This was a well deserved and important victory for Milford against the reigning league champions Kilcar in their battle to retain Division One football.
Milford 3-10 Kilcar 1-10
This result puts them four points clear of Aodh Rua Ballyshannon, who lost by six points in Gweedore and who they visit next week for a hugely important game.
Milford centre-forward Christopher ‘ Chippy ‘ Barrett was the man who pulled the vital strings in this excellent performance by the home team. Barrett scored one of their goals and provided the final pass for Darragh Black and Kane Barrett to score the other two which were so important in this victory.
The first of those opened the scoring in the 2nd minute when Joey Cullen won a Kilcar kick-out, fed Barrett who threaded a beauty of a pass through to Darragh Black and he side-stepped his marker to blasted home.
Mark Sweeney pointed for Kilcar in the 3rd minute and then after Brian O Donnell and Oran Duggan had combined well Ciaran McGinley drilled the ball home. McGinley , Mark McHugh and Stephen McBrearty all started for the visitors as County panellists who didn’t start against Roscommon on Saturday night were available to play for their clubs.
Dara O Donnell made a two point lead for Kilcar with a point in the 7th minute. That proved to be their last score almost for almost twenty minutes as Milford took command, adding 1-6 without reply.
Kane and Christopher Barrett scored points from play and Cathal McGettigan added three from frees to make it 1-05 to 1-02 in the 19th minute. Two minutes later McGettigan looked to have added another free but it hit high on the post and Chris Barrett reacted quickest to grab the ball and blast it to the net.
McGettigan then did add a free before Kilcar finally scored again through Mark Sweeney’s second point and then Aodhan McGinley added a free to leave Milford five ahead at half-time, 2-06 to 1-04.
Aodhan McGinley converted another free in the 33rd minute but Milford responded three minutes later when Kane Barrett won a kick-out, fed Chris Barrett who raced into the danger area before flicking a pass to Kane Barrett who drilled the ball past Eamonn McGinley low to the far corner of the net and Milford led by seven points.
Stephen McBrearty pointed from a free and then from play but T J Evesson replied. Ciaran McGinley and Mark Sweeney added Kilcar points but McGettigan fifth free of the day and points by sub Kyle Black and young corner-back Conor McHugh made it a seven point game yet again. Mark McHugh’s 45 ended the scoring at 3-10 to 1-10 in Milford’s favour and a very valuable two league points secured.
MILFORD ; Caolan McGettigan , Conor McHugh ( 0-01 ) , Barry McNulty, TJ Evesson ( 0-01), Tony McNamee, Gary Merritt , David Curley, Luke Barrett , Joey Cullen , Christopher Barrett ( 1-01 ), Cathal McGettigan ( 0-05f ) ,Paddy Peoples , Darragh Black ( 1-0 ), Kane Barrett ( 1-01 ) , Pauric Curley. SUBS ; Ronan Docherty for Luke Barrett ( 44mins ), Kyle Black ( 0-01 ) for Darragh Black ( 52mins ) , Sean Black for Evesson ( 58mins ).
KILCAR ; Eamonn McGinley , Brian O Donnell , Barry McGinley , Pauric Carr , Andrew McClean , Barry Shovelin, Daniel Lyons , Ciaran Mc Ginley ( 1-01 ), Mark Mc Hugh ( 0-01/45), Aodhan McGinley ( 0-02f ), Mark Sweeney ( 0-03 1f ), Matthew McClean , Oran Doogan, Dara O’Donnell ( 0-01) Stephen McBrearty ( 0-02 1f ).
REFEREE : James Conners ( St.Eunans ).
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