Kill traveled to Ballyoulster and got the win they needed to become double champions in what has become a defining season for this squad. The long hours of training in Pipershill and even longer and harder hours put in with Midfielder and Fitness Trainer Kevin Cooney have paid off and the squad will cherish the season when they look back for years to come.

Kill needed to turn around a positive result after suffering their first defeat of the season to Ratoath Harps on Thursday night and the bodies and knocks were evident on the pitch today 48 hours later. A fantastic effort was put in to get us over the line. With the reshuffle made with the aid of Kevin Cooney returning back from holidays it allowed Paul Fitzgerald to be put into his more natural position of striker. And boy did it have the desired effect as he fired in a sublime hat trick where you would do well to split which strike was the best.

Kill started the game with a great tempo and took the game to the Celbridge men from the off. Cormac Breen set the tone with a cracking drive on 5 minutes that was tipped onto the bar by the United keeper to avert an opener. As the game drove on the tireless work of Kevin Cooney gained a free kick on 20 minutes and up stepped Paul Fitzgerald who drove a bending ball all the way in off the far post, cracking strike and Kill had the start they needed. Kill then suffered two early injury set backs with Darragh Doyle badly injuring his knee and then soon after Niall Devaney was left retching on the deck after pulling an old injury. Terry Kelly and Terry Murphy deputized and made telling impacts and Kill settled again.

Ballyoulster stole in at the other end on the half hour mark and went very close finding the side netting on one occasion and blasting over on another when they beat the offside trap and Kill had to be sharper in defence when looking a little shaky. Soon after tho it was two when Richard Kenna noticed Paul Fitzgerald praying on the offside line near the half way line and he dropped in a great ball that was dispatched by Paul over the stranded keeper. Ballyoulster then hit the bar from a great free kick and were unlucky not to grab one back but just before the break Kill got a third when Paul Fitzgerald again stole in only to run wide and unselfishly feed the ball back to Cormac Breen who tucked home.

The second half was always going to be a tougher battle as the knocks and heavy schedule of games caught up on the Kill men. Ballyoulster enjoyed far more of the possession and Kill were content to let them come at them as they sat back tightened up and weathered the storm. Kill had a number of chances on the break but failed to get the killer goal with Kevin Cooney and Terry Murphy going close. Ballyoulster then grabbed a goal back with a great through ball that was well taken by the attacker. With 15 minutes to go Ballyoulster got in around the right flank and the resultant cross unluckily caught Philip Fitzgerald's forearm to signal a penalty. Ballyoulster scored the resultant spot kick with Kilkelly unlucky not to save it by getting half a paw at it. Jordan Lynch the line clearance specialist then duly obliged with a goal line clearance and Kill now were now hanging on a bit. But the game was then wrapped up with 5 minutes to go by Paul Fitzgerald who broke the defence and made no mistake in smashing home his hat trick.

Ballyoulster to be fair had their minds on a semi final next week and this suited Kill as they were the team with more at stake. Of all the teams we played this year they are one of the best footballing sides refusing to hoof it and will play it out from the back all day long. We certainly wish them all the best in the Vere Deane semi final and hope they go on to claim it, a very well run and organised side. Massive credit to their man at the helm Fiachra Mooney.

The champagne was popped in the Kill dressing room and you could tell from the squad that they were thrilled to bits to win the league but were utterly exhausted and relieved at the same time. Best for Kill was Richard Kenna, Cormac Breen and Ray Davis with Paul Fitzgerald winning the man of the match award narrowly from a marvelous display in the middle by Kevin Cooney.