U18 League Round 1

Erin go Bragh 2-4 Kilburn Gaels 2-6

The minors got their league campaign off to good start in Birmingham last Friday with a win over Erin go Bragh. With the absence of five first team players, however, the team faced a tough challenge from the Erin go Bragh side and were made to fight for victory until the very last minute.

The first half saw the teams trading scores as both struggled to get any fluency into their game. Erin go Bragh held the upper hand in the opening ten minutes taking a 1-2 to 0-1 lead, before Sean Howlin took hold of the game for Kilburn scoring two quick points to close the gap.

Howlin then made a break through the Erin go Bragh defence, scoring a goal to take the lead, but Kilburn were still unable to exert their authority on the game. The first half concluded with a well taken point from Erin go Bragh's Kieran Brennan to leave the sides level at the break.

The second half opened with two well-taken points from Howlin to open up a two point lead for Kilburn Gaels as they began to find some rhythm in their play, but again found themselves pulled back by Erin go Bragh who scored a point and then a goal in quick succession to put Kilburn on the back foot once more as they trailed by two points.

With the light fading and time running out Kilburn made a switch moving Thomas O'Neill up to the forwards and bringing James Minihan back to defence. The move proved to be inspired with O'Neill latching on to a Conor Lyons cross to slot the ball home and give Kilburn a one point lead with time virtually up.

A sixth point from Howlin, bringing his personal tally to 1-6, sealed victory for Kilburn by a margin of just two points to send them to the top of the league table.

Team: C. Henry, D. Ruddy, J. Guerin, M. Healy, T. O'Neill, R. Scullion, JP O'Brien, F. English, J. Minihan, S. O'Toole, S. Howlin, V. Connolly, S. Murphy, C. Lyons

Scorers: S. Howlin (1-6), T. O'Neill (1-0)

U18 League Round 2

Kilburn Gaels scr John Mitchels w/o

Their second league match against John Mithels two days later failed even to get underway with only seven of the team turning up at Greenford to play. Having got two out of their beds and borrowed players from other teams the clubs did eventually get to play a challenge match, but it was a disappointing day for the management and those who did turn up to see over half the team missing.

Team: D. Ruddy, JP. O'Brien, T. O'Neill, M. Healy, F. English, J. Minihan, S. Howlin, S. Murphy, C. Lyons