Fenagh were by far the better team on the night.
2024 Talbot Hotel Carlow IFC Final
Fenagh 1-14 Kildavin/Clonegal 1-6
By Stephen Bambrick
While not quite matching their 2022 Intermediate title-winning performance, it was close enough at times. Once Cormac Lomax netted in the 50th minute, the black and white ribbons were the set that would remain on the Ned Doogue Cup. The Moll Bennetts, bouncing straight back to Senior at the first attempt, pushed an already 4-point cushion to 7, then out to 10 minutes later.
Their opponents, Kildavin/Clonegal, were kept scoreless for 30-plus minutes, all indicators of a comprehensive win for Fenagh, who played a brand of football with a mix of strength, skill, and great teamwork. Kildavin/Clonegal came up short after a brilliant campaign up to the final.
With the group stage meeting between the sides having given a 13-point drubbing to Fenagh, it also provided a watershed moment for their championship hopes from which they haven’t taken a backward step. Squally rain added to a strong cross-field breeze into the scoreboard end.
It was Fenagh, into the elements, who just took 22 seconds for the falling Padraig Hynes to open the scoring with an advantage given by referee Marion Hayden. A Jack Tracey effort in the 3rd minute to keep in a Fenagh 45 struck the post but looked to have been covered if it had been on target.
Jake Nolan, one of the standout players of his side’s march to the final, showed his undoubted skill levels with a point off each foot in the 5th and 7th minutes. Niall Hickey dispossessed Eric English for the left-footed score, with Liam Roberts assisting the right one, making it 0-2 to 0-1. But not for long, as the ravenous Keagan Bradley somehow kept possession to level matters in the 9th minute.
Fenagh started at this point to get their main men heavily involved in the game. Enter Sean Murphy, turning over possession to provide Hynes with the lead score. Choo Choo started at 14, despite being a doubtful starter. Hynes then turned provider for Jack Tracey to nab his first in the 12th minute.
A worrying development for Fenagh came in the 14th minute when Murphy’s game seemed to have ended. The hand signals from physio Aoibheann Byrne suggested the worst. Whatever potion or lotion was administered kept Murphy in one piece and, more importantly, on the field of play.
The next scores of the game would come via Niall Hickey. Seemingly boxed in near the tunnel, his outside-of-the-right shot cut through the wind for a sweet score in the 16th minute. His next was possibly a game-changer. In the 22nd minute, Hickey’s effort from the 45 caught out an advancing Pat Butler, with the green flag putting Kildavin/Clonegal 1-3 to 0-4 to the good.
The eventual winners’ reaction was that of champions-elect, with Choo Choo off left and right levelling by half-time. Kildavin/Clonegal were dealt a blow losing Barry Hickey to injury, with the score at 1-3 to 0-6 at the interval.
With the elements now in their favour, Fenagh kept their opponents pinned inside their own half for the vast majority of the game when it was still in the balance. The pillars of McCabe, Bradley, Lomax, Tracey, Murphy, and Hynes were virtually impenetrable. It was the 35th minute by the time Padraig Hynes regained the lead for Fenagh, the first of his 4 frees by the 47th minute. Tracey was fouled twice, Murphy once, and when Colin Byrne drew a free, it was a sublime outside-of-the-right conversion with a peach of an effort by Hynes that saw the game’s biggest difference on the scoreboard, 0-10 to 1-3.
The hard-working John Kirwan gained a chance for a reply in the 48th minute for the Wexford border side. Jake Nolan’s effort went the wrong side of the post. Seconds later, a vital Podge Ryan interception when a Fenagh goal looked likely kept his side in the game, but not for long.
Just minutes after, quick hands saw Hynes find Eoin McDonagh, who set captain Cormac Lomax clear to finish low past Ricky Byrne. Fenagh now set sail for victory, 1-10 to 1-3 as the game entered its final 10 minutes.
While Kildavin/Clonegal had yet to score following their goal, Fenagh would complement their own 3-pointer with white flags. Choo Choo off left and right were both good. Jack Tracey’s one in between was just different class. His jinking run matched by the strike for the score of the game, making it 1-13 to 1-3 on 52 minutes.
Credit to Kildavin/Clonegal, as when Joe Roberts pointed a free in the 53rd minute, it came all of 31 minutes after their previous score. Jake Nolan added another brace in the 54th and 61st minutes, showing he’s a player for now and for the future (Tracey having completed Fenagh’s scoring in the 56th minute).
It was fitting that the last play of the game saw Niall Hickey’s rasping effort brilliantly saved by Pat Butler (his 3rd Intermediate medal secured). Fenagh head back up to Senior, and though Kildavin/Clonegal will be disappointed with their loss, they have made serious progress in this championship campaign and have a firm platform to build from. Final score: 1-14 to 1-6.
Fenagh: Pat Butler, Darragh Byrne, Dion Wall, Mark Dermody, Eric English, Jamie McCabe, Padraig O’Brien, Eoin McDonagh, Keagan Bradley (0-1), Ciaran Whelan, Cormac Lomax (1-0) (C), Colin Byrne, Jack Tracey (0-3), Sean Murphy (0-4), Padraig Hynes (0-6, 0-2f).
Subs: Josh Kearney for Tracey (57 mins), Adam Smyth for Bradley (60 mins).
Kildavin/Clonegal: Ricky Byrne, Lorcan Kinsella, Paul Kelly, Gavin Byrne, Barry Hickey, Donal Hickey (C), Niall Hickey (1-1), Paraic Hickey, Daniel Murphy, Ciaran Scott, Alex Callaghan, Daryl Roberts, Jake Nolan (0-4), John Kirwan.
Subs: Joe Roberts for Barry Hickey (24 mins), Daniel Cronin for Murphy (37 mins), Padraic Ryan for Callaghan (47 mins), Niall Murphy for Kelly (56 mins), Philip Byrne for Gavin Byrne (56 mins).
Referee: Marion Hayden (Éire Óg)
