Carolan and Comerford inspire Stradbally to victory over Arles-Killeen

Arles-Killeen 1-8 Stradbally 4-13
Senior Football Championship Round 1

Darragh Carolan and Gary Comerford combined to see off the challenge of Arles-Killeen in O’Moore Park on Sunday evening.

The Stradbally duo combined for 4-6 of their teams total, with all of Carolan’s 2-4 coming from play. The game had been slow to get going and the teams were level with 20 minutes to go, but Stradbally hit the after burners in the closing quarter and Arles-Killeen had no answer.

The opening half took a long time to get going, with both teams managing just one point each in the opening 20 minutes. Stradbally were guilty of some very poor shooting in that period, while Arles-Killeen struggled to create chances at all down the other.

Donie Kingston had opened the scoring with a point in the third minute from close range, with Stradbally responding six minutes later through Darragh Carolan.

Those would be the only scores before the first water break, as both teams offered little to enthuse the spectators present.

Things finally picked up in the final ten minutes of the half, starting with a point from a free by Colm Kelly. That sparked the game into life and a fine, curling effort from Paul Kingston levelled the scores soon after.

Stradbally then hit two in quick succession, Eoin Buggie and Colm Begley finding the target before Arles-Killeen re-took the lead. With Donie Kingston at full-forward they had given him precious little to work with before now, but Donie Brennan’s perfectly weigthed ball over the top found him in the penalty area, and he made no mistake from point-blank range.

Garry Comerford and Paul Kingston traded points after that to keep Killeen with their noses in front, but two late points from Liam Knowles and Colm Kelly meant Stradbally were ahead at half time, 0-7 to 1-3

The second half thankfully picked up from where the first ended, rather than started, with Arles-Killeen pointing twice through Donie Kingston (free) and Billy O’Loughlin to go back in front. Darragh Carolan drew Stradbally level before Sean O’Shea and Colm Begley swapped scores, with Stradbally taking control after that.

Garry Comerford put them ahead with a brilliant goal, a powerful low shot to the bottom corner, and Darragh Carolan and Comeford (free) hit the target either side of Niall O’Rourke being black-carded, leaving them 1-11 to 1-6 up at the water break.

Things got even better for Stradbally on the restart, when they forced a hop-ball 21 yards out for an Arles-Killeen kickout that went too short. David Maher got a touch to the ball and teed up Garry Comerford, who made no mistake with his right foot.

Arles-Killeen were a beaten side now at this stage and they took another hammer blow when Darragh Carolan got Stradbally’s third goal with five minutes left.

Arles-Killeen were just waiting for the final whistle now, although there was further ignominy before the final whistle as James Mahon was black-carded for verbal abuse and then Darragh Carolan got his second goal to seal an emphatic win for Stradbally.

SCORERS – Arles-Killeen: Donie Kingston 1-2 (0-1 free), Paul Kingston 0-2, Sean O’Shea 0-2, Billy O’Loughlin 0-2. Stradbally: Darragh Carolan 2-4, Garry Comerford 2-2 (0-1 free), Colm Begley 0-2, Liam Knowles 0-1, Jack Langton 0-1, Eoin Buggie 0-1.

ARLES-KILLEEN: Ciaran Bizzell; Dermot Julian, James Mahon, Niall O’Rourke; Enda O’Rourke, Michael Wall, Conor Keightley; Donie Kingston, John Mahon; Colin Dunne, Sean O’Shea, Donie Brennan; Shane Julian, Paul Kingston, Billy O’Loughlin. Subs: Jason Enright for Brennan (42 mins), Cathal Moran O’Brien for D Julian (48 mins), Brendan O’Shea for Dunne (57 mins, inj)

STRADBALLY: Wayne Comerford; Colm Clancy, Eoin Buggie, Padraig Fitzpatrick; Darragh Carolan, Liam Knowles, Ciaran O’Neill; David Maher, Colm Begley; Charlie O’Brien, Keiran Delaney, Conor Goode; Colm Kelly, Garry Comerford, Jack Langton. Subs: Eamonn Delaney for O’Brien (42 mins)

Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s)

SEE ALSO – Rosenallis get the better of Ballylinan in five-goal thriller

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