutes played.

Paul Whyte and Shane Ahearne again traded scores before Tommy Pender and Shane Ahearne did likewise. The towering Stradbally man it could be argued with his chance could have seen the size five go under the bar rather than over.

Kilrossanty however would go to the dressing rooms just three behind when Alan Quinn put over the Stradbally crossbar in the second added minute at the end of normal time in the half.

The Rossies began the second half the better of the two sides as Paul Whyte landed a brace of frees in the space of sixty seconds, before Shane Ahearne increased his sides lead to two on thirty six minutes with a good score.

Paul Whyte was causing Stradbally all sorts of trouble and it was only when the Cove Men moved Tony Grey on him after Whyte and Kevin Lawlor had swapped points that the influence of the Kilrossanty man was somewhat curbed.

Ger Power blasted to the Kilrossanty net on forty five minutes after the ball was cleverly worked into him from the middle of the field and when he found himself one on one with Darren Mulhearne he made no mistake.

Shane Ahearne from a free kicked Stradbally six in from putting over a free on forty seven minutes, but within a minute, the Cove Men’s lead was halved when David Power soccer style finished to the net from close ranged after Eoin Cunningham fumbled what looked to be a harmless delivery.

Three minutes later the sides were level after the ball was played into the Stradbally goalmouth and Paul Whyte was able to get in front of Tony Grey to catch and plant the ball past Eoin Cunningham from close range.

Kilrossanty however never led in this game. Just as had happened in the opening half when Kilrossanty drew level, Shane Ahearne upped the anti and hit a brace of points on fifty five and fifty seven minutes, the first from play the latter from a free to give his side a two point cushion.

In the first minute of added time Paul Whyte put over another free to leave just the minimum between the sides. His side needed to win the kick out and work it back in quickly from the Cunningham’s restart, but typically Stradbally in the time that remained, they did not allow their neighbours any chance of note to get something from this game.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Paddy Kiely, Shane Lannon, Kevin Lawlor; Tommy Connors, Tony Grey,  Cathal Cusack; Michael Walsh, Jack Mullaney; Robert Ahearne, Ger Power, Paul Tobin; Daniel Weldon, Shane Ahearne, Eoin O’Brien. Sub: John Coffey for Eoin O’Brien (H.T).

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-10 (5f), Ger Power 1-0, Robert Ahearne, Paul Tobin, Kevin Lawlor 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Barry Prendergast, Mark Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Paul Keating, Stephen Prendergast, Pa Whyte; Tommy Prendergast, Niall Walsh; Joey Veale, David Power, Alan Quinn; Donal Fitzgerald, Paul Whyte, Pa Cunningham. Sub: James Whyte for Mark Prendergast (10).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 1-7 (0-4f), David Power 1-0, Tommy Prendergast, Alan Quinn 0-1 each.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan (Affane).