AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship – Round 1: A Thrilling Slug-Fest!
It was a classic David and Goliath situation at the AIB Leinster Junior Football Championship, featuring
Ellistown against the mighty Castletown-Finea-Coole-Whitehall (or CFCW for short—thank goodness for
acronyms, eh?). Not quite a blockbuster match, but as they say in the world of sport, every point counts
— especially when those points are as hard to come by as a taxi in the rain at 3 AM!
The Match: Blood, Sweat, and a Hint of Tears
The game had all the hallmarks of a tense showdown. Ellistown triumphed over CFCW with a nerve-wracking
0-5 to 0-4. Yes, you heard me right! It’s a scoreline that makes you question if anyone
even made it out of the locker room with their thumbs still intact! The kind of score that could make
a high-scoring basketball match look like a tea party.
Now, let’s break down the action. The opening minutes were as tight as a Drumlin’s backside, as defenses
clamped down. Joe Rabbit opened the scoring for CFCW with a free, deftly showcasing that he clearly
took the ‘scoring’ part of ‘free’ very seriously. Or maybe he thought, “If they’re giving away points,
I might as well take more than my fair share!”
Ellistown, looking a touch sluggish at first, finally fired up when Ciaran Lindy netted a solid 40-metre
point – sending the home crowd into a frenzy! It was a moment of pure joy, akin to finding out your
favorite show has been renewed for another season.
Half-Time Drama and Tadhg Watson Strikes Gold
The first half ended with Ellistown holding a narrow lead of 0-3 to 0-2, but it was clear
that if missing shots were an Olympic sport, both teams would have been topping the medal table!
Ellistown’s Tadhg Watson decided he could no longer bear the tension, scoring a couple of points to
stretch the lead as if he had just unearthed the last box of Cadbury’s in the cupboard.
Last-Minute Nerve-Wracking Finish
As the game reached its climax, the nerves were palpable. Ellistown entered the final minutes with a sense
of triumph, yet that triumph seemed to vanish faster than a politician’s promise post-election. Despite
promising chances, they scored no points during the closing 17 minutes—a performance that begs the
question, “Did they think the goals were just optional suggestions?”
But hold on! Substitute Ryan Plunkett swooped in to score a free in the 60th minute—bless him, the
savior of an ever-sinking ship! However, rather than popping the champagne, Ellistown held off CFCW,
allowing only one shot in injury time — talk about defensive grit! They secured their place in the
quarter-finals, setting up a showdown against Longford champions Gratton Óg next weekend.
Lineup Shenanigans: Who Made the Cut?
Ellistown’s roster looks promising, featuring key players like Oran Donnelly, Tadhg Watson, and Ciaran
Lindy, who appears to have brought his ‘A’ game on the day. CFCW, on the other hand, counted heavily on
Joe Rabbit—who apparently had “free” written all over his jersey, scoring three of their four points.
Talk about being the star of the show, even if the spotlight was a little dim!
The Ref’s Perspective
Referee Colm McCullough from Louth had his hands full. One wonders if he was getting a bit of a workout,
as keeping order in a match of this nature isn’t for the faint-hearted! The pressure of making a
questionable call? That’s where you earn your stripes and perhaps a couple of extra gray hairs.
Final Thoughts: A Match to Remember (Barely!)
The air in the stadium was electrifying, the fans were on the edge of their seats, and in the end,
Ellistown emerged victorious with a scoreline that can only be described as a nail-biter…but mostly
just nails! While it wasn’t a goal-frenzy, the tension made for a thrilling display of football—offering
just enough drama to leave us begging for more. So, grab your popcorn and get ready for next weekend.
Who knows what further twists and turns await in this season’s instalment of the AIB Leinster Junior
Football Championship!
So there we have it! A delightful trip through the ups and downs of an exhilarating junior football clash, served with a side of sharp wit and playful sarcasm. Who said the world of sports couldn’t use a bit of humor? If you’re after a light read with a cheeky twist, this one hits the spot!
Ellistown emerged victorious in a closely contested match against Westmeath champions Castletown Finea Coole Whitehall (CFCW), securing their place in the quarter-finals of the AIB Leinster Junior Football Championship. The Kildare side’s narrow one-point victory showcases their determination and skill.
This critical win sets up an exciting home quarter-final against Longford counterparts Gratton Óg next weekend, promising a thrilling showdown for fans and players alike.
The match began with a fiercely competitive atmosphere, as both teams struggled to find their rhythm, focusing heavily on defensive strategies. CFCW drew first blood with a free kick converted by Joe Rabbit just four minutes into the game and later doubled their lead with another successful free, leaving Ellistown momentarily on the back foot.
However, Ellistown responded with resilience, with Ciaran Lindy scoring from 40 metres out to finally put Kildare on the scoreboard by the 13th minute. This inspired a shift in momentum as CFCW went nearly 18 minutes without adding to their tally, allowing Ellistown to seize control.
Tadhg Watson’s excellent play led to two successive points at the 25th and 28th minutes, and despite facing five first-half wide shots, the Kildare champions managed to cling onto a 0-3 to 0-2 lead by halftime.
Just five minutes into the second half, Tadhg Watson extended Ellistown’s advantage by converting a free awarded after Evan Donnelly was fouled 30 metres from goal. However, CFCW was granted a contentious free shortly after, and Joe Rabbit capitalized to score his third free.
The dynamic shifted as Ellistown mounted pressure from the kickout, culminating in a well-executed move featuring Evan Donnelly, Eoin Donnelly, and Darragh Watson, resulting in a two-point cushion for the Kildare side.
Despite dominating possession, Ellistown endured a challenging final 17 minutes without scoring, missing several key opportunities. It wasn’t until substitute Ryan Plunkett converted a free in the 60th minute that the tension heightened. In a nail-biting conclusion, Ellistown managed to restrict CFCW to just one shot in the closing four minutes of injury time, ultimately sealing a hard-fought 0-5 to 0-4 victory.
Oran Donnelly, Sean Lindy, Andrew McLoughlin, James Neilson, Oisin O’Loughlin, Darragh Watson 0-1, Pat Martin, Conor Lindy 0-1, Shane Maughan, Evan Donnelly, Ciaran Lindy, Eoin O’Loughlin, Tadhg Watson 0-3 (1f). Subs: Leo Lennox for C Donnelly, 36; Max Lennox for Lindy, 45; James Sutton for T Watson, 54; Darren Kelly for O O’Loughlin 55.
Gary Sullivan, Oisin Gaffney, Darragh O’Reilly, Conor O’Grady, Emmet Corrigan, Ryan Moore, Conor Gaffney, Luke Moore, Darren Kilcoyne, Darragh McCormack, John McCarthy, Mark Cunningham, Glen Plunkett, Joe Rabbit 0-3fs, Alan Devine. Subs: Ryan Plunkett 0-1f for McCarthy.
Colm McCullough (Louth).
Ellistown’s lead, solidifying their determination to secure the win. As the match progressed, the tension escalated with both teams attempting to outmaneuver each other, yet the lack of conversions from both sides made for a nail-biting experience for the fans.
The defensive prowess of both teams meant opportunities to score were few and far between, as each side struggled to penetrate the opponent’s backline effectively. Ellistown seemed to have the game in hand but faced a sudden resurgence from CFCW just when they thought they were safe. As pressure mounted, Ellistown’s inability to score in the final minutes had fans’ hearts racing, making them wonder if victory was slipping from their fingers.
In a moment of relief, substitute Ryan Plunkett accomplished what appeared to be the impossible—scoring in the dying moments of the game, sealing the deal for Ellistown. His late contribution undoubtedly lifted the spirits of the Ellistown supporters, who had been holding their breath for what felt like an eternity.
Ultimately, the match concluded with Ellistown triumphing in a contest that showcased resilience and tenacity. The players left the field knowing that in the crucible of competition, every point matters and that they would once again need to dig deep in their upcoming clash against Gratton Óg, whose fierce reputation precedes them.
As the dust settles and fans replay the wondrous moments of the game in their minds, it becomes clear that this nail-biting encounter is one that will be talked about long after the final whistle. It serves as a reminder that in junior football, every match is a story waiting to be told.
