IFC GROUP D: Rathangan romp to victory and Two Mile House take the spoils

Rathagan 3-20 Ellistown 0-11

Reporter: Tommy Callaghan

Rathangan put down a big marker in Sunday’s National Electrical Wholesalers IFC Group D, Round 1 game with a comprehensive victory over neighbours Ellistown, at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.

It was a game dominated by the boys in green throughout and while Pauric Carty opened the scoring with a two-pointer for the winners, and Pat Martin replied with a similar score, that was as good as it got for Ellistown.

Rathangan hit five single points in the trot, should have had a goal while it was not until the 20 minute that Ellistown managed their second score of the game, another two-pointer, this time from Evan Donnelly, the ball going in off the right hand upright.

Rathangan added six points before the break, the last a two-pointer from an Aran Teahan free.

Harry Donnelly added two before the break, one two-pointer free and a free to leave the half-time score reading Rathangan 0-13 Ellistown 0-7.

Rathangan introduced Sam Savage at the break and while he only lasted some 12 minutes before going off injured, he did manage to find the Ellistown net just four minutes into the second half, Pauric Carty having also found the rigging having gained possession on the left of the square close to the end line, but managed to catch the top right hand corner of Oran Donnelly’s net.

At the stage the game was all but over with Rathangan leading 2-13 to 0-7 and there was no let-up from James McHugh’s side as they added six points without reply.

Harry Donnelly managed to convert a free, a point from Eoin O’Loughlin and another from Conor O’Loughlin.

But there was no denying Rathangan who also introduced Muiris Curtin, just returned from the US, who also managed a point while Austin Donegan got a flick to steer the ball into the net on 52 minutes.

Some big displays on the Rathangan side apart from their scorers, Eoghan Boyle, Daniel Mulpeter, Michael Fitzsimons caught the eye and with Curtin, Savage at full fitness they will pose problems for many a team.

Ellistown will struggle if this is anything to go by, their number aim now will surely be to avoid relegation.

Scorers, Rathangan: Pauric Carty 1-8 (1 two-pointer free, 2 frees), Austin Doegan 1-1, Sam Savage 1-0, Aran Teahan 0-3 (1 two-pointer free), Mark Fitzsimons 0-2, Michael Fitzsimons 0-2, Conor Jamieson 0-1, Ruairi Broughan 0-1, Eoghan Boyle 0-1, Muiris Curtin 0-1,

Ellistown: Harry Donnelly 0-4 (1 two-pointer free, 2 frees), Pat Martin 0-2 (two-pointer), Evan Donnelly 0-2 (two-pointer), Eoghan O’Loughlin 0-1, Conor O’Loughlin 0-1.

ELLISTOWN: Oran Donnelly; Charlie Cullen, Max Lennox, Darren Kelly; Oisín Molloy, Andrew McLoughlin, Ciaran Lindy; Pat Martin, Darragh Watson; Eoin O’Loughlin, Evan Donnelly, Leo Lennox; Tadhg Watson, Conor Lindy, Harry Donnelly. Subs: Callum Donnelly for Ciaran Lindy (36 minutes); David Dunne for Tadhg Watson (40 minutes); Conor O’Loughlin for Max Lennox (40 minutes); Sean Lindy for Darragh Watson (42 minutes); Aaron O’Loughlin for Darren Kelly (50 minutes);

RATHANGAN: Craig Shannon; Niall Ahern, Daniel Mulpeter, Alex Conlan; Shane O’Loughlin, Michael Fitzsimons, Ruairi Broughan; Mark Fitzsimons, Eoghan Boyle; Ben Murphy, Stefan Lawler, Aran Teahan; Conor Jamieson, Pauric Carty, Austin Doegan. Subs: Sam Savage for Conor Jamieson (half-time); Muiris Curtin for Sam Savage (42 minutes); Eoin Curtin for Ben Murphy (50 minutes); Brandon Moloney for Mark Fitzsimons (58 minutes).

REFEREE: Billy O’Connell.

Two Mile House 1-11 Castledermot 0-9

Reporter: Pat Costello

A goal by the superb Tony O’Connor was instrumental in Two Mile House claiming a five point victory over Castledermot in a keenly contested National Electrical Wholesalers IFC Group D Round 1 game at a sunny but breezy Manguard Park on Saturday evening.

While TMH scored one goal, in truth they could have had more as they spurned at least another five green flag opportunities starting with one from corner forward Declan Kirwin after just 90 seconds when he smashed an effort off the crossbar and finishing with the same player four minutes into injury time at the end of the game when he pointed when a goal looked to be on the cards.

Castledermot suffered a major blow in the 13 minute when Donnchadh Kinch, suffered what looked like a severe knee injury and had to leave the play to be replaced by Nick Jackman. The absence of Kinch made a difficult assignment even more difficult for the men in blue for the remainder of the game.

Aided by the breeze in the first half, Liam Cosgrave’s charges made the brighter start and pushed by the busy centre half forward, Dan Gray, led by two points after five minutes through David Keating and Gavin Farrell. The sides were level for the first of two occasions in the game by the tenth minute when Conor Keogh and captain, Andrew Creggan pointed for TMH. Gavin Keating stepped forward to give Castledermot a two-point advantage again with a two-pointer free. That lead didn’t last long, as a Didier Cordonnier free and a point from play by Kirwin brought the sides level again. In the four minutes of added time, The House scored 1-2 with O’Connor’s goal and points from Fionn Coyle Connolly and Kirwin; Dan Gray stopped the rot, scoring for Castledermot on the stroke of half time to leave four in it at the break.

Half time substitute, Fionn O’Gorman, made an immediate with a point in the 38th minute and although it took them fourteen minutes to score in the second half, Chris Carey’s side gained the initiative again with another Cordonnier free and a point from play from Kirwin. Through the probing of the Keatings, Gavin and David as well as Fionn O’Gorman, Castledermot brought the game back to a two-point affair through a David Keating free and a two-pointer from Fionn O’Gorman.

Peter Kelly, leading the charge as well as strong play from O’Connor, Creggan, Willie Burke and Liam Cummins, The House were able to see out the game with points from Conor Keogh, substitute, Jamie Gaire and Kirwin to claim a deserved win.

Scorers, Two Mile House: Tony O’Connor 1-1, Declan Kirwin 0-4, Didier Cordonnier 0-2 (2 frees), Conor Keogh 0-2, Andrew Creggan 0-1, Fionn Coyle Connolly 0-1.

Castledermot: Fionn O’Gorman 0-3 (1 X 2pt), David Keating 0-2 (1 free), Gavin Keating 0-2 (2pt free), Gavin Farrell 0-1, Dan Gray 0-1.

TWO MILE HOUSE: Didier Cordonnier; PJ Cashman, Peter Kelly, Charlie O’Boyle; Gavin Burke, William Burke, Andrew Creggan; Marcus Kiely, Sean Wood; Tony O’Connor, Adam Conneely, Conor Keogh; Fionn Coyle Connolly, Liam Cummins, Declan Kirwin SUBS: Brian Collins for Adam Conneely 41, Andrew May for Gavin Burke 45, Jamie Gaire for Fionn Coyle Connolly 50, Paddy Kennedy for Marcus Kiely 54, John Shanahan for Peter Kelly 58.

CASTLEDERMOT: Shane Nolan; Tadhg Jackman, Barry Nolan, James Slattery; Oisin Nolan, Bryan Nolan, James Reilly; David Keating, Donnchadh Kinch; Gavin Farrell, Daniel Gray, Conor Nolan; Gavin Keating, Paddy Whelan, Cian Murphy. SUBS: Nick Jackman for Donnchadh Kinch 16, Fionn O’Gorman for Paddy Whelan H/T, Anthony Lawler for Gavin Farrell 45, Billy O’Gorman for Conor Nolan 55, Dillon Kirwan for Oisin Nolan 63.

REFEREE: Lee Power.