Keogh Cup Final
Kilcullen 2-8
Johnstownbridge 1-9

A very strong finish from Kilcullen saw them come back to clinch the Keogh Cup last weekend. Early on Johnstownbridge made light of the missing players with Brian Flanagan, Keith Cribbin, Paul Cribbin and Padraig Hurley were among the absentees.
They had several impressive contributors as they seized control, but none more eye-catching than corner-forward Cathal McNally.
He scored 1-4, 1-3 from play, and gave the final pass for two other points, all in the first half. The only thing more entertaining than his play was the pass he received from the otherwise quiet Shane Flanagan for the 17th minute goal, the full forward sending a brilliantly judged ball over the top of the full-back line.
That came a minute after Kilcullen had got their first goal, when the impressive Darren Barker coolly set up Paul Jones after a defensive mistake.
Once McNally replied in kind, the bridge were rampant, and after he added two minors, fine scores from Ian Farrell and JP Mullen established a 1-7 to 1-2 lead.
No sign of the change to come on the restart; Jason O'Keeffe made the gap six, and with 18 minutes to go, that was still the margin. Full-back Ronan Aspell was one of the few Kilcullen men playing well; and when he had to go off injured, there was no reason not to think the game might turn into a rout.
But gradually, Kilcullen turned the game on its head. Thomas Davis took over midfield. At corner back, Ciaran McMahon, who had suffered badly earlier against Cathal McNally, started to get the better of him. Kevin O'Brien grew at centre-back. Kilcullen's full-forward line thrived on increased supply.
Paul Bell kicked a fine point, Davis thumped over a superb long range free, and by the time Jones cut the gap to three, it was very obviously game on.
We entered the last ten minutes and Kilcullen only got better. They were soon level, Shane Lambe feeding a fine pass to Colin Fox, who thumped home a goal that had been coming.
Eoin O'Donoghue put Johnstownbridge in front again with a free. The veteran Lambe added a score of his own; Colin Fox put over a free. The Bridge lacked leaders. The Rags found them everywhere and calmly withstood a late rally. By the time Colin Fox chipped over the insurance point, Johnstownbridge, even if they will be a different side with a full hand, had much to ponder.
Kilcullen had reinforced the belief established last year that they can win almost any game at this grade. Best for them were Barker, O'Brien, Fergus Aspell, Davis before his red card, and the entire full-forward line. Up until they stopped playing, Johnstownbridge had impressive contributors in Damien Murray, Paul Mooney and Barry, Seamus and Cathal McNally.
Kilcullen: Paddy Maher; Ciaran McMahon, Ronan Aspell, Mark Dooley; Brian Fox, Kevin O'Brien, Fergus Aspell; Thomas Davis (0-1f), Darren Barker; Paul Bell (0-1), John Whyte, Warren Kinsella; Colin Fox (1-2, 0-1f), Shane Lambe (0-2), Paul Jones (1-2, 0-1f). Subs: Kevin Fox for R Aspell (38 min); John Browne for C Fox.
Johnstownbridge: David Maguire; James O'Connor, Noel Cawley, Damien Murray; Aonghus Gannon, Des Holton, Paul Mooney; Barry McNally, Will Holton (0-1); Ian Farrell (0-1), JP Mullen (0-1), Seamus McNally; Eoin O'Donoghue (0-1f), Shane Flanagan, Cathal McNally (1-4, 0-1f). Subs: Jason O'Keeffe for Flanagan (ht); Jimmy Farrell for Farrell (43 min); Mickey Donnelly for Gannon (44).