U-21’s v Kiltane – Match Report
Davitts U-21 team qualified for the County B semi-final for the second year in a row, defeating Kiltane by 2-10 to 1-8 in a hard fought quarter-final played in Knockmore on Thursday evening. Kiltane started brightly but a well taken Darren Connolly goal in the fifth minute settled the Davitts nerves, playing without Michael Waldron (holidays) and injured captain Keith Prendergast. Points from Liam Kearns (3), Darren Connolly and Josh Ronayne (2) saw Davitts build up a 1-6 to 0-4 lead at half-time,
Kearns leading the attack superbly and the Davitts defence limiting the Kiltane lads to just one point from play with Kevin Gallagher inspiring his colleagues with his usual committed defending and goalkeeper David Mitchell having an excellent game.
Two early second half points from Josh Ronayne (after a fine run by the hard-working Richie Kilkenny) and Fergal McGrath, shrugging off the affects of a virus, gave Davitts some breathing space, but Kiltane had no intention of going down without a struggle and four unanswered points from them left just a goal between the sides with fifteen minutes remaining. The Davitts defence proved their worth in this period with the superb Gallagher, Mark Ronayne, Jason Connolly, Johnno Clarke and Gerard McWalter (G-Mack) defending tigerishly, getting great assistance from midfielders Tommy Mitchell and John Heneghan, and David Mitchell pulling off a number of top class saves. A McGrath point lifted the siege and when Josh Ronayne flicked McGrath’s centre to the Kiltane net with five minutes remaining Davitts were almost there. Kiltane finally breached Mitchell’s goal in injury time but Liam Kearns had the final say with another terrific point from an acute angle. Davitts will have to improve on this display for their semi-final clash with Moy Davitts.
Davitts team: David Mitchell, Kevin Gallagher, Mark Ronayne, Gerard McWalter, Tommy Mitchell, Johnno Clarke, John Heneghan, Josh Ronayne (1-3), Jason Connolly, Liam Kearns (0-4), Richie Kilkenny, Darren Connolly (1-1), Fergal McGrath (0-2).
Subs: David Connolly, Dara Halligan, Tommy Clarke, Cathal Higgins.
