Minor ‘B’ Football Championship Semi-Final Replay
 Raheens 1-10  Sallins 0-10

Raheens advanced to the final of the Minor 'B' Championship with a much improved performance against Sallins in the replay of their semi-final. In a complete reverse of the drawn game Raheens dominated the first half this week, but they failed to capitalise on this dominance, kicking a succession of wides. David Fitzpatrick kicked Raheens in front with a point in the opening minute but Sallins replied in kind after 4 minutes through the boot of Gary Lane.

John Jennings restored Raheens advantage before Paddy McGrath and Jamie Cox pointed in quick succession midway through the half to give Sallins the lead for the first time. Jon Hanbury levelled matters up with a point on the turn but Sallins hit the front once more in the 20th minute when Paul Clifford pointed from a free. David Fitzpatrick tied it up again with a free but Raheens who were winning all the breaking ball in the middle third couldn't put the scores that their play deserved on the board. 

As half time approached Sean Corley restored Sallins to the lead. That lead could have been extended in the final minute of the half when a speculative shot caused Liam Power to scramble accross his goal. The ball struck the post and rebounded out and accross the goalmouth. Power slipped falling to his knees and the ball was met by the fist of an inrushing Sallins forward. Unfortunately for Sallins the ball bounced into the ground and up into the arms of the grateful Raheens keeper. Raheens scrambled the ball clear and the half time whistle sounded shortly after.

Sallins were two points to the good early in the second half when Jack Sharkey kicked their 6th point. However, the Raheens response was quick, Barry Winder finishing off the games only goal in a move involving Colm Power and Jon Hanbury. A pointed free from David Fitzpatrick extended Raheens lead before Gary Lane kicked his second point (free) for Sallins. However, Raheens, who still held the upper hand at midfield through Fitzpatrick and John Jennings, moved three clear with points from Colm Power and John Jennings.

Although Paul Clifford pointed for Raheens midway through the half Raheens replied with another free from David Fitzpatrick. Another free, this time for Sallins' Gary Lane in the 52nd minute, left two between the teams but Jon Hanbury kicked his second point of the game on the run to extend the Raheens lead once more. Raheens finally moved more than one score clear when David Fitzpatrick kicked his fifth point from a free in the 58th minute.

Sallins though weren't going to go down without a fight and threw everything they had at Raheens in the final minutes including 3 minutes stoppage time. They got the final score of the game in the 60th minute with Gary Lane kicking his 4th point from a free but their efforts to manufacture a goal were twarted by a Raheens defence that was excellent all game long. Indeed Raheens had strong performances all over the field and if they can reproduce this display against Kilcock next week then they will take all the beating.

Raheens: Liam Power, Matthew Bursey, Dean Campbell, Darragh Barron, Ciaran Begley, Gary Woodgate, Niall Connolly, David Fitzpatrick (0-5, 5f), John Jennings (0-2), Jonathon Hanbury (0-2), Charlie Kings, David Malone, Colm Power (0-1), Barry Winder (1-0), Dylan Hannon.

Sallins: Philip Cluxton-Corley, Stephen Meaghar, David Callan, T. J. Gordon, Jimmy Nevin, Emmet Ralph, Gary Pender, Gary Lane (0-4, 4f), Paul Clifford (0-2, 1f), Oisín O'Domhnaill, Jack Sharkey (0-1) , Ruairí O'Domhnaill, Sean Corley (0-1), Paddy McGrath (0-1), Jamie Cox (0-1).   

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Minor ‘B’ Football Championship Semi-Final

Raheens 1-8  Sallins 2-5

Sallins’ quest for a third successive Minor ‘B’ title is still alive after their draw with Raheens on Saturday afternoon in Clane. Given the amount of possession they had in the opening half they will probably wonder how they didn’t win this game. But in the end they will probably be relieved that Raheens didn’t manage to kick the winning point in stoppage time as Dean Heavey dwelled a little too long and saw his shot charged down.

Sallins attacked right from the word go with Paul Clifford charging through the Raheens rearguard. Although on the backfoot Raheens managed to prevent a goal chance but in the process conceded a free which Jamie Cox slotted between the uprights. Sean Corley followed up with a second point for his team shortly after and it was beginning to look ominous for Raheens. However, a combination of good defence on Raheens’ part and some wayward shooting by the Sallins forwards meant that Sallins failed to extend their lead.

Raheens got off the mark in the 9^th minute when Dylan Hannon kicked a point from the left corner and despite limited opportunities they were level 9 minutes later as Jonathon Hanbury reacted quickest to a breaking ball in front of the Sallins goal to fire over. Sallins continued to press with Sean Corley at full forward very much to the fore. Despite this they couldn’t add to their tally and their wides began to mount up. Incredibly Raheens hit the front in the 29^th minute when Dylan Hannon scored his second point.

The lead was short lived though as Paul Clifford made another surging run in the final minute of the half before shooting to the bottom right corner of the net. Sallins’ 1-2 to 0-3 half-time lead was extended with a second goal within a minute of the restart. Oisín O’Domhnaill brushed aside some weak tackling to score the major which gave Sallins a five point advantage.

Raheens were now faced with an uphill battle but they responded well. A long ball into the Sallins goalmouth was dropped and Dylan Hannon pounced to score a goal for Raheens. Then David Fitzpatrick kicked a point from a free for the Caragh lads to leave the minimum between the sides. But just when it looked like there was a change in the momentum Sallins hit back with two quick points from Jamie Cox (free) and Emmet Ralph.

However, Raheens fought back once more with points from David Fitzpatrick (free) and Dylan Hannon. And then in the 47^th minute they got back on terms with a long range point from John Jennings. Raheens now had the upper hand but couldn’t get their noses in front. Both sides missed chances before Sallins were reduced to 14 men in the 54^th minute as Paddy McGrath was red carded.

Despite being down a man it was Sallins that regained the lead when Gary Lane’s low drive just cleared the crossbar. Raheens weren’t finished though and levelled in the final minute when Jonathon Hanbury pointed off the outside of his right boot from an almost impossible angle along the endline. There was one final chance for Raheens and Dean Heavey but they were denied by a last ditch block. So Kilcock must wait for another week at least before they will know who they face in the ‘B’ Championship final. 

Raheens: Liam Power, Darragh Barron, Ciaran Begley, Danny Boyle, Matthew Bursey, Gary Woodgate, Niall Connolly, Charlie Kings, David Fitzpatrick (0-2, 2f), David Malone, John Jennings (0-1), Dean Heavey, Jonathon Hanbury (0-2), Barry Winder, Dylan Hannon (1-3).

Sallins: Philip Cluxton-Corley, Jimmy Nevin, David Callan, Ruairí O’Domhnaill, Stephen Meaghar, Gary Lane (0-1), Gary Pender, Emmet Ralph (0-1), Paul Clifford (1-0), Oisín O’Domhnaill (1-0), Jack Sharkey,  Paddy McGrath, Aaron Cassells, Sean Corley (0-1), Jamie Cox (0-2, 2f).  

Senior Reserve B Final Second team come up just short in final – Raheens 2-8 Castledermot 3-9

On a cold windy Friday night Raheens dominated the first 10 mins and opened the scoring with a fine point from John Jennings in the 5th minute followed by another point from Martin Taffee. With the strong wind Castledermot, after 2 wides, got a point in the 9th minute followed by a goal in the 12th minute to put them in front. With a nice 1-2 move between Jennings and Gareth Malone Raheens got there first goal from Malone in the 14th minute and to put them in front. Seconds later Castledermot got a point to put the sides level. With the Curragh wind causing problems, both sides were finding scores hard to get. Castledermot’s team play and passing was better and with much less handling and passing errors they got points in the 25th, 26th, 28th and 30th minutes to give them a half time lead of Castledermot 1-6 Raheens 1-2. But for many wides Castledermot could have been much more ahead.

Raheens were not for backing down and right from the restart David Fitzpatrick got Raheens a point from a free to make it a 3 point game. Seconds later Castledermot got a point to extend their lead. Things got better for Castledermot when they got their 2nd goal to give them a strong lead in the 34th minute. Raheens were struggling in defence, with Castledermot’s youth and fitness coming to the fore. Minutes later Raheens got a point from David Fitzpatrick in 38th minute and with a few switches and changes from both sides Castledermot got 2 further points in the 43rd minute. Raheens kept on trying to get a score and got one from Colin McLoughlin in the 44th minute. Raheens got 2 further points from John Taffee and David Fitzpatrick in the 47th and 49th minutes. A minute later Castledermot got another goal to put Raheens under pressure once again but fair play to Raheens they replied as Martin Taaffe got a wonderful goal to keep it interesting. With time against Raheens, the lads tried to get the ball in but sadly they needed a goal which didn’t come, a good Fitzpatrick point finished the scoring. Full time score line Castledermot 3-9 Raheens 2-8 with no doubt the team playing the better football with less errors and better pass choices winning out. Raheens fought manfully and they gave us full value, but Castledermot’s youth and balanced team won out. Best for Raheens were John Fox, Sean Browne, Martin Taaffe, John Taaffe, John Jennings, David Fitzpatrick and Pat Courtney.

Raheens – Liam Power, John Fox, Andrew Earley, Dean Campbell, Daithi Ivers, Kevin Higgins, Sean Browne, John Taaffe, Pat Courtney, John Jennings, Gareth Malone, David Fitzpatrick, Johnny Igoe, Martin Taaffe (Capt.), Keelan Noone, Subs: Colm McLoughlin, Jonathon Hanbury, Colm Brennan, Mark O’Brien, Alan Sharpe, Mark Concannon, Shane Taaffe, David Dolly.