Keogh Cup Rathangan
Johnstownbridge 1-10
Rathangan 1-10

Johnstownbridge finally took to the field in the Keogh Cup in Rathngan last Saturday after their previous two games were called off. In a lively enough game considering the time of year it finished all square as county U21 man Cathal McNally came off the bench to score 1-2 and earn the draw.
The Burrow were first on the score-sheet through David Donnelly who was helped by Rathangan’s two Brians, Mullally and Flood. Eoin O’Donoghue responded for the visitors with two well taken points in the following five minutes. Ian Farrell got the Bridge’s third point when he raced through the home defence.
The winners had registered 1–9 by the time Martin Brennan raided forward to score for Castlemitchell. Johnstownbridge flew out of the blocks with Declan Flynn hitting three on the trot with Des Holton pitching in.
Rathangan’s captain Davy Connell settled the ship with a fantastic point in the eighth minute before wing-back Tommy Power equalised for Rathangan. Declan McGivern added his name to the scorers to put Rathangan ahead by the minimum.
Two Shane Flanagan frees put the north Kildare side ahead again who were after missing some scoreable chances. Brian Mullally converted his first free to leave it all level at half time.
The McNally brothers for Johnstownbridge were certainly making their mark on the game with Barry commanding well in the middle of the field and Cathal and Seamus contributing 1-3 between them in the second half.
Rathangan were again quickest out of the traps in the second half with a second Tommy Power point. Cathal McNally and Shane Flanagan scored a point each for Declan Kerrigan’s side to put them in front once more.
Brian Mullally raised the green flag for Rathangan who gained the game’s momentum. Mullally pointed his second free when Brian Flood was fouled before Eoin Kennedy scored a great point for Rathangan and Mullally notched his third point. Two McNally points, one apiece from Seamus and Cathal only left the goal separating the sides.
Davy Connell popped the ball over the bar for the home side with the clock heading for full time. Eoin O’Donoghue replied for Johnstownbridge and he and his team mates desperately chased a goal to level the game. It came, four minutes into injury time with Cathal McNally placing the ball into the net after sloppy defending from Rathangan. A good early run-out for Johnstownbridge who were without the Cribbin and Hurley brothers, Brian Flanagan and Balyna U21 championship winning captain Niall Vaughan to name but a few.

Johnstownbridge: Dave Maguire, James O’Connor, Noel Cawley, Damien Murray, Aonghus Gannon, Des Holton, Paul Mooney, Barry McNally, Will Holton, Diarmuid Holton, JP Mullen, Jimmy Farrell, Eoin O’Donoghue 0-3, Shane Flanagan 0-3 (2f), Ian Farrell 0-1.
Subs: Cathal McNally 1-2, Seamus McNally 0-1, Kelvin McNally.