AFL5 Match Report - Whitehall vs Kilmacud Crokes

Here is a match report from a recent AFL5 game .... it was submitted via the  "Submit Match Reports" link on our web-site.  Any team manager can use this facility if the fixture appears in the CCC listing presented; if it's not there you can still submit a short report (and photos if available) using the "Submit News" button.  Sooooooo ... go on then let's be hearing from you over the remainder of the season!!

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Only three days after their titanic battle with Castleknock in the Quarter Finals of the Junior Championship, Kilmacud followed up their last gasp exploits with a hard earned win against an unlucky Whitehall team. Played on a perfect pitch and in near perfect conditions both sides struggled to get to grips with the chances that were presented and Whitehall can count themselves unlucky not to have taken at least a point, if not two, from this encounter having squandered numerous scoring opportunities especially in the second half. Kilmacud started the brighter and were 2 points to no score up after 5 minutes with well taken points from Darragh McGale and Dave Kehoe. However Whitehall hit back with a well taken goal and after 15 minutes were 3 points ahead on a score line of 1-2 to 0-2. Kilmacud found some rhythm after this and after another Dave Kehoe point from a free and a point from Stephen Collins, Darragh McGale was put through one-on-one with the Whitehall goal keeper. He kept it low and the sides went in 1-3 to 1-4 at half time in Kilmacud's favour.

Kilmacud re-jigged things a little at half time and the introduction of Cuán Ó Flatharta (just off a plane that morning) and Conor Mulvihill seemed to have a calming effect on those around them as Kilmacud tapped over 3 early points without reply. However, this early burst from Kilmacud, coupled with weary limbs and minds from their mid-week exploits, seemed to wake Whitehall from their slumber and they subsequently went on to dominate the middle third of the second half. However they shot wide after wide after wide. This seemed to deflate them and their frustrations finally boiled over when their corner back was sent off for a striking offence on Richie Power, who was by now starting to come more and more into the game. Despite one or two goal mouth scrambles and a goal line clearance from substitute Robert Behan, Kilmacud went on to close out the game with well taken points from Cuán Ó Flatharta, Richie Power and from substitute Paraic McDonald. The match ended 1-7 to 1-10 in Kilmacud's favour.

With it came the Summer break for both teams and a chance for Kilmacud to recharge the batteries before their Quarter Final replay away to Castleknock on the 15th August.