Caragh crowned Leinster Intermediate Champions after superb second showing

Caragh 0-13

Naomh Mearnóg 0-8

The dream lives on. And if anything is getting even better. Caragh, Kildare intermediate football champions and now club champions of Leinster.

The boys in maroon now become the seventh club from the shorgrass to take provincial honours, joining Allenwood, Two Mile House, Monasterevan, Ballymore Eustace, Maynooth and Confey.

Parnell Park was the venue for Sunday's Leinster Club Intermediate final where Caragh took on Dublin champions Naomh Mearnóg on a heavy pitch but a lovely afternoon for football.

Caragh supporters were certainly in the majority as we got under away at 1.30 and while most of the country may have been tuned into the election counts for Caragh and Naomh Mearnóg there was only one contest on their minds, a Leinster final.

The opening minutes saw Caragh with lots of possession as they tore into their opponents never allowing them to settle with some great defending, tough, but fair tackling as looked to put their stamp on proceedings.

An early Daragh Swords point attempt saw the ball come off the upright with Jake Corrigan first to react, his punch attempt going across the goal, left and wide.

On four minutes, after a fine move involving the influential Ryan Burke, Dan Murray, Burke again and finally Jake Corrigan, the full forward splitting the posts.

A number of wides, from both sides, before an excellent block on Jake Corrigan set up an instant attack as the Dublin champions swept down the middle with danger man, Karl Lynch Bissett cutting through before being halted as he made strides into the danger area.

The referee blow and somewhat harshly it has to be said blew and pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Lynch Bissett who fired to the right but a brilliant dive from keeper Michael Behan who got his strong left arm to the ball and pushed it out for a 45; a brilliant stop and a great boost for the boys in maroon.

The resultant 45 was short but wing-back Tommy Cosgrove gained possession and the sides were level on 12 minutes.

It was certainly a slow burner at this stage and on 16 minutes the 'home' side took the lead through Sean Kavanagh.
Naomh Mearnóg were denying Caragh using a sweeper system and it was proving difficult to break down. A Ronan Doorey weak shot fell short and was cleared while at the other end former Clane player, Bernard Deay saw a mark fall short and was cleared.

Darragh Swords was working very hard helping out his defence and made up an amount of ground to cut out a dangerous move.

The next score did not arrive until the 23 minute, Kevin Campbell linking up with Paul Dockery, the wing-back edging Caragh ahead by one, quickly followed by a free after a move involving Swords, Dan Murray saw Jake Corrigan being fouled and Eoin O'Haire made no mistake to open a two point lead on 24 minutes.

A foul on Kevin Curran, one of many, saw the midfielder forced off with a bloody nose, the culprit, Sean Hawkshaw picking up a yellow.

Long-range
As we edged towards the break Caragh came forward with centre-back Ryan Burke hit a brilliant long-range effort, against the breeze, between the posts and that was how the sides went in at the break Caragh leading 0-4 to 0-2 and with the benefit of the breeze to come the Kildare champs were in a decent place.

On the resumption that two point lead was out to three, Darragh Swords carrying the ball forward before fining over.
Karl Lynch Bissett, the Naomh Mearnóg danger man was well marked by Ryan Burke throughout out but he did manage to get his only point from play on 33 minutes but Caragh hit back immediately in a move involving Kevin Connor (returned after the break) Josh Gannon and Ronan Doorey ended with the no. 13 leaving three between the sides and that was pushed out to four with Jake Corrigan finding the range.

Not for the first time a Caragh player came in for 'attention' after scoring and this time it was Corrigan but in fairness an alert linesman brought it to the attention of referee and Shane Kavanagh was duly booked.

Naomh Mearnóg, now trailing by four began to get a grip around the middle and points from Kavanagh (free), Bernard Deay and a 45 from Lynch Bissett cut the lead back to a single point.

In that period Mearnóg did miss a very scorable free while Caragh did likewise.

On 49 minutes Caragh got a much-needed point when Eoghan O'Haire linked up with Jake Corrigan who fired over and inside a minute Josh Gannon fired over and the lead was out to three with 49 minutes on the clock.

Naomh Mearnóg were not going away just yet, they did miss another free before Karl Lynch Bissett converted leaving two separating them again.

The Caragh supporters were certainly playing their part as they roared Caragh, Caragh, Caragh and no doubt it helped to lift their side as the finish post was coming into sight

Conor Sullivan slipped by his marker, found Darragh Swords who fired over and directly from the kick-out it was Swords who again gained possession and he duly put four between them as we reached the56 minute.

Once again Darragh Swords came in for some 'attention' and while Darran Byrne was given a yellow, one wondered if the match official left home without a care of a deeper colour, and just to add salt to the wound this time he also flashed a yellow to Darragh Swords.

Karl Lynch Bissett converted another free but Jake Corrigan quickly responded as referee Williamson again took out his yellow card, this time showing it to Jamie Walsh following a clash with Paul Dockery.

That great servant for Caragh Dan Campbell entered the fray late in time added on and he duly stamped his class on proceedings firing over a brilliant point from wide on the right which proved to be final score of the game.

Joy for Caragh as their supporters took to the pitch in great numbers to congratulate their favourites.

A great all-round display from Michael Browne's side, showing as they have throughout their journey great tenacity, incredible hunger, and a game plan they have stuck to throughout, work-rate from each and every player and an ability to get the ball into their inside men was absolutely vital throughout the season.

A break for Christmas, much needed insisted manager Browne, before taking on Mayo champions Crossmolina Deerovers in January.

SCORERS

Caragh: Jake Corrigan 0-5, Darragh Swords 0-2, Eoghan O'Haire 0-1 (free), Ryan Burke 0-1 Paul Dockery 0-1, Josh Gannon 0-1, Ronan Doorey 0-1, Dan Campbell 0-1.

Naomh Mearnóg: Karl Lynch Bassett 0-4 (2 frees, 45), Tommy Cosgrove 0-1, Shane Kavanagh 0-2, Bearnard deay 0-1.

TEAMS
Caragh: Michael Behan; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Billy Byrne; Conor Sullivan, Ryan Burke, Paul Dockery; Kevin Connor cpt., Eoghan O'Haire; Josh Gannon, Darragh Swords, Dan Murray; Ronan Doorey, Jake Corrigan, Kevin Campbell. Subs: Liam Blake for Kevin Connor (temporary sub 27-start of second half); Austin Nevin for Kevin Campbell (46 minutes); Fergal McKennedy for Josh Gannon (50 minutes); Cian Burke for Conor Sullivan (61 minutes): Dan Campbell for Ronan Doorey (63 minutes).

Naomh Mearnóg: Mark O'Connor; Rory O'Loughlin, Eoin Kelly, Darren Byrne cpt; Fintan O'Connor, Conor Archer, Tommy Cosgrove; Sean Hawkshaw, Cian Madden; Jamie Walsh, Karl Lynch Bissett, Shane Kavanagh; Harry Collier, Michael Gibbs, Bernard Deay. Subs: Aodhan Fee for Harry Collier (42 minutes); Bobby Smith for Conor Archer (46 minutes); Frank Doyle for Rory O'Loughlin (53 minutes); Kevin O'Brien for Sean Hawkshaw (58 minutes); Oisin Taylor for Jamie Walsh (63 minutes).

REFEREE: Kevin Williamson, Offaly.