Taaffe and Woodgate net in final quarter to get Raheens over the line
Graham Waters on the ball for Raheens during their win over Caragh Photo: Sean Brilly
Goals in the final quarter by Jack Taaffe and Paddy Woodgate saw Raheens finally overcome their local rivals Caragh but it was only after some extremely nervy moments.
This game was everything you would want from a local derby with two teams, urged on by passionate support, giving it absolutely everything. The lead swapped hands repeatedly through the second half and it was only when Woodgate scored the second of those goals in the 59th minute that the game was put to bed.
Caragh didn’t score until the 15th minute, by which time they 0-3 to 0-0 behind, but had a strong second quarter and led 0-9 to 0-7 at half time. A couple of scores by the excellent Taaffe through that period were really important in keeping Raheens in touch and he ended the half with four points.
Dan Lynam scored soon after the restart to put Caragh three clear but that was wiped out in a blink of an eye when Woodgate scored and from the kick out, Raheens won possession and tied the game through a Daire Gilmartin two pointer. Another two pointer, this time from Taaffe, put Raheens into the lead but that didn’t last long as Caragh finally scored a goal that they had long been threatening when Josh Gannon hit the net in the 43rd minute to make it 1-10 to 0-12.
Woodgate equalised and then when his shot dropped short in the 47th minute, Taaffe beat Caragh goalkeeper Michael Behan to the punch to fist the ball into the net.
Caragh were in no mood to accept defeat, however, and Ryan Burke scored an inspirational two pointer off the outside of his right foot to leave a point in it once again as game headed into the final ten minutes.
Substitute Luke O’Donovan and Woodgate scored to push Raheens three clear and the next four points were shared evenly as the game flowed from end to end.
With three in it heading into the 59th minute, the game was far from over but Raheens finally made sure of the win when Taaffe and Woodgate, scorers of 2-10 between them, combined and the latter beat Behan at his near post with a composed finish.
Caragh had the last say through a Josh Gannon point but they left empty handed despite looking very much at home back at senior level for the first time in almost 30 years.
Declan Campbell; Niall Cramer, Jack Hamill, Cathal O’Toole, Killian Thompson, Shane Crowley, Graham Waters; Fionn Tully, Liam Power; Niall Dolan, Daniel Hamill, Conor Kelly 0-1, Paddy Woodgate 1-4 (1f), Daire Gilmartin 0-2 (1tp), Jack Taaffe 1-6 (1tp). Subs: Dara Crowley 0-2 for Kelly, 10; Rob Thompson for Power, 40; Luke O’Donovan 0-2 for K Thompson, 48; Jason Earley for Dolan, 58.
Michael Behan; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Alex Kehoe, Conor Sullivan 0-1, Ryan Burke 0-3 (1tp), Paul Dockery; Kevin Connor, Dan Lynam 0-3 (1tp); Liam Blake, Darragh Swords 0-3, Dan Murray, Ronan Doorey 0-1, Eoghan O’Haire 0-2(1f), Fergal McKennedy. Subs: Josh Gannon 1-2 for F McKennedy, h/t; Cian Burke for Murray, 51; Billy Kelly for Sullivan, 58.
Paddy McDermott
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