Laragh United 1-13
Bailieborough 0-8

Laragh United produced the second-half goods to cruise past Bailieborough and towards their second win in this year's intermediate championship on Sunday afternoon.

Eoghan Cooney's 25th minute goal had Sean Finnegan's charges on the path to victory in this one but they did most of their damage in the second period at Kingspan Breffni, outscoring their counterparts by 0-9 to 0-5 after dominating for long stages.

Bailieborough were somewhat toothless in their attack, replying on free-taker Rory Farrell for half their scores, and it suited the men from Stradone to power past them here.

Laragh fashioned their first lead after Jack McKenna won back possession in his own full-forward line and fed Paddy Rudden to split the posts.

Eight minutes passed before Bailieborough out themselves on the board but it was worth the wait, with the deadly accurate Farrell driving over a superb effort from 40 metres out along the side-line.

Ian Leddy found his range at the other end as well and when Rudden robbed his marker of the ball, turned and shot over it was Laragh that held the two-point advantage with 17 minutes on the clock.

Ruing some missed chances, the Shamrocks upped their wides' tally to seven in the meantime but eventually squared things after corner-back Kieran O'Reilly and Michael Argue sent over successive scores.

Disaster hit Paul Cooney's men on 25 minutes though after their lapse at the back allowed Cooney and path through and the speedy half-forward lashed a devastating finish beyond Alan O'Mara into the top corner of the ex-Cavan keeper's net.

Argue, who was Bailieborough's main scoring threat during the first-half, landed his second just before the break as Laragh took in the 1-3 to 0-4 lead.

Ruairi Power (free) and Seamus Cooney extended the advantage to four within as many minutes of the resumption and while Farrell pulled one back for the town side, it was the PJ Duke Park outfit which had the next four scores on the board to put some real daylight between the teams.

Eoghan Cooney (2), Fergal O'Rourke (a '45') and Colm McKenna all supplied scores while substitute Adrian Cooney was also denied the net after trying to round O'Mara, who stood firm.

Farrell (free) and Aidan Reilly looked to keep Bailieborough in the fight but their opponents were home and hosed once Seamus Cooney lofted over another fine effort and Colm McKenna backed it up, making it 1-11 to 0-7 with eight minutes left on the clock.

O'Rourke (free) and sub Jason Walsh rounded off the winners' tally as they picked up their second win inside a week in their pursuit of the Tommy Gilroy Cup.

Laragh United: Fergal O'Rourke (0-2, 1 '45', 1f); Kieran Cooney, Fergal McKenna, Stephen Cooney; Eoin Donohoe, Shane O'Rourke, Seamus Cooney (0-2); Ian Leddy (0-1), Colm McKenna (0-2); Jack McKenna, Ruairi Power (0-1, 1f), Eoghan Cooney (1-2); Oisin Carolan, Paddy Rudden (0-2), Conor O'Rourke. Subs: Adrian Cooney for C O'Rourke (HT), Jason Walsh (0-1) for J McKenna (46mins), Paul Smith for K Cooney (48, BC), Declan Brady for Stephen Cooney (56).

Bailieborough Shamrocks: Alan O'Mara; Calvin Daly, Sean Cooney, Kieran O'Reilly (0-1); Declan O'Reilly, Philip Clarke, Aidan Reilly (0-1); Senan O'Reilly, Peter Clerkin; Rory Farrell (0-4, 3f), Michael Argue (0-2), Brendan Argue; Damien O'Reilly, Conor Gilsenan, Rhys Clarke. Subs: Luke Gilsenan for S O'Reilly (45mins), Niall Kelly for D O'Reilly (56), Gary Daly for B Argue (57), Thomas Cooney for P Clerkin (60).

Ref: Oliver Og O'Reilly (Mullahoran)

Tweet

Most Read Stories