Corrigan finds net on double for Caragh against St Kevin's

IFC Group B

Caragh 2-12

St Kevin's 0-15

Local rivals Caragh and St Kevin's served up a classic in Manguard Park last Thursday evening, with Caragh just about claiming the bragging rights and advancing from the group stages of the Intermediate Championship in the process.

As soon as Jake Corrigan had the ball in the back of the net after 90 seconds, spectators knew that this was going to be an enthralling affair from the first whistle right until the last.

In fact Corrigan hit Caragh's first three scores; following up with a point and another excellently taken goal, to leave St Kevin's with an uphill task with barely eight minutes on the clock.

St Kevin's in fairness responded well though points from Conor Murray, Jamie Kenna and Jamie O'Brien brought them back to within touching distance of their opponents.

Caragh were getting crucial scores at the right times though in order to keep pulling away from the Kevin's men — Fergal McKennedy, Eoghan O'Haire and the aforementioned Corrigan doing most of the damage.

Caragh led by two at the half-time break on a score line of 2-5 to 0-9, with the game evenly poised heading into the second period, and it didn't disappoint.

Kevin's were quickest out of the traps and were on level terms shortly after the restart, thanks to points from Barry Noone and Conor Murray.

Murray clearly packed his shooting boots when leaving Staplestown as this was his 7th point from an eventual 9 point total.
By the same token, Jake Corrigan made sure his shooting boots travelled with him from Prosperous and he responded with a couple of points for Caragh to restore their lead.

This was followed up by two quick-fire frees from Mikey Behan and Eoghan O'Haire respectively, to put their side firmly in the driving seat once again.

Murray, Ryan Casey and Alan Bennett all pointed for St Kevin's but it was to be Caragh's evening and insurance points from Ronan Doorey and Alan Bennett secured the win.

That's two wins from two now for Caragh, who defeated Round Towers in their opening group game, meaning they go into their final round match against Rathangan already assured of a spot in the next stage on the competition.

As for St Kevin's, they beat Rathangan on day one so they are most certainly not out of it and they face Round Towers next time out.

CARAGH: Mikey Behan 0-2 2f; Conor Sullivan, Eoghan Garry, Billy Byrne; Cian Burke, Cathal McKennedy, Paul Dockery; Ryan Burke 0-1, Kevin Connor; Fergal McKennedy 0-2, Ronan Doorey 0-1, Alex Kehoe; Jake Corrigan 2-4, Eoghan O'Haire 0-2 1f, Kevin Campbell. Subs: Matthew McNally for Kehoe 51, Conor Murphy for Sullivan 54.

ST KEVIN'S: Keith Fitzharris; Tom Barron, Robert Beirne, Alan Bennett 0-1; Enda Keane, Conor Gordon, Brian Fogarty; Mark Grace, Diarmuid Smyth; Cormac Noone, Barry Noone 0-1 1f, Jamie Kenna 0-1; Conor Murray 0-9 2f, John Fitzharris, Jamie O'Brien. SUBS: Declan Flaherty for O'Brien 40, James Ralph for Kenna 40, Ryan Casey 0-1 for Barry Noone 43, Aeneas Murphy for Cormac Noone 46.

REFEREE: Fergus Devereux.