Darragh win bragging rights

Darragh win bragging rights

26 October 2022

A LARGE crowd braved the elements to watch this highly anticipated championship derby clash between Darragh Cross and St Kevin’s.

Darragh, under the tutelage of club veterans Pat McMahon and Paul O’Callaghan had beaten a strong Shamrocks side in their previous fixture, fielded an experienced side. 

With Rodney Carville still on vacation, Portumna’s Brian Larkin took charge of the Kevs preparations.

St Kevin’s, playing with their effective and direct style, raced into an early lead. Deirdre Killen got on the end of Kyia Magorrian’s clever pass to smash the ball past netminder Donna Mullan in the second minute.

The midfield battle between Darragh’s Ellie Mae McGrattan and Sinead Boyd, and Lauren McGivern and Rhona Ferris for the away side, set the tempo for what was a very competitive first half.

McGivern, playing her first game in midfield, will likely find herself stationed there more often in future fixtures, as she demonstrated all the necessary attributes for the engine room of the team.

In the 12th minute Killen grabbed her second goal.

Maria Ryan played a superb cross field pass into the edge of the square, where Killen was waiting to hook first time into the net.

Leona Murray replied with a brace of finely taken frees for Darragh.

Rhona Ferris then converted a wonderful long range free from just beyond the 45’ in the 17th minute.

Lauren Dalzell won the resultant poc out before switching cleverly to Maria Ryan. The Tipp native drove straight at the heart of the home defence before unleashing an unstoppable angled drive in off the far post.

Momentum seemed to be firmly with the green and blues.

However, Emily Jo McGrattan’s magic four minute spell changed the dynamic of the game. Linking up with her sister Emily Mae and Lisa Quinn, she scored an impressive hat-trick, each finish of the highest order.

Darragh’s fierce full forward line would carve any side open, but the young Kevs full back line of Lauren Dalzell, Megan Ferris and Jenny Greene competed exceptionally well, blocking, hooking, and doing their utmost to clog up the central area in front of goal.

The scoreboard read 7-4 to 4-2 in the home side’s favour at the half-time whistle.

Young Cora Jane Kelly had an impressive senior championship debut. Kelly was given designated marking duties on the classy Christina Coulston, and never put a foot wrong. The Drumsnade teenager is an attacking half back with a big future. 

Aimee Greene and Cathy Rea had tight tussles with Leona Murray and Áine Sweeney.

Sweeney’s sweet strike raised a green flag in the 42nd minute, but it was Murray’s magic moments later which really finished the game of as a contest.

Finishing with a tally of 3-5, the Drumaness native was on fire in the second half.

Kevs forwards Laura Larkin, Kyia Magorrian, Sharon Taylor and Maria Ryan put intense pressure on Darragh’s poc outs, intelligently decoding them to predict where home ‘keeper Mullan would be launching them to.

This feature of their play, along with the collective work rate of the entire team, meant that the game retained its competitiveness. 

Greene, Ferris and Ryan once again displayed their natural leadership skills, constantly coaxing and encouraging the younger players in the team throughout the game.

Darragh’s team is full of leaders also. Team captain and former county star Gemma Leneghan, alongside Clare Malone were never flustered, calm and composed throughout a game that was played at a ferocious pace.

Darragh finished strongly, and were deserving winners.

However, the large crowd in attendance would agree that the final winning margin was a little harsh on a youthful Kevin’s side who competed strongly from first minute to last.

The final game of the season will be in a fortnight’s time when St Kevin’s compete in the Sheridan Shield semi-final, opposition, date and venue to be confirmed. 

St Kevin’s: A McClements; L Dalzell, M Ferris, J Greene; C J Kelly, C Rea, A Greene; D Savage, R Ferris; L McGivern, M Ryan, S Taylor; D Killen, K Magorrian, L Larkin.

Bainisteoirí: Brian Larkin

Darragh Cross: D Mullan; I Keeting, M McCavera, E Kelly; E Brown, G Leneghan, C Malone; E M McGrattan, S Boyd; Á Sweeney, L Murray, C Coulston; N McBride, E J McGrattan, F Murray; C Miskelly,  M Dineen.

Bainisteoirí: Pat McMahon, Paul O’Callaghan.

Match official: David Sloane (Glasdrumman)