Caragh dominate second half to complete 14-point win over Eadestown in Kildare SFC

Caragh 3-16

Eadestown 0-11

Caragh got their first win of the Kildare Senior Football Championship with a convincing Round One Group D win over Eadestown.

It was Eadestown who opened the day’s scoring through one of the stars of the first half Dara McGettrick after three minutes.

Caragh equalised through a Darragh Swords free and put together a run of four more without reply.

A booming two-pointer from Dan Lynam was followed by a Ronan Doorey score after a flowing move before Lynam struck again, although this time from inside the arc.

0-5 to 0-1 down after 12 minutes, Eadestown put together a sequence of their own to get back to within a point. Eoin Woods burst forward from wing-back to grab a score before corner-forward’s McGettrick and McCarthy got one from each of their respective sides.

Caragh answered through Darragh Swords with a high, looping effort that fell between the posts, which was followed by a Liam Blake point to make this game 0-7 to 0-4.

Eadestown midfielder Niall Cummins got their first two-pointer at just the right time with a super free off the deck from behind the 45m line.

Josh Gannon pushed Caragh two clear once again after he cut inside and fired over.

The Eadestown corner-forwards were at it again and McCarthy agus McGettrick picked up another point each before the break.

A Conor Sullivan point at the other end between those two late Eadestown white flags meant they went in at half-time 0-9 to 0-8 ahead.

The first score of the second half was Dan Lynam’s second two-pointer and it was thundered between the sticks from ‘45m range.

Eadestown got back to within two through Conor McCarthy when he got his third from close-range, but a lovely effort from Cathal McKennedy off the outside of his boot had the gap back out to three.

Ronan Doorey then fisted over after a bursting run to leave Caragh 0-13 to 0-9 clear after 41 minutes of play.

There was a lull in the scoring for five minutes but the second half was all about Caragh’s dominance. Their strength finally began to show on the scoreboard with 12 minutes to go when Kevin Campbell hit the net with his first possession having just been brought on.

Ben Fitzsimons got Eadestown’s second point of the half and their last until a free-kick from Conor McCarthy deep into added time.

Caragh added points through Josh Gannon and Darragh Swords before hitting the net for the second time when Eoghan O’Haire finished a lightning team move with a driven finish into the net.

Three minutes later Caragh had their third goal to make it 3-15 to 0-10 when Darragh Swords turned creator and set up Ronan Doorey for a simple finish after he rounded the goalkeeper.

Dan Lynam got Caragh’s last point and, after Eadestown raised the game’s last flag, they finished as 3-16 to 0-11 winners.

Caragh, Dan Lynam 0-6 (two 2pt), Ronan Doorey 1-2, Kevin Campbell 1-0, Eoghan O'Haire 1-0, Darragh Swords 0-3 (0-1 frees), Josh Gannon 0-2, Liam Blake 0-1, Conor Sullivan 0-1, Cathal McKennedy 0-1.

Eadestown, Conor McCarthy 0-4 (0-2 frees), Dara McGettrick 0-3, Niall Cummins 0-2 (one 2pt), Eoin Woods 0-1, Ben Fitzsimons 0-1.

CARAGH: Michael Behan; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Alex Kehoe; Conor Sullivan, Ryan Burke, Paul Dockery; Kevin Connor, Dan Lynam; Josh Gannon, Darragh Swords, Dan Murray; Ronan Doorey, Eoghan O'Haire, Liam Blake. Subs: Kevin Campbell for Liam Blake (48 minutes), Austin Nevin for Eoghan O'Haire (56 minutes), Cian Burke for Josh Gannon (61 minutes), Billy Kelly for Paul Dockery (61 minutes), Fergal McKennedy for Kevin Connor (62 minutes).

EADESTOWN: Shane Sargent; Daire Dillon, John Lawlor, Paul O'Dwyer; Eoin Woods, Cian Boran, Sean Hynes; Niall Cummins, Rian Boran; Calum Murphy, Pauric Tuohy, Ben Fitsimons; Dara McGettrick, Charlie Carroll, Conor McCarthy. Subs: Fiachra Bracken O'Brien for Calum Murphy (45 minutes), Maurice Sexton for Eoin Woods (45 minutes), Rian Monaghan for Daire Dillon (45 minutes).

Referee: Alan Lagrue

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