Old Leighlin motored very well in this one.
2024 Michael Lyng Motors SFC Group 1, Round 3
Old Leighlin 2-16, Bagenalstown Gaels 0-9
By Stephen Bambrick
Old Leighlin continued their unbeaten SFC run with a ruthless pillar-to-post performance to claim top spot in this Group 1 encounter. A pair of goals midway through the first half crowned their dominant performance over lacklustre Bagenalstown Gaels, with James Dowling and Cathal Coughlan providing cool finishes to complement an already impressive team performance.
After a very cagey opening, with the Town’s shooting being restricted to distance attempts proving fruitless, Old Leighlin’s good approach work yielded scores most times they went into enemy territory. Seamus Kinsella (free), Cathal Coughlan, Tadhg Roche, and Mikey Bambrick had them 0-4 to the good by the 18th minute, though an off-balance Darragh Nolan effort did trouble the Old Leighlin goal line minutes earlier.
The goals, when they did come, were from turnovers deep in the Town rearguard. Dowling, from a turned-over kickout, was on hand to steer home on 19 minutes, with Coughlan on the end of a Mikey Bambrick cross along the ground to do likewise in the 23rd minute.
Throw in a Kinsella free in between, and it was amazingly 2-5 to no score, it taking all of 25 minutes before the Gaels eventually found the target courtesy of Paddy McDonnell’s free. Tadhg Roche replied almost immediately with Cian Doyle doubling their tally at half-time, 2-6 to 0-2 at the break.
With the Town in need of a good start, it was more of the same with the eventual victors opening the score through Darragh Fitzgerald. Though Cian Doyle did reply, by the 39th minute, Fitzgerald and the Bambricks, Mikey and David, had 2-10 on the board.
The running from deep had their Bagenalstown at sixes and sevens, though James Farrell did offer hope with a fine turn to point for their fourth. James Dowling’s run from the halfway line soon cancelled that, with Fitzgerald and Coughlan adding further scores by the 46th minute for 2-13 to 0-4.
Minutes later, Old Leighlin were reduced to 14, with Aaron Amond bringing down Jamie Clarke, McDonnell pointing the resultant free.
The Town outscored their opponents 4-3 during the final quarter, the highlights being McDonnell’s 45, Jack McCullagh’s point from distance, and Mikey Bambrick’s sideline pass for Dowling to point.
The final outcome was 2-16 to 0-9, with Old Leighlin heading for the semi-finals, while Rathvilly await Bagenalstown Gaels next Sunday in the quarter-finals.
Old Leighlin:
Subs:
Bagenalstown Gaels:
Subs:
Referee: John Hickey
