Shamrocks too sharp for understrength Killinkere

IFC round 1

Bailieborough Shamrocks 0-17

Killinkere 0-9

Paul Fitzpatrick at St Brigid’s Park

Bailieborough Shamrocks began their Intermediate Championship campaign with an emphatic eight-point win over local rivals Killinkere in Canningstown on Saturday evening.

The Shamrocks, who finished in the top four of Division 2, showed a marked improvement from their one-point defeat to Killinkere in the league earlier in the year, dominating this tie from early on. On a perfect evening for football on a pristine surface, Bailieborough started quickly and maintained a high tempo throughout. They opened the scoring through Ryan Gilmer, who clipped over a tidy effort off his left foot after being picked out by Brendan Argue, who was orchestrator-in-chief for a lot of the Shamrocks’ best moves.

The impressive Rory Farrell followed up shortly after with a well-taken point from the left wing to make it 0-2 to 0-0 after six minutes.

Killinkere responded through Darren Smith, who slotted two points in quick succession, both off the left, the second following good work by Kevin McCabe. Ciaran O’Malley’s men hit the front when Conall Mooney landed an excellent two-pointer, set up by a surging run from Daniel Sweeney, giving Killinkere a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

However, that would be their high point. Farrell cut the gap with a 44-metre free off the ground, and Luke Gilsenan was fouled soon after, with Jack McGuinness converting the free to level the game.

Daniel Sweeney was forced off through injury, a massive blow for Killinkere, who had already lost Fintan O’Connell in the opening minutes. With two Killinkere ball-winners gone, Bailieborough had a foothold in the middle third and their superior pace saw them cut the opposition open repeatedly.

Ryan Coleman picked out Farrell with a good ball for another point before Farrell converted a 45 to make it 0-7 to 0-4. A goal chance fell to Coleman but he dragged it wide, though Argue made amends shortly after with a well-finished point at the end of a sweeping team move.

Farrell then converted a two-point free after a foul on Coleman, and although Cian McGovern replied with a 35-metre free, Bailieborough finished the half strongly. Argue burst through and laid off to Gilmer, who slotted the final score of the half to leave it 0-12 to 0-4 at the interval.

Killinkere needed a fast start to the second half but Bailieborough were unrelenting. Argue again drove forward and slipped a pass to Aaron Reel, who slotted over. Farrell then picked the pocket of a defender and punished Killinkere with another sharp score, making it 0-14 to 0-4 six minutes into the second half.

Killinkere rallied briefly. Alex Sweeney made a strong run from the back and his effort struck the post, with Conall Mooney converting a two-point free after ref Martin Sexton brought it back.

Ciaran Flynn was becoming more involved – the full-forward’s ball-winning was Killinkere’s strongest suit as the game wore on - and won a free which McGovern converted. Another promising move saw Mooney burst through and set up Darren Smith, but Conor Gilsenan pulled off a smart save to deny them a badly-needed goal.

Luke Gilsenan added to Bailieborough’s tally with a nice point off the left after a flowing move. Kevin McCabe, who battled gamely, responded for Killinkere with a score of his own, but Bailieborough kept applying pressure.

Darragh Keegan made a searing run up the right wing and offloaded to Farrell, who turned sharply and slotted over an excellent point. Soon after, McGuinness finished another well-worked move involving Argue and Keegan.

The Shamrocks ended the game with 10 wides but were clearly the better team throughout. Killinkere’s final point came from a Darren Smith free after Damien Sexton was fouled, but the contest had long been decided.

Killinkere: Jake Norris, Shane Ryan, Nathan McQuade, Mark Farrelly Sr, Alex Sweeney, Luke Crossan, Liam McCabe, Fintan O'Connell, Mark Farrelly Jr, Darren Smith (0-3, 1f), Conall Mooney (0-4, 2pt, 2ptf), Kevin McCabe (0-1), Cian McGovern (0-2f), Ciaran Flynn, Emmett Fitzsimons

Subs: James Farrelly, David Macken, Damien Sexton

Bailieborough: Conor Gilsenan, Conor Monaghan, Aidan Reilly, Oisin Fitzsimons, Philip Clarke, Aaron Reel, Noah O'Sullivan, Ronan Clarke, Cathal Keegan, Jack McGuinness (0-2, 1f), Brendan Argue (0-1), Ryan Gilmer (0-2), Rory Farrell (0-9, 2 2ptf, 45), Luke Gilsenan (0-1), Ryan Coleman

Subs: Darragh Keegan for O Fitzsimons (48), Peter Clerkin for R Gilmer (53)

Ref: Martin Sexton