Louth GAA: Rampant Kilkerley hammer Stabannon

CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship 2022

Kilkerley Emmets 5-11

Stabannon Parnells 0-9

Four first half goals effectively had Kilkerley Emmets on their way to the semi finals of the Intermediate Championship, as they proved too strong for Stabannon Parnells, who were going into this contest as possible dark horses, having not conceded a single goal in their group stage victories over Glen Emmets and Roche Emmets weeks earlier.

Looking to start the encounter in a fast and furious fashion, two frees from Harry Butterly who registered all of his side’s nine notches over the hour, put his side 0-2 to 0-1 ahead inside 10 minutes.

With the likes of Johnny McGee and Niall Cluskey battling hard for Wayne Kierans’ charges, and each score greeted with a roar and slap of their dugout early on, you initially felt that Parnells could be on their way to another high-profile scalp.

However, with forwards of the calibre of Tadhg McEneaney, and Micheál Begley purring inside, supported by Fintan Brady and Fionn Cumiskey playing deeper roles, Ronan Greene’s side quickly extinguished any Stabannon fire, while the vastly experienced James Fegen justified his selection at 6, deputising for Cathal Bellew.

With Brady pulling the strings, inside men Begley and McEneaney were quick to profit.

Tadhg McEneaney converted two efforts with his customary accuracy, before turning provider for the excellent Fintan Brady to give his side a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Brady’s influence was felt all over this Kilkerley team, with the former Louth under 20 player finishing with 24 possessions over the hour. Brady’s point was set up by McEneaney, who collected a pinpoint Aaron Crawford footpass. Crawford himself finished with 23 touches of the ball.

Kilkerley made their superiority count, when Micheál Begley found Fintan Brady who fired passed Stabannon keeper Padraig Malone, for 1-4 to 0-2 in Emmets’ favour after 17 minutes.

Despite the best efforts of Harry Butterly who treated supporters to some delightful free taking, considering the slippery and wet conditions, Kilkerley continued to punch holes in Parnells’ backline, with Kieran Murtagh playing a one/two with Begley, before tapping into an empty net for Kilkerley’s second goal.

At that stage, Emmets were 2-6 to 0-4 ahead, after Begley and Fionn Cumiskey had earlier found the range.

When the returning Sean Hand got his name on the scoresheet, there was still time for Kilkerley to add two further goals to their scoresheet, with Micheál Begley getting on the end of a terrific Tadgh McEneaney kickpass, for goal number 3 after 25 minutes.

Former Coláiste Rís students Aaron Crawford and Fionn Cumiskey combined for the latter to drive the ball soccer style to the net for Kilkerley’s fourth major right on the whistle, to give the 2019 finalists an unassailable lead at the interval, of 4-7 to 0-5.

While credit should go Stabannon for refusing to throw in the towel, the second half carried an air of inevitability to it, with Parnells always facing a mountain to climb with forwards like Tadhg McEneaney around.

McEneaney became Kilkerley’s fifth different player to get a goal written beside his name, as he threw his marker aside to fire to the bottom corner.

With the scoreboard standing at 5-8 to 0-6, six minutes after the restart, many that attended the game decided to move towards the exit gate, as both sides began to empty their benches.

Trading with Fionn Cumiskey, Harry Butterly continued to convert frees throughout, with his and Stabannon’s last score of the day arriving following a foul on the tightly marked Sean Reynolds who showed impressive tenacity in the tackle to win back possession.

Kilkerley’s Ronan Deery deserves a written mention for his exploits in marshalling the talented number 14 from Stabannon.

Tadgh McEneaney continued to delight and amaze with some marvellous score taking from range, as Kilkerley eased through to the semi finals of the championship, subsequently becoming the second of three teams in the semi-final draw who had finished second in their group, with Roche Emmets and the O’Raghallaighs also winning their quarter final ties on Sunday.

Kilkerley Emmets: Ultan McEneaney; Cormac Bellew, Cillian Mulligan, Ronan Deery; Sean Hand (0-1), James Fagan, Ewan McEnteggart; Kieran Murtagh (1-0), Aaron Crawford; Sean McElroy, Micheál Begley (1-2), Cormac Mallon; Tadgh McEneaney (1-5) (1f), Fionn Cumiskey (1-2) (1f), Fintan Brady (1-1).

Subs: Conal McEneaney for McElroy (40), James Bellew for Murtagh (44), Aidan Corrigan for Begley (48), Shane Lennon for Cumiskey (55), Darragh Conlon for Fagan (58).

Stabannon Parnells: Padraig Malone; Ryan Halpenny, Barry McCoy, Alan Reynolds; Johnny McGee, Shane McCoy, David Cluskey; Colm Giggins, Niall Cluskey; Jake Corrigan, Bobby Butterly, Dean Lynch; Robbie Callaghan, Sean Reynolds, Harry Butterly (0-9) (7f).

Subs: Barry Lynch for Dean Lynch (HT), Brendan O’Kane for Niall Cluskey (45), Thomas McBride for Corrigan (50), Niall Fanning for Callaghan (53), Aonghus Giggins for Colm Giggins (53).

Referee: Colm McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra).