Magnificent Maynooth make light work of courageous Caragh
Caragh's Paul Dockery closes down Maynooth's Paddy Mahoney. Photo: Sean Brilly.
Maynooth got Group B of the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship off to the perfect start with a comfortable 14-point win over pre-match favourites, Caragh.
Ross Glavin's charges took the game to Caragh from the opening minute with a refreshing brand of fast and pacey football. They lead by 12 at the break and despite the advantage of a stiff second half breeze they had too much for Caragh to overturn.
Caragh enjoyed a fairly successful 2025, eventually losing out to Championship winners, Athy. Ross Glavin arrived late on the Maynooth scene, also in 2025, but with a full year behind him this year he certainly has Maynnoth in rude health.
It was Caragh who opened the scoring through the lively Ronan Doorey two minutes in. It didn't take Maynooth long to respond and the excellent Sean Hever levelled matters after three minutes.
Midfielder Matthew Diamond quickly edged Maynooth ahead and when Sean Hever added his second it only highlighted the gap between the sides, even at this early stage.
When Caragh restarted, the ball broke kindly around the middle to the waiting arms of Sean Hever and he strode forward before setting up Paddy Mahoney for the game's opening goal.
Caragh were struggling to get any change from a dominant Maynooth where Ciaran Flanagan and Diamond ruled.
Maynooth would ad a further four points before the end of the opening quarter; Sean Hever played in Chris Canning for his first before Paddy Mahoney set up Ciaran Flanagan for his first. Mahoney added two frees to leave it 1-7 to a point.
Caragh have many quality players, so their lacklustre opening quarter was surprising to say the least. Ruadhan Kane and Daragh Swords from a free ended a 15-minute spell without a score.
It lifted their spirits and in a six-minute spell they created three goal chances. Ronan Doorey was twice denied by two point-blank Mark Donnellan saves and when Cathal Mc Kennedy's fisted effort came back off a post, Kevin Conner was unable to finish to the goal.
Hever punished Caragh for their misses with a pair of two-pointers either side of a second from Chris Canning. Kevin Donovan did fist over a tenth for Maynooth and despite late points from Liam Blake and a Daragh Swords free for Caragh, they still trailed 1-13 to 0-4 at the break.
The second half was a chance for Caragh to restart, but Maynooth quickly put any thoughts of a comeback firmly to bed. Paddy Mahoney pointed his third and after a Caragh wide, Mark Donnellan's long kickout was fielded by Ciaran Flanagan who quickly fed Paddy Mahoney before continuing his run for the return and with a brilliant shot he added a second Maynooth goal.
Although it was game over, Caragh responded with two-pointers from Ryan Burke and Swords from a placed ball. Ronan Doorey added his second from play and despite an Eoghan O'Haire free on 51, that was as good as it got for Michael Brown's men.
Matthew Diamond added a Maynooth free before the loudest cheer of the afternoon was afforded to Mark Donnellan when he landed a 45.
The last action fell to Maynooth substitutes, Paddy Ryan and Paul Maguire, as they each pointed towards the end.
Maynooth lined out without Neil Flynn and his presence as the championship progresses will be imperative if they are to back up this opening game display.
Caragh have a lot of work over the next two weeks but they have the talent to pick up the slack.
Mark Donnellan 0-1 (45); Cathal Quinn, Alex Tilly, Sean Mahon; Paul O'Dea, Niall O'Sullivan, Callum McCabe; Ciaran Flanagan 1-1, Matthew Diamond 0-2 (1f); Aaron Mahoney, Sean Hever 0-6 (2tp), Conor O'Grady; Chris Canning 0-2, Paddy Mahoney 1-3 (2f), Kevin Donovan 0-1.
Paul Maguire 0-1 for Hever (HT), Liam McDonald for Canning (40), Paddy Ryan 0-1 for Donovan (53), Daniel Ennis for Mahoney (56), Sean Higgins for O'Sullivan (58).
Michael Behan; Billy Byrne, Paul Dockery, Mick O'Toole; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Ryan Burke 0-2 (tp); Liam Blake, Dan Lynam; Dan Murray, Kevin Connor, Kevin Campbell; Ronan Doorey, Daragh Swords 0-3 (1tp, 1f), Ruadhan Kane 0-1.
Eoghan O'Haire 0-1 for Lynam (HT), Conor Sullivan for McKennedy (49), Alex Kehoe for Murray and Josh Gannon for O'Toole (55).
Henry Barrett
