Laragh get the better of Kilcoole to win Fox Cup
Begley’s men see off Kilcoole to claim Johnny Fox Cup
LARAGH fought a great battle in the second half of this Division 3 final against Kilcoole, played at St Patrick’s GAA Grounds, Dunbur Road, in Wicklow on Sunday, October 23.
Both teams had already been promoted to Division 2 of the league and this contest was to decide who would be the holders of the Johnny Fox Memorial Cup for 2016.
Ground conditions were ideal for football but a cold, crisp easterly breeze blew down the field, favouring the team playing into the dressing rooms goal.
Laragh had first use of the breeze but it was Kilcoole who hit the ground running.
In the first five or six minutes they dominated possession and might have gad two goals on the board but for the tenacious marking of the Laragh full-back line plus one excellent save from Peter Merrigan in goal.
Laragh opened the scoring with a Myles Conway point off his left foot after three minutes. Danny Kavanagh put Kilcoole a point ahead by the sixth minute with two sweet left footed pointed frees into the breeze.
Dan Power levelled and then put Laragh back into the lead with two points from play. Matt Gilbert levelled matters with another pointed free after 12 minutes. Despite playing against the breeze Kilcoole were dominating the possession stakes but all their scores had come from frees.
In contrast Laragh were scoring from play, although as the half progressed they chalked up eight wides in total.
Midfielder John Nolan with a point from play and another from a free put Laragh two points up by the twenty third minute.
Matt Gilbert and Jack Bellamy with Kilcoole’s first scorers from play had the Goosebank men on 0-5 by half-time but Laragh responded with a Keith Lawlor free and another John Nolan point from play to leave the Laragh men leading by 0-7 to 0- 5 at the break.
They were facing into the second half against the breeze and their lead looked slender enough.
By the 10th minute of the second period Kilcoole had wiped out the lead with points from play after two minutes from Luke Evans, a beauty after six minutes by Matt Gilbert and then the lead from Lee Dutton before the 10th minute.
Things were looking bad for Laragh at this stage but, despite an abundance of opportunities, Kilcoole were not to score again in this game.
They lost Matt Gilbert to injury following his score but his loss can hardly explain 20 scoreless minutes.
Two John Nolan points from frees had Laragh back in front by the 13th minute.
Both sides were battling hard for victory at this stage and exchanges became heated at times.
Myles Conway (L) and David Kelly (K) went for an early shower after 20 minutes and Stephan Olohan (L), who had come on as a substitute, was also sidelined before the end.
Damien Hanlon pointed from play after 20 minutes to give Laragh a two-point cushion.
Kilcoole fought hard to haul back the lead but were too anxious to work in for a goal.
Inevitably, movements broke down and the uncompromising Laragh defence left little openings. As the game wore on Laragh were gaining in confidence while Kilcoole totted up five wides at a stage when they needed scores.
Despite five minutes of added time, there were no further scores and Laragh ran out deserving winners having fought a great second half.
The Johnny Fox Memorial Cup was presented by Mick Hagan, accompanied by Susan Fox.
Scorers - Laragh: John Nolan 0-5, Dan Power 0-2, Myles Conway 0-1, Keith Lawlor 0-1, Damian Hanlon 0-1
Kilcoole: Matt Gilbert 0-3, Danny Kavanagh 0-2, Jack Bellamy 0-1, Luke Evans 0-1 Lee Dutton 0-1
Laragh: Peter Merrigan; Ross Doonan, Alan Smith, Stephan Curley; Craig McCoy, Ciaran Byrne, Jack Dunne; Davie McDonald, John Nolan; Dan Power, Keith Lawlor, Mark Miley; Damian Hanlon, Myles Conway, Eamon Kennedy. Subs: Liam McEvoy for Eamon Kennedy; Andrew Kenny for Dan Power, Stephan Olohan for Damian Hanlon, Gerry Cullen
Kilcoole: Glen Tighe; Connor O’Toole, Luke O’Reilly, Keith Reynolds; Dara Keddy, Colly McGovern, Ronan Keddy; Vinnie Quigley, Jack Bellamy; Lee Dutton, Matt Gilbert, Eoin Keddy; Danny Kavanagh, Declan Roper, Luke Evans. Subs: Robert Whelan for Matt Gilbert and David Kelly for Luke O’Reilly (BC).
Referee: Eddie Leonard (St Patrick’s)