Intermediate Group 2 Preview: St Kevins keen to go one better in 2023

CTI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 2

ST KEVINS

Having slipped up at the final hurdle last year, St Kevin’s will be desperate to go one better in the race for the Seamus Flood Cup and in 2023 they have been grouped alongside Mattock Rangers and O’Raghallaighs.

The Philipstown men were four clear at the break in the Intermediate decider against Cooley, and probably should’ve been further in front, given their superiority at this stage. However Kickhams then introduced Brian White off the bench and he single handedly secured them a 1-13 to 0-12 win.

That was their first time in a final since entering the grade back in 2017, having overcome Roche, Young Ireland’s, O’Raghallaigh’s and Clan na Gael on their way to the decider.

Looking to their league campaign, St Kevins finished in the top half prior to the split and won eight of the 15 games they have played to date. But they will ultimately be annoyed not to have featured more prominently in the fight for promotion.

With TJ Doheny leading the lines and backed up by the likes of Lee Crosbie, Cian Callen and Dylan Maher, they surely fancy their chances of progressing.

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O'RAGHALLAIGHS

They begin their campaign with a clash with struggling Drogheda side O’Raghallaigh’s. In last year’s championship they lost out narrowly to Clan na Gael, before a drubbing at the hands of St Kevins, 1-11 to 0-3. But they did manage to fight off relegation and retain their place in the competition.

Their poor run in the championship was a surprise to many, as they had been quarter finalists in 2021, alongside earning promotion to Division 1. Sadly, while taking on the best Louth has to offer, it really has been a tough transition for the South Louth side.

They failed to pick up a single point across their 16 games in the top tier of Louth Football, ending with a scoring difference of minus 185.

They will need Kyle McElroy to really shine if they are to beat St Kevins, with another tough prospect for them in the final round too, Mattock Rangers.

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MATTOCK RANGERS

Rangers made the drop back to the Intermediate ranks courtesy of a bitter defeat at the hands of Dundalk Gaels in the Relegation Final. Gaels hits four unanswered points down the stretch to to eke out a narrow 0-11 to 1-7 win. Seven misses in each half ultimately costing Mattock.

Earlier they had been well beaten by a resurgent Geraldines, while they will be annoyed they couldn’t get the job done against St Brides either, a narrow loss where they again lead near the death being the result that sent them into the relegation battle.

Looking to the league, it was once again a rather fruitful endeavour. They did enough to make the top half for a second year running, but again struggled as the county stars returned to their rivals, picking up just one draw and four losses after the split.

Ben McKenna, Liam Flynn and Cathal Fleming are the men Mattock will heavily rely on as they look to get back into Senior Football. A win over the currently struggling O’Raghallaighs should see them safely through to the knockout stages.