Full Time: St Kevins 1-11 O’Raghallaighs 0-3
Our men’s team travelled to neighbouring club Stabannon Parnells for their second game in the Championship Group 2 against O’Raghallaigh’s on Saturday evening. With the unforgiving weather, it took the Kevin’s men a couple of minutes to find their groove, taking a defensive approach, the lads retained an impressive display of skill and gameplay. Their opponents, in the air of fairness, kept the play within the midfield to great effect. Hence the low score at half time, however, TJ Doheny scored two impressive frees from the 45 and 50m respectively despite the wind, as did Cameron Maher.
Having effectively shut down any scoring opportunities for the entirety of the first half, Danny Crosbie in his usual reliability blocked the only goal attempt by the Drogheda men effectively stamping out any possibility of breathing life into their challenge.
Without their goal-winning strategy, the O’Raghallaigh’s forwards wilted under the Kevin’s defensive pressure and obstructed any accurate attempt for a point, with Seanie Crosbie, Finbarr Lynch and Shane Meade solid, while Evan Maher worked tirelessly in midfield.
Once the Kevin’s men had ascertained the tone of their opponents, they moved quickly to an aggressive attacking approach. They began moving the ball at pace, breaking the lines and punching holes in the O’Raghallaighs defence at will. This was capped off by a wonderful goal from Shane Meade who was set up by the county man TJ Doheny. Patrick Clarke placed himself in the perfect position with expert timing, scoring two points of his own and taking part in several others. TJ Doheny free taker on the night also matched the captain with two points of his own.
Lee Crosbie also helped himself to 0-2 in the second half, while Tom Mathews kicked a a point that his efforts deserved, setting up several scores and giving the O’Raghallaighs defence a torrid time.
The lads now have a week off before facing Dundalk Young Irelands in the quarter finals of the Intermediate Football Championship.
Team List: Danny Crosbie, Dylan Maher, Finbarr Lynch, Shane Meade (1-0), Darren McMullan, Cameron Maher (0-2), Eoin McKenna, Evan Maher, Seanie Crosbie, Patrick Clarke (0-2), TJ Doheny (0-4), Karl Martin, Lee Crosbie (0-2), Tom Matthews (0-1), Cian Callan. Subs: Brian Callaghan for Cian Callan.
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