Laragh United get the better of neighbours Knockbride

ACFL

Laragh 1-19

Knockbride 1-15

Laragh community pitch was in pristine condition on Saturday evening last for the league encounter between Laragh and Knockbride. Laragh got the win in a close contest, while Knockbride will rue their 12 wides (Laragh had six).

Despite the wides tally, and several shots dropped short by both sides, the sizeable crowd was entertained by a match which the winners led for most of the time, but Knockbride kept close, on a dry calm evening.

The winners got off to a flying start when Jake Mills and Ronan Fitzsimmons both pointed from play. Luke Reilly cut the deficit from a free but points from Jason Walsh and Fergal McKenna put Laragh three ahead.

Ben Mulvey raised a white flag for Knockbride, Paul Smith did likewise for Laragh, and Knockbride were just one behind when Kyle McCabe and Patrick Smith pointed from play. Fitzsimons and Roy Donohoe exchanged points, then Laragh stretched ahead again with a fisted Paul Smith point, and another Walsh point.

The visitors got a boost when a good team move ended with Liam Fay shooting to the roof of the net. This score levelled matters, and the teams remained on parity at the break, after McKenna and Fitzsimons (from a free) pointed for Laragh, while Patrick Smith got Knockbride's only two-pointer (a free), to leave the half-time score Laragh 0-10 Knockbride 1-7.

Patrick Rogers pointed in the opening minute of the second half, to give Knockbride the lead- - but it was the last time they were ahead. Ciaran O'Rourke's Laragh point was followed by an excellent Ronan Fitzsimons two-pointer.

Liam Fay and Luke Reilly (free) kept Knockbride in it, but after Niall Fitzpatrick got a Laragh point, the decisive score came. A free from distance by Fitzsimons was dropped by a defender and Ciaran O'Rourke had the simple task of tapping to the net.

Two Reilly frees added to Knockbride's total but soon Paul Smith and Mark Davis got Laragh points.

Play was scrappy at this stage, eight minutes separated two Roy Donohoe points (one free), with the impressive Paul Smith getting a point in between.

As the game neared its conclusion, Smith repeated the feat, Matthew Traynor got Knockbride's last point, and Paddy Rudden finished the scoring with a point for the victors.

With both teams facing tough opposition in the coming weeks, this is a match that both sides would've targeted for two league points. Laragh got the win thanks to better scoring efficiency, allied to midfield dominance for much of the match. Knockbride, down three regulars due to injury, still battled well but need to start winning to survive in this division.

Laragh United: Morgan McGovern; Donagh Fitzsimons, Conor Higgins, Ciaran Cooney; Mark Davis, Jason Walsh, Paul Cooney; Fergal McKenna, Shane O’Rourke; Jake Mills, Paul Smith, Ciaran O’Rourke; Niall Fitzpatrick, Paddy Rudden, Ronan Fitzsimons.

Subs: Seán Tierney for P. Cooney; Stephen Cooney for M. Davis.

Knockbride: Liam Bell; Daniel McGuinness, Shane Carolan, Oisin Smith; Darren Clarke, Philip Nulty, Kyle McCabe; Patrick Rogers, Ben Mulvey; Matthew Traynor, Liam Fay, Patrick Smith; Luke Reilly, Niall McCabe, Roy Donohoe.

Subs: Shane Galligan for P. Smith; Cormac O’Reilly for L. Reilly (inj).

Ref: Packie Smith.