How Caragh produced a thrilling comeback to reach the Leinster final

Michael Browne's side equalised with a Darragh Swords goal in the 62nd minute of the game before winning in extra-time

AIB Leinster Club IFC Semi-Final

Caragh 2-19

Fethard St Mogue’s 2-13 (aet)

Caragh have reached the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship Final with a thrilling extra-time win over Fethard St Mogue’s. Trailing 2-12 to 1-12 heading into stoppage time of normal time, Caragh looked set to see their Leinster run end at the hands of the Wexford champions.

That all changed with a long ball into the box from Cathal McKennedy as the Kidlare side threw everything at the goal with just two minutes to go. The ball was punched clear by a strong St Mogue’s fist, but broke to Darragh Swords who laced the ball into the back of the net. After a quiet game to that point, Swords delivered when Caragh needed him most with a confident and accomplished finish under huge pressure.

Late substitute Eoghan O’Haire had a chance to win the game for Caragh with the last kick of the game, but his effort drifted wide from an albeit difficult distance out. At 2-12 to 2-12, this game was sent into extra-time.

O’Haire would be the man to fire his side ahead by putting the finishing touches on a slick team move. Caragh capitalised on their numerical superiority after John Tubritt saw black late into regulation play.

Ronan Doorey doubled Caragh’s advantage with a super point after he gathered a loose ball and caressed it onto the top of the bar and over.

An Eoghan O’Haire free-kick sent Caragh in at half-time of extra-time with a three point lead at 2-15 to 2-12.
Caragh’s superior fitness really told in the extra minutes that were played and their in-built momentum from the equaliser only heightened that.

Eoin Whelan, who had been subbed back on, fired over for St Mogue’s just after the restart. It was a score that was almost immediately answered by Dan Murray at the other end. Caragh never looked back from there with Darragh Swords (twice) and Eoghan O’Haire adding to their tally as they finished as 2-19 to 2-13 victors.

Caragh stayed the distance and you suspect Michael Browne will have no trouble convincing players of the necessity of their strength and conditioning work ever again as they outlasted their opponents to reach a Leinster final.

The eventual winners started strong too and, after a Fethard St Mogue’s opener, had 1-1 on the board inside of five minutes. Dan Murray’s point was followed by Caragh capitalising on a short kick-out gone wrong as William Doyle’s restart was spilled by his teammate and into the path of Ronan Doorey. The Caragh corner-forward found Jake Corrigam who was cool and calm in finding the net.

St Mogue’s raised their own green flag just five minutes later when Eoin Whelan latched onto his own effort that had come off the crossbar. He hit the net at the second time of asking and levelled this game.

Whelan hit a first half brace after he spun his opposite number before cutting inside and finding the net again in the 26th minute. A gorgeous point from Cian Byrne late in the half sent Fethard St Mogue’s in at the break with a four-point lead at 2-7 to 1-6.

Caragh battled well after the break, but remained at arm’s length for much of the second half. However, three free-kicks converted without reply brought them to within a point with 10 minutes to go. Ronan Doorey confidently boomed over the first and third with a previously struggling Darragh Swords knocking over the second in that sequence.

The St Mogue’s stars responded well with points from top-scoring pair John Tubritt and Eoin Whelan restoring some breathing room.

Caragh were within one again after points from Darragh Swords and Fergal McKennedy, but again their opponents had the answers at the other end.

Richard Waters’ score in the 61st minute made it 2-12 to 1-12 and the game arrived to the point where Darragh Swords would shake things up and set up Caragh’s eventual win.

MAIN MAN
Kevin Connor
Caragh's captain was titanic in their provincial semi-final battle and receives his dues thanks to a gladiatorial performance in the middle of the pitch. Instrumental from first minute to last, Connor was the leader his side needed when the chips were down.

TURNING POINT
It was Darragh Swords' equaliser that decided this game in truth. Caragh were now level and in the ascendancy. They dominated both halves of extra-time.

TALKING POINT
With an increasing focus on strength and conditioning anyway, Michael Browne's side once again demonstrated the value of superior fitness as they pulled clear late on.

WHAT NOW?
Caragh will now face Naomh Mearnóg in the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship Final. The Dublin champions edged past Garrycastle in their semi-final clash with a 2-10 to 1-12 win in Balgriffin.

Scorers: Caragh, Darragh Swords 1-6 (0-3 frees), Jake Corrigan 1-3, Ronan Doorey 0-4 (0-2 frees), Eoghan O'Haire 0-3 (0-2 frees), Dan Murray 0-2, Fergal McKennedy 0-1.

St Mogue's, Eoin Whelan 2-4 (0-1 frees), John Tubritt 0-4 (0-1 frees), Richard Waters 0-2, Jake Molloy 0-1, Cian Byrne 0-1, Cillian Byrne 0-1.

CARAGH: Michael Behan; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Billy Byrne; Conor Sullivan, Ryan Burke, Paul Dockery; Kevin Connor, Liam Blake; Josh Gannon, Darragh Swords, Dan Murray; Ronan Doorey, Jake Corrigan, Kevin Campbell. Subs: Austin Nevin for Liam Blake (34 minutes), Fergal McKennedy for Josh Gannon (49 minutes), Cian Burke for Billy Byrne (53 minutes), Eoghan O'Haire for Kevin Campbell (56 minutes), Billy Kelly for Austin Nevin (15 minutes Extra-time), Dan Campbell for Ronan Doorey (18 minutes Extra-time).

ST MOGUES: William Doyle; Brian Dillon, Daniel Mullan, Garreth Foley; Chris Molloy, Graham O'Grady, Jake Molloy; Michael Roche, Richard Waters; Mikie Dwyer, Cian Byrne, Sean Nunan; Cillian Byrne, John Tubritt, Eoin Whelan. Subs: Bryan Power for Chris Molloy (39 minutes), Jesse Foley for Michael Roche (44 minutes), Morgan Ellis for Garreth Foley (50 minutes), Kevin Rowe for Eoin Whelan (60 minutes), Chris Molloy for Kevin Rowe (4 minutes Extra-time), Eoin Whelan for Jesse Foley (Half-time Extra-time), Garreth Foley for Cillian Byrne (13 minutes Extra-time).

Referee: Darragh Byrne