Oran lay down serious marker as Cox and Doory shoot the lights out for Éire Óg
James Fitzpatrick was on top of his game as Oran took care of Castlerea St. Kevin's in the senior football championship at Rockfield on Sunday afternoon. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
The attention shifted to the intermediate football championship, alongside one remaining senior game, on Saturday and Sunday as the opening rounds of the local football championships were completed around the county.
The first adult football championship game on Oran’s new pitch in Rockfield saw the home side cruise to a 3-23 to 3-10 triumph against Castlerea St. Kevin’s to join Boyle at the top of Group C on Sunday afternoon.
Pat Regan’s side were devastating in the first half, scoring 1-13 inside the opening 15 minutes.
James Fitzpatrick grabbed the goal as part of his overall personal tally of 2-4, but, just before the break, Adam McDermott handed Castlerea a lifeline with a breakaway three-pointer as Dara Bruen’s charges trailed by 1-16 to 1-7.
A Jonathan Hester goal soon after the restart provided further encouragement for the visitors to reduce the arrears to six points.
But that’s as close as the 2023 intermediate champions got as Eoghan Grady responded instantly with Oran’s second goal.
The home side kicked on as Fitzpatrick added a third goal, and even though Kevin Hester pulled back an excellent consolation goal for Castlerea, a 13-point victory didn’t flatter the hosts.
In Group A of the Ward Bros. Intermediate Football Championship, Conor Cox scored 0-16 and Jason Doory bagged 1-6 as Éire Óg dominated Fuerty at James Timothy Park, Loughglynn.
Cox provided a masterclass in front of the posts, hitting five two-pointers (three frees and two from play) in the opening half alone as Brendan Greene’s side headed for the dressing rooms at the interval with a 1-15 to 0-8 advantage — the goal coming from Doory in the 16th minute when he reacted quickest to a Cox free that dropped short.
Fuerty had left themselves with too much to do, but will wonder how things might have panned if Gearoid Ennis hadn’t blazed over or Cathal Crehan hit the post with a couple of penalties.
Crehan did grab a consolation goal for the visitors, but Éire Óg ran out comfortable 1-23 to 1-14 winners.
One of this year’s pre-championship favourites, Tulsk, received a first-half scare against St. Michael’s at Ardcarne Park before assuming control after the break to confirm a 1-21 to 2-10 victory in Group B.
A couple of David McNamara points pushed Tulsk 0-6 to 0-2 ahead, but they were rocked back on their heels with a couple of St. Michael’s goals by Brian Reynolds and Fiachra Henry.
The home side were 2-6 to 0-11 to the good at half time and sensed an upset, but Daniel Connolly came to the fore after the break with 0-5.
He also teed up captain Tadhg O’Rourke for his side’s goal, and suddenly any notions of a shock result evaporated.
On Saturday evening, there were three games down for decision in the intermediate football championship.
A nine-point haul from Paul Garvey was central to Kilmore edging out Pádraig Pearses in damp conditions at Davonna Park, Ballinameen.
In a game both sides were desperate to win, Garvey’s eight first-half points — all from frees, including a two-pointer with the last kick of the half — helped his side establish a 0-13 to 0-6 interval lead.
But Pearses staged a revival with the first six points of the second half, with captain Emmett Kelly bringing his tally to 0-3 from play.
However, an injury to Connell Moore disrupted Pearses’ momentum and Kilmore fell over the line, thanks to a 0-15 to 0-13 victory.
In Group C, St. Brigid’s rocked up to Croghan and came away with an impressive 2-17 to 1-13 victory.
There were three goals inside the opening 12 minutes — Declan Kennedy netting inside two minutes for Shannon Gaels before Brian Derwin and David Cunniffe replied for the visitors to leave the sides deadlocked at the break, 1-7 to 2-4.
But Brigid’s were far more potent in front of the posts in the second half, outscoring their hosts by 0-13 to 0-6 to run out comfortable winners.
St. Barry’s return to the intermediate ranks ended in disappointment as Ronan and Shane Dowd combined for 1-11 between them to ensure Creggs ran out 1-21 to 0-6 victors in their Group B encounter at Tarmonbarry.
Eoghan Diffley kicked the opening score of the game, but that’s as good as it got for last season's Junior A champions as, aided by a Mark Brandon two-pointer and a Shane Dowd goal, Creggs established a 1-10 to 0-2 interval lead.
The visitors continued to have things all their own way, with Ronan Dowd’s four second-half points from play enabling Creggs to make a positive start to this year’s campaign.
