Darragh Swords stars as Caragh have too much power for The House

Caragh 0-13

Two Mile House 0-5

Caragh and Two Mile House were both winners in their opening group games but it is Caragh who move to the top of Group D in the Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate football championship.

It was a polished and mature Caragh effort that saw them run out eight point winners and they can now look forward to the knockout stages safe in the knowledge they will be a match for anyone.

Despite their own win against Kilcullen the previous day Two Mile House had left their shooting boots at home but Caragh weren't as forgiving on this occasion.

Five points were never going to be enough and with one round still to play the House will need a win to ensure they don't end up in a relegation fight.

David Craddock, from a free and a Declan Kirwan effort from play had Two Mile House two up inside six minutes but as the wides mounted they could only ad one more score over the closing 24 minutes of the half.

Caragh were starting to ease their way into the game as they built from defence and after a foul on Dan Lynam it was Darragh Swords who opened their account after eight minutes.

Caragh waited a further eight minutes before Ronan Doorey fired over the first of his three opening half points but in the 12 minute they were reduced to 14 when Kevin Campbell picked up a black for a late body check.

The Prosperous men used the clock well in Campbell's absence and goalkeeper Michael Behan was heavily involved as the ball made its way to him on numerous times. Dan Murray did get forward from wing back to push Caragh into a lead they never lost after eleven.

Ryan Burke found Doorey again with a pinpoint pass and the corner forward tapped over the mark. Declan Kirwan got the third Two Mile House score on twenty five with a fine point from play but a total of three first half points coupled with 6 wides left them scratching their heads.

Caragh were now back to a full compliment and they had time before the break to extend their lead out to 0-5 to 0-3 before Ken Doyle brought the half to a close.It was that man Ronan Doorey again who converted a second mark this Eoghan O'Haire setting him up.

The second half started with Caragh still in the ascendancy and a brilliant Dan Lynam run straight from the throw in saw him force a brilliant save from David Craddock. The resultant 45 came to nothing but it didn't take Caragh long to extend their lead.

Conor Sullivan and a brilliant Kevin Campbell score helped move them four ahead.Thirty eight minutes in and Two Mile House were given a lifeline but they couldn't take advantage of it.

A move involving PJ Cashman and substitute Gavin Burke saw Burke send Declan Kirwan free on the Caragh goal. A desperate last ditch Eoghan O'Haire tackle resulted in a black card for the Caragh midfielder but when it looked sure to be a penalty the referee awarded a free that Didier Cordonnier fired over.

At three points down the hard working Gavin Burke missed a great goal chance.

Darragh Swords fired over five points out of the last six to open that eight point winning margin. He hit three in a row between the 46 and 50 minutes; Andy Cregg had time for a late consolation point on 51 but Caragh finished the game the stronger.

Daragh Swords fired over from.play and a free either side of Kevin Campbell's second white flag as Caragh saw out the closing minutes comfortable with their 0-13 to 0-5 victory.

CARAGH: Michael Behan, Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Billy Byrne, Paul Dockery, Ryan Burke,Dan Murray 0-1, Eoghan O Haire, Dan Lynam, Kevin Campbell 0,2,Darragh Swords 0-6 (4 free), Josh Gannon, Ronan Doorey 0-3 (2 marks), Dan Campbell, Conor Sullivan 0-1. Subs: Cian Burke for Dan Campbell 44; Austin Nevin for Conor Sullivan 44; Fergal Mac
Kennedy for Josh Gannon 50.

TWO MILE HOUSE: David Craddock 0-1 (free), Pj Cashman, Andy Cregg 0-1, Charlie O Boyle,Andy May,Peter Kelly,William Burke, Adam Conneely, Mark Sherry, Jamie Gaire, Didier Cordonnier 0-1 (1 free), Liam Coleman, Declan Kirwan 0-2,Tom Coleman, Brian Collins. Subs: Gavin Burke for Tom Coleman H/T; Michael McLoughlin for Declan Kirwan 53.

REFEREE: Ken Doyle.