Double joy on the North Road
November 27, 2011Knock Knock.
Who's there?
O'Raghallaighs.
And there was double cause for celebration as Colin Kelly's charges also captured the Division Two football league crown. Indeed, between the two main competitions, O'Raghallaighs only lost one match all year - and that was a totally meaningless contest played after they had already claimed promotion to Division One. All in all, it was a stunning campaign from the North Road men who were full value for their double success and a return to the top flight(s).
The 2011 Louth IFC final took place in Haggardstown on Sunday, October 9th and O'Raghallaighs atoned for their agonising defeat at the same stage in 2010 when they defeated Clan na Gael by 0-9 to 0-6. In a low-scoring decider played in difficult conditions, the best defence was always going to come out on top and - inspired by excellent corner back and Man of the Match Graham Murray - the Raghs produced a superb rearguard action to prevail. Restricting the opposition to just two points in the second half, Stephen Murphy and captain James Moonan were also outstanding in the last line.
Up top, Barry Flanagan, Ruairi Moore and Ben Rogan made the most of limited opportunities, while Ciaran Brassil, Robert Mulroy and substitute Andrew Rogan were influential around the centre of the park.
The wet and windy weather, coupled with a greasy surface, meant this was no day for fancy football. After a slow start, when they trailed by 0-3 to 0-1 after 17 minutes, with Flanagan the sole Hoops scorer in the opening quarter, the Drogheda side grew into the contest to deliver an impressively-effective performance. The 2010 loss to Young Irelands seemed centuries away as the champions-elect rallied it the second quarter to go in level at the break, 0-4 apiece, thanks to overs from Rogan and Moore (2).
Upon the resumption, O'Raghallaighs continued to dominate and scores from Craig McEnteggart and Rogan had them two ahead eight minutes in, 0-6 to 0-4. And further points from Flanagan - from a nigh-on-impossible angle - and Rogan (free) made it 0-8 to 0-5 with less than 13 minutes remaining.
Clans had closed the gap to two points with seven minutes to go but the Dundalk side were reduced to 14 men following a skirmish and it was left to Moore to seal a famous win with the last score of the 2011 IFC in injury time.
O'Raghallaighs - 2011 Louth intermediate football champions: Joseph Flanagan; Stephen Murphy, James Moonan, Graham Murray; Graham Leech, Cathal McGinty, Alan Doyle; Robert Mulroy, Ciaran Brassil; Ruairi Moore (0-3), Craig McEnteggart (0-1), Tony Grifferty; Ben Rogan (0-3), Chris Smith, Barry Flanagan (0-2). Subs: Joseph Rogan for Grifferty (h/t); Andrew Rogan for R Mulroy (40); Dean Byrne for C McGinty (45).
From the start of the year, O'Raghallaighs were widely tipped to go one better than 2010 and a solid league campaign served to further highlight their credentials. They progressed to the knockout final impressively and it was not just due to the old 'you have to lose one to win one' adage that they were installed as keen favourites to see off the Clans, who were managed by Colin Kelly's former Louth team-mate Cathal O'Hanlon. With the evergreen Graham Leech back from injury, they went into the decider in a rich vein of form and with a side that looked more-than-capable of pushing on into senior ranks. Next year will be a major test for the Hoops as they try to cope with new surroundings in Division One and the SFC but they appear to have all the ingredients required to rise to the challenge.
They've waited a long, long time for this day and the smart money would be on top-flight football staying at the North Road for the foreseeable future.
O'Raghallaighs kicked off their championship campaign in convincing manner, beating Na Piarsaigh by 2-14 to 0-11 in a one-sided Group One encounter at Ardee on Saturday, July 23rd. The match took place in glorious conditions and it was obvious from the off that the Hoops were full of intent. The full-forward line of Ben Rogan, Barry Flanagan and Ruairi Moore bagged 1-11 between them, while Chris Smith (1-2) revelled in his new attacking brief and Craig McEnteggart pulled the strings magnificently from the 40. But the platform for this success came from a stellar midfield display from Robert Mulroy and Ciaran Brassil as Colin Kelly's men produced a wonderfully rounded team effort. Flanagan's early goal settled the nerves and the winners led by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break; Smith poached the second major ten minutes from time.
The second group game at The Grove on Saturday, August 13th was a much closer affair and depleted O'Raghallaighs had to show plenty of spirit to defeat Roche Emmets by 1-6 to 0-8, with Ruairi Moore clipping over a late clinching free. The champions-elect failed to score from play in the opening half-hour but an injury-time goal from Damien Boyle made it 1-3 to 0-3 at the break. From there, it was far from convincing but the North Road outfit proved that they had acquired the rather useful knack of winning games even when they're not playing particularly well. That will serve them well in senior football next season.
By topping the group, Raghs progressed to a quarter-final clash with St Josephs. At Ardee on Sunday, August 28th, an impressive second-half performance meant they advanced to the last four by virtue of a 0-13 to 0-10 victory. Ruairi Moore (0-4) and Ben Rogan (0-6) fired the first two points into the wind but the Joes went on to lead by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval. The losers struck two of the next four points but the Hoops eventually turned the screw to level through Rogan eleven minutes from time. A run of three points in as many minutes - all from play - courtesy of Barry Flanagan, Ruairi Moore and Craig McEnteggart - left the Joes reeling. Another Rogan point brought the scoring sequence to six without reply. O'Raghallaighs were two hours away from senior football!
Sean O'Mahonys provided the opposition in the semi-final, which took place at Dunleer on Sunday, September 11th. By now, O'Raghallaighs had already guaranteed themselves top spot in Division Two - and promotion to Division One - and their incredible season got even better as they qualified for a second successive IFC decider with a five-point win, 1-12 to 1-7. Having played with the backing of a considerable wind before the break, the winners managed to compile a somewhat modest two-point interval cushion, but they remained assured, calm and composed in the second half. David Crawley's twelfth-minute penalty had the Point Road men 1-1 to 0-1 ahead but the Hoops responded bravely to go ahead for the first time with four points in as many minutes - Tony Grifferty, Barry Flanagan (2) and Chris Smith all on target. After O'Mahonys levelled, Ben Rogan and Smith struck late scores to make it 0-7 to 1-2 at the short whistle. It was in the melting pot when the Dundalk side went ahead with three quickfire points after the restart but O'Raghallaighs took control and Flanagan's late goal sealed it and Graham Leech had the final say with an injury-time strike.
In the league, O'Raghallaighs topped Division Two with 18 points from eleven games - one point ahead of Geraldines, who beat them in the last round at Haggardstown, with the title already won and the North Road men having switched their focus to the championship. Even though they lost, they were awarded the trophy after the final whistle. Perhaps the most significant thing about that league match was that Graham Leech returned to action for the first time since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the 2010 IFC final. Things were falling nicely into place. Tweet
