Honours even in highly anticipated Graigue derby
St. Patrick’s Ravo Kilonda fires in the opening goal of the game despite the close attentions of St. Fiacc’s Aaron Dorgan. Pic: © Michael O’Rourke Photography
The highly anticipated first Graigue derby in four years ended in a 2-2 draw on Saturday night after three goals in the last 15 minutes. Ravo Kilonda’s goal in the 13th minute had put St. Pat’s ahead and it looked as if they might hold on for a 1-0 win but a penalty gave Aaron Dorgan the chance to level from the penalty spot before Bob Mulholland pulled out a cracker from the edge of the box to give St. Fiacc’s the lead.
Pat’s were missing their first choice front three from last season with Joe Sunderland and Callum Warfield both injured and Lord Afrifa deciding to take a break from soccer, but when they needed someone to step up, it was one of their magic players on the pitch, Brandon Kelly that stepped up and delivered, firing in a leveller. It was an open ended game with neither team really able to carve too many openings in a disappointing game for the large crowd present in Leighlinbridge.
Pat’s caused problems early on as a Ravo Kilonda’s cross from the right was hit wide on the near side by Jan Flejszar stepping up and playing through the middle in the absence of last season’s Golden Boot winner, Warfield. Fiacc’s came into the game slightly as the first half went on.
John O’Shea cut in from the left and fired a shot towards goal but youngster, Sean Murphy did well in the goal to save whilst Bob Mulholland fired an effort over the bar. It was the reigning league champions St. Pat’s who drew first blood though, when Flejszar fired in a ball to the right hand side where Kilonda bombed up the wing, cut in and fired an effort into the far bottom corner off the boot of Craig Doyle in the goal.
With 25 minutes gone, a Fiacc’s effort from the left was sent into the back post where they couldn’t convert. With nine minutes to go until half-time, an Eoin Carolan corner from the left was cleared. A minute later, Flejszar went close with an effort from the left but just fired it wide on the far side. With three minutes to go, Chris Gaul down the right fired in a ball into the middle for Flejszar but it was too heavy and the youngster couldn’t get onto the end of the ball as it went across the box with Doyle collecting.
It was Fiacc’s who went closest after the break as John O’Shea fired in a cross from the left for Jack Byrne in the middle but he couldn’t get onto the end of it. Kilonda’s effort at the near post was saved for Pat’s before Dylan Walsh down the left put in a cross for Ben Dorgan who could only steer his effort over the bar.
Pat’s went close through a Brandon Kelly free from the right which was fired into the middle and deflected into the path of Luca Hutton who hit his effort over the bar. On the hour mark, an O’Shea corner from the left found Jack Byrne whose effort was cleared at the back post. With 20 minutes to go, a Brandon Kelly corner from the left was cleared.
Five minutes later, Fiacc’s were back in the game as Tobi Jimoh was penalised and Aaron Dorgan dispatched his penalty into the top of the goal to level the game up.
With ten minutes to go, Bob Mulholland fired in a spectacular effort from the right, just outside the box and hit it into the far corner as the newly promoted side took the lead for the first time this season. The lead didn’t last long as two minutes later, Brandon Kelly pulled the reigning league champions level again, firing in an effort from the left.
Fiacc’s fought hard to get back into the game as Walsh fired an effort over the bar and an O’Shea free from the right was cleared. They had a glorious chance to win the game when Scott Roycroft found himself in space down the right just outside the box but fired just wide.
Craig Doyle, Mikee Horohan, Jake Haughney, Ben Dorgan, Kian Lawler, Dylan Walsh, Aaron Dorgan, Bob Mulholland, Jack Byrne, Harry Walker, John O’Shea.
Luke Murphy, Bobby Dowling, Leo Hurley, Scott Roycroft, Ross Hennessey, Jamie Parr, Eoin White.
Sean Murphy, Ravo Kilonda, Eoin Carolan, Shane Buggy, Evan Frachon, Josh Moore, Jan Flejzsar, Tobi Jimoh, Chris Gaul, Brandon Kelly, Luca Hutton.
Dean Kelly, Joe Gordon, Charlie Warfield, Harry Taylor, Scott Dunne, Joe Sunderland.
Mick Monaghan assisted by Mick Murphy and Shane Farrell
