Caragh get past Ballymore in re-scheduled IFC clash

CARAGH 1-15

BALLYMORE EUSTACE 0-10

Caragh got their Auld Shebeen Bar Athy IFC campaign off to a winning start, beating Ballymore Eustace in this rearranged fixture in Kilcullen on Monday evening (July 31).The first-half was an end to end affair for most parts but Caragh always seemed to have the upper hand, and led by 0-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes, thanks to points from Jake Corrigan and Darragh Swords respectively. 

They continued to build on this lead as Ryan Burke, Kevin Connor and Jake Corrigan pointed, but Ballymore refused to go away. 

They brought the game back to a single point after hitting three points unanswered through Caolan Halpin, Niall Murphy and Ben Noone inside the final 5 minutes of the first half. 

The Prosperous side finished the half the strongest however, outscoring their opponents by 0-4 to 0-1 before the break to take a 0-10 to 0-6 lead into the second period.

Ballymore upped their game in the second half and for the opening 15 minutes, it looked as though a comeback was on the cards.

The sides traded early points before Ballymore scored three in a row through Caolan Halpin, Niall Murphy and Sean Broderick, to leave two points between the sides.

This seemed to spark Caragh into life and they hit the next 1-3, and kept Ballymore scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Man of the Match Jake Corrigan scored a further 1-1, while Kevin Connor and Eoghan O’Haire chipped in with a point each, to cap off a great performance and ensure the win. 

CARAGH: Mikey Behan; Cathal McKennedy, Billy Byrne, Paul Dockery 0-1; Cian Burke, Conor Sullivan, Eoghan Garry; Ryan Burke, Kevin Connor 0-1; Ronan Doorey 0-1, Kevin Campbell 0-1, Alex Kehoe 0-1; Darragh Swords 0-2 1f, Jake Corrigan 1-5, Eoghan O’Haire 0-3 1f. SUBS: Mattie McNally for Garry 39, Joe Barrett for Byrne 56, Aaron Manders for McKennedy 59.

BALLYMORE EUSTACE: Patrick Murphy; Kevin Kelliher, Des Horan, Joe Broderick; Michael Stewart Byrne, Ben Noone 0-1, Callum McClintock; Caolan Halpin 0-3 2f, Tadhg Barrett; Sean Broderick 0-1, Gareth Clarke, Eoin Clarke; Callum Barrett 0-1, Niall Murphy 0-4 3f, Simon Murphy. SUB: Enda Stewart Byrne for Sean Broderick 55 

REFEREE: Ken Doyle