Second-Half Surge Sees Raghallaighs Overcome Glen Emmets

CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship Group 1 Round 1

At Darver

O’Raghallaighs 1-20 Glen Emmets 2-11

O’Raghallaighs produced a superb second-half display to overcome Glen Emmets and get their CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship campaign off to a winning start at the weekend.

Glen Emmets made the brighter start and opened up an early two-point advantage through Keefer Carolan and Callum Wogan before O’Raghallaighs got off the mark.

The Drogheda side were handed a golden opportunity to respond when Ben Rogan was brought down inside the area, but Glen Emmets goalkeeper Ian O’Reilly produced an excellent save from the resulting penalty. However, Kyle McElroy reacted quickest to the rebound and made no mistake from close range.

McElroy added another point before James Butler registered a two-pointer, leaving O’Raghallaighs one clear after ten minutes.

O’Raghallaighs gradually found their rhythm, with Rogan, Ruairi Moore and John Horan all getting on the scoresheet as they began to eat into the deficit.

Ronan Carr (Glen Emmets) is tacked by Stephen Murphy (O’Raghallaighs)

Moore was particularly influential, converting a two-point free before producing another excellent two-pointer from play with a superb outside-of-the-boot strike.

Despite O’Raghallaighs’ pressure, Glen Emmets remained dangerous in attack and their threat was underlined when Keelan O’Neill found the net in the 28th minute to restore their advantage. O’Neill then struck again shortly before half-time in spectacular fashion, rising brilliantly to get a hand to a long ball delivered by Andrew Mooney and directing it to the net.

The momentum looked to be with the Tullyallen outfit as they struck two majors, but O’Raghallaighs refused to panic. Rogan added a late point before the interval to leave the minimum between the sides at half-time.

Half-time: O’Raghallaighs 1-11 Glen Emmets 2-7.

O’Raghallaighs came flying out after the restart, with Joshua Moore getting the opening score of the second half before Kyle McElroy added a score.

O’Raghallaighs then hit a devastating spell. Ruairi Moore converted another two-pointer before adding a further point, while Ben Rogan followed up with another score as the Drogheda side moved seven points clear.

Glen Emmets finally stemmed the tide through a James Butler free, but O’Raghallaighs continued to find answers. McElroy and Butler exchanged frees before McElroy added another from play to edge them seven clear with less than 10 minutes remaining.

The closing stages became increasingly fractious. O’Raghallaighs were reduced to 14 men when Olan Walshe received a red card, while Glen Emmets were handed a lifeline when Ian O’Reilly converted a two-point free to reduce the deficit.

Cathal Maguire (Glen Emmets) evades the challenge of Ruairi Moore (O’Raghallaighs)

O’Raghallaighs then went down to 13 following a black card for Stephen Murphy, but they remained composed despite being under pressure.

Kevin Barry’s men were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, and O’Raghallaighs continued to manage the game effectively. Ruairi Moore added a late free before the final whistle confirmed an impressive opening-round victory.

Full Time: O’Raghallaighs 1-20 Glen Emmets 2-11

Man of the Match: Ruairi Moore (O’Raghallaighs)

The O’Raghallaighs stalwart was in tremendous form on Saturday evening as he controlled the game for the O’Raghallaighs men. Moore kicked 0-10 and played a hugely influential role in a massive win for the Drogheda men.

O’Raghallaighs team: Connor Browne; Conor Higgins, Stephen Murphy, Joe Meehan; Olan Walshe, Eoin Moore, Harry Devitt; Conor McGinty, Daniel Reilly; Barry Finegan, Kyle McElroy (1-5, 1f), Ruairi Moore (0-10, 1tp, 1tpf, 1f); Ben Rogan (0-3), John Horan (0-1), Joshua Moore (0-1)

Subs: Senan McGinty for Barry Finegan (43 Mins), Ben Smyth for John Horan (53 Mins)

Glen Emmets team: Ian O’Reilly (0-2, 1tpf); Shane Curtis, Keith Boylan, Evan English; Cathal Maguire, Ronan Carr, Callum Wogan (0-2); Cian Talbot Gaynor, Andrew Mooney; Conor Wogan, James Butler (0-5, 1tp, 3f), Darragh Russell; Lorcan Lynch, Keefer Carolan (0-2), Keelan O’Neill (2-0)

Subs: Robbie Byrne for Darragh Russell (31 Mins), Aaron Kelly for Evan English (44 Mins), Stephen Curtis for Andrew Mooney (44 Mins), Ronan Grufferty for Conor Wogan (53 Mins)

Referee – David Fedigan (Hunterstown Rovers)

Photos – Ciaran Culligan

Kyle McElroy hit 1-5 for O’Raghallaighs