Stradbally 1-9 Graiguecullen 1-14
ACFL Division 1 Round 1
Graiguecullen have opened their Division 1 campaign with victory away to Stradbally this evening.
A solid first half performance laid the foundations for the victory as they won by five in the end.
Stradbally started the game well with points from Eoin Buggie and Benny Lawlor.
But after that, Graiguecullen took control and kicked the next six points in a row.
And they cemented their superiority when a long range effort from James Doogue dropped short but ended up in the Stradbally net.
That left Graiguecullen with a commanding 1-8 to 0-4 lead at half time.
Stradbally needed a response and they got it with a blistering start to the second half.
Cillian Maher registered two points in 90 seconds before Conor Buggie struck for a goal.
Points from Jody Dillon and Jack Deegan cut the deficit to the minimum as we entered the final quarter of the game.
But Graigue steadied again as Conor Kelly kicked some crucial frees and they held on to win.
Up next for them is a home tie with Courtwood while Stradbally will travel to their neighbours St Joseph’s.
STRADBALLY: Jack Larkin; James Devoy, Eamonn Delaney, Liam Clancy; Barry Fitzpatrick, Colm Begley, Conor McDonald; Jack Deegan, Eoin Buggie; Conor Buggie, Garry Comerford, Damien Murphy; Benny Lawlor, Ciaran O’Neill, Cillian Maher. Subs: Jody Dillon for O’Neill (37)
GRAIGUECULLEN: Cody Tucker; Luke Alsybury, Sean McGrath, Eoin Alsybury; Aaron Cullen, Danny McGrath, James Horohan; Jamie Sheehan, Lee Walker; James Doogue, Mark Timmons, Danny Alsybury; Conor Kelly, Ross Hennessy, Chris Hurley. Subs: Shane Alyward, Martin Doyle, Conor Holohan
REFEREE: Eugene Dowdell (St Joseph’s)
St Joseph’s 0-16 Portlaoise 2-10
ACFL Division 1 Round 1
St Joseph’s and Portlaoise had to settle for a point apiece in Kellyville this evening following a very entertaining affair.
In a game which swung one way and then the other, a draw was probably a fair result.
A Kieran O’Donnell goal meant that Portlaoise held the advantage at half time.
St Joseph’s had scores from Brian Daly, Seamus Farrelly, Danny Hickey and Mick Keogh in reply but trailed 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.
A flurry of scores gave St Joseph’s the perfect start to the second half with Mick Keogh and Brian Daly involved in pushing them three ahead.
But back came Portlaoise as a goal from sub DJ White and a succession of points saw them go four ahead.
However, St Joseph’s refused to lie down and staged a late comeback to seal a draw.
Brian Daly being joined on the scoresheet by Eoghan O’Flaherty and Seamus Farrelly.
St Joseph’s host Stradbally next while Portlaoise will be away to Ballyroan-Abbey.
ST JOSEPH’S: Enda Butler; Aidan Brennan, Adam Campion, Ciaran Condron; Charlie Crehan, Danny Hickey, Tom Dunne; Ian Shanahan, Sean Brennan; Seamus Farrelly, Conor Kealy, Jamie Kelly; Eoghan O’Flaherty, Brian Daly, Mick Keogh. Subs: Jack Gorman for Kealy (50)
PORTLAOISE: Cian O’Gorman; Gary Whelan, Frank Flanagan, Chris Finn; Colin McEvoy, Gary Saunders, David Seale; Kieran Lillis, Ben Reddin; Conor Dunphy, Ben Conroy, David Holland; Ricky Maher, Jack Brown, Kieran O’Donnell
REFEREE: Eric Ward (Portarlington)
SEE ALSO – Breslin on target as Republic of Ireland U-17s advance in European Championship Qualifiers
