Louth GAA club | St. Brides too strong for O’Raghallaighs in IFC opener

St. Brides laid down an early marker in the Louth GAA CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship, Group Two, Round One, tie at McGeough Park, Haggardstown, on Saturday, where they produced a convincing victory over O’Raghallaighs.

On a wet evening, the Knockbridge men adapted best, showing ruthlessness in attack and discipline in defence to secure the two points. From the throw-in, St. Brides wasted no time announcing their intentions.

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With barely two minutes on the clock, Donal McArdle seized upon the first real opportunity of the game, drilling a low shot into the net to raise the green flag.

It was the perfect start, and one that immediately put O’Raghallaighs on the back foot. Within moments, further points from Kieran McArdle and captain Sean Marry pushed the Brides four clear, and the tone for the half was set.

The Drogheda side did eventually find their range through Ewan Sweeney on nine minutes, but the Brides always had a reply.

Marry and McArdle were particularly sharp, kicking tidy scores to keep the scoreboard ticking, while Donal McArdle added another well-taken point to underline their dominance.

By the quarter-hour mark, the scoreboard read 1-5 to 0-1, and O’Raghallaighs were staring at a mountain.

Yet credit must go to them for rallying. John Horan struck back with two points in quick succession, followed by Ben Rogan, and suddenly the gap was down to four.

When joint captain Kyle McElroy fired over a fine effort on 23 minutes, it looked as if The Raghs had finally settled into the contest.

But just as momentum threatened to swing, the Brides produced the sucker punch. After trading a few frees with their opponents, a long ball into the square just before the break caused havoc.

Kieran McArdle read it best, out-jumping the goalkeeper and palming home to the net. He followed it up moments later with a point of his own, ensuring that St. Brides carried a commanding eight-point lead into the interval.

That cushion was a fair reflection of the opening half. The Brides' were clinical, and O’Raghallaighs were wasteful. The latter had registered several wides in good positions, while their opponents punished nearly every chance that came their way.

Half time: St. Brides 2-9 O’Raghallaighs 0-7

The second half began much the same as the first, with St. Brides in ruthless form. Marry slotted over a free, and points from Padraic Mackin, McArdle again, and Kevin Hearty stretched the lead further.

O’Raghallaighs badly needed inspiration, and it arrived in the form of a brilliant two-pointer from Daniel Reilly on 45 minutes.
It sparked brief hope, especially when Sweeney added another point, but the Brides were relentless. 

With O’Raghallaighs reduced to 14 men following a black card for Alan Doyle, the Knockbridge men pressed home their advantage.

Bernard Laverty and Donal McArdle chipped over scores, before Kieran McArdle, who was excellent throughout, slotted his sixth point of the evening.

Any lingering doubt was removed on the hour mark. Kieran McArdle turned provider this time, slipping the ball across the face of the goal for Donal McArdle to tap home St. Brides’ third major of the night.

It was a move that summed up their efficiency: unselfish, precise, and utterly decisive. Though O’Raghallaighs kept fighting, with McElroy and substitute Danny Morgan notching late two-pointers to reduce the margin, the damage had long been done.

At the final whistle, the scoreboard told the tale of a one-sided contest. For the Brides, this was the dream start to their championship campaign.

O’Raghallaighs, meanwhile, will rue their slow start and the number of missed chances that kept them chasing throughout.

Full time: St. Brides 3-16 O’Raghallaighs 0-13.

St. Brides: Emmet Kirk; Stephen Hoey, Cillian Kirk, Padraic Mackin (0-1); Andrew Smyth, Robert McCaughey, Bernard Laverty (0-1); Ross Murnaghan, James Costelloe; Seán Marry (0-4, 2f), Kieran McArdle (1-6), Morgan Tobin; Donal McArdle (2-2), Kevin Hearty (0-1), Oisín McBride.

Subs: Paddy Reilly on for Seán Marry (36’), Nathan Kirk on for Kevin Hearty (52’), Ronan Bailey on for Andrew Smyth (52’), Padraic Ruthlege on for Morgan Tobin (58’), Evan Wynne on for Bernard Laverty (61’).

O’Raghallaighs: Joe Finnegan; Esesosa Omoregbe, Alan Doyle, Joe Meehan; Ewan Sweeney (0-2), Eoin Moore, Emmet King; Daniel Reilly (0-2, 1tp), Conor McGinty; Olan Walsh, Danny Morgan (0-2, 1tp), Lucas Carton; Kyle McElroy (0-4), John Horan (0-2), Ben Rogan (0-1).

Subs: James Morgan on for Joe Meehan (39’), Chris Smith on for Lucas Carton (47’), Cameron Griffin on for Emmet King (56’).