Impressive Mattock Rangers begin their campaign with a bang
CTI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS IFC GROUP A
AFTER falling at the final hurdle in the 2016, Mattock Rangers began this year’s Intermediate Championship campaign with an impressive display in brushing aside the challenge of St Kevins on Sunday evening in Group 1.
The Collon men illustrated that they are determined to regain their Senior status as they produced fine performance that combined strong defending, good linkup play and the ability to take scores, to which the Kevins simply had no answer for long periods.
After claiming the Junior Championship title last year, the Kevins were hoping to make an immediate impression on their return to the Intermediate ranks but on this occasion they found the step up too much of a hurdle to overcome.
Against a side with a huge amount of senior experience, the Philipstown men struggled to cope with the faster pace and higher intensity. Despite an honest effort throughout the hour, they were unable to create the space they needed, particularly in front of goal, while at the other end they were unable to restrict the potent attacking threat.
The gulf in standard was obvious in the opening half as Mattock quickly took a grip of proceedings with David Reid leading by example as he kicked the first three points of the game inside ten minutes.
Daniel Bannon weighed in with another before the pressure in front of goal finally told after 12 minutes when Hugh Donnelly forced the ball home after a goalmouth scramble to make it 1-4 to no score.
Adrian Reid landed a point from distance before the Kevins finally got off the mark from a Cian Callan free on 17 minutes. However, there was no let up from Mattock as an excellent run from Donnelly saw him exchange passes with Aaron O’Brien before firing to the net on 20 minutes.
David Reid and Seanie Crosbie exchanged points before Adrian Reid fired over his second point of the game to make it 2-8 to 0-2 on 29 minutes. However, the Kevins were given a lifeline when a Cian Callan challenged for a Seanie Crosbie centre and the ball sailed over Mike Englishby and into the net.
The first four points of the second half were shared but any slight hope of a Kevins revival soon disappeared when Adrian Reid claimed the third goal with a moment of magic.
The Louth player did brilliantly to field a pass before selling two dummies and leaving two defenders in his wake and crashing the ball home from close range. It was a goal worth the admission price alone and left his side 3-11 to 1-3 to the good.
Despite losing midfielder, Daniel Bannon to a Black Card, Mattock cruised to victory with the help of points from Aaron O’Brien, Michael McKeown and JP Watters before St Kevins got a late consolation goal when Callan set up Aidan Craven. MATTOCK RANGERS: Mike Englishby; Ciaran Calvey, Sean Gilsenan, Alan Carragher; Brendan Leacy 0-1, Ivor Sherlock, Michael McKeown 0-1; Daniel Bannon 0-1, Hugh Donnelly 2-0; Terry Donegan, Adrian Reid 1-4, Ryan Leneghan 0-1; Conor Leneghan, David Reid 0-5, Aaron O’Brien 0-3. Subs: James Carragher for D Bannon BC, JP Watters for I Sherlock, Jack Dunne for C Leneghan, Jason McKeown for D Reid.
ST KEVINS: Gerard Brennan; Barry Byrne, Enda McKenna, Dylan Maher; Paul Duff, Thomas Gregory, Liam Boylan; Andrew Campbell, Lee Crosbie 0-1; Aaron Roche, Seanie Crosbie 1-2, Karl Martin 0-1; Conor McCullough, Patrick Clarke, Cian Callan 0-3. Subs: Aidan Craven 1-0 for P Clarke, Michael Grogan for B Byrne.
REFEREE: Jonathan Conlon