Five-star Caragh qualify for Leinster semi-final
Darragh Swords scored an impressive four points today for Caragh in their win over Dicksboro Photo: Sean Brilly
Kildare Intermediate Champions Caragh comfortably disposed of the Kilkenny Senior kingpins Dicksboro in the AIB Leinster Intermediate Football Quarter Final at St Lachtain’s GAA club in Freshford the afternoon.
While Caragh were clearly superior to their opponents, four goals in the final ten minutes put a gloss on the scoreboard against tiring opposition who hadn’t played competitively since their county final win in May.
The Kilkenny side, with All Ireland winning hurler Cillian Buckley on board at centre back, proved a tough, physical opponent for much of the game but after the sides were level at two points apiece at the end of the opening quarter, Caragh took command in the run up to half-time with Jake Corrigan’s well taken goal after full back Niall Rowe mishandled, giving them breathing space as they headed in at the break 1-7 to 0-3 ahead.
The third quarter was a tetchy affair with Caragh outscoring their opponents two points to one but the floodgates opened between the 50th and 57th minutes with those four goals.
Corrigan, who finished with 2-3, rifled to the roof of the net from inside the area to kick off that scoring spree before substitute Dan Campbell made his presence felt, playing a part in the remaining three goals.
The first, the best of the game, came from the hard-working Ronan Doorley who did well to win Ryan Burke’s high ball into the right corner, played a one-two with Campbell and then finished through the eye of a needle to Seán Boyd’s net.
With five minutes remaining, a long ball somehow found Corrigan and Campbell unmarked in front of Boyd. Corrigan neatly diverted the ball around the ‘keeper leaving Campbell to dribble into an empty net for goal number four.
The marking was decidedly lax two minutes later as Campbell found himself with only Boyd to beat and did so with economy of effort.
Caragh, who were still missing injured duo Eoghan O’Haire and Dan Lynam, will meet Fethard from Wexford in the semi-final in two weeks’ time.
Michael Behan; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Billy Byrne; Conor Sullivan, Ryan Burke, Paul Dockery; Kevin Connor, Liam Blake; Josh Gannon 0-1, Darragh Swords 0-4 (2fs), Dan Murray; Ronan Doorey 1-2, Jake Corrigan 1-3, Austin Nevin. SUBS: Joe Barrett for Sullivan 45, Dan Campbell 2-0 for Nevin 45, Fergal McKennedy for Gannon 50, Billy Kelly for Murray 51, Ronyn O’Brien for Blake 54.
Seán Boyd; Eoghan Moylan, Niall Rowe, Seán Keenan; Joe Sheehan, Cillian Buckley, James Carroll; Eoin Fennelly, Kevin Moore; Bill Sheehan 0-1, Liam Moore 0-1, Shane Stapleton 0-2 (2fs); Edward Moylan 0-3 (3fs), Darragh Holohan, Mark Nolan. SUBS: Cillian Hackett for M Nolan HT, Kevin Nolan for Holohan HT, Jesse Walters for Buckley 56, Conor Fitzpatrick for Moore 56.
Niall Ward (Westmeath)
