Healy double ensures semi spot for Loughcrew

Loughcrew secured second spot in Group B of the Regional FC with an impressive 3-13 to 0-11 victory over an An Tuascairt side who went into the contest at Dunganny tonight with an outside chance of making the last four, writes Susan Farrell Ballinlough PRO.

Loughcrew opened the scoring with a tidy point from CJ Healy before Oran Mulvaney doubled their lead a moment later.

It took An Tuascairt a few minutes to settle but when they did they took the next three scores, two frees from Nobber's Niall Farrell and a well take score from Kilmainhamwood's Brian Cassidy. Surprisingly that was An Tuascairt's only point from play in the first-half.

Loughcrew were guilty of some wasteful kicking of the ball but they did settle back into the game with a point from Cormac Brown in the 13th minute. Two points in as many minutes for CJ Healy extended Loughcrew's lead before An Tuascairt hit back with a pointed free in the 17th minute.

A very well worked team move involving Ballinlough pair Seanie Geraghty and Darragh Caffrey saw Cormac Brown fire over again in the 18th minute, and Loughcrew were further boosted when they hit the back of the net.

That goal came when an An Tuascairt ball dropped short before Dylan Scully and Dylan Garrigan combined before the ball was played forward to CJ Healy who made no mistake sending the ball past the 'keeper in the 20th minute.

A half goal chance for An Tuascairt was denied by an excellent block from Lee Healy who threw his body in harms way to deny the shot at goal, and the same Healy was to turn scorer up the other end, when he finished off a fine Loughcrew move involving Shane Gibney and Dylan Garrigan once again.

A lovely point from Cormac Brown in the 25th minute edged Loughcrew further ahead before An Tuascairt squandered a couple of decent goal chances, the latter effort pulled back for a free after referee Cormac Reilly deemed no advantage was accruing.

Niall Farrell tipped over the resulting free so when the half time whistle sounded Loughcrew led 1-8 to 0-5.

An Tuascairt started the second half with intent but they were dismayed to see several of their early efforts sail wide before Castletown's Seamus Doherty finally made one stick in the 34th minute.

That score was followed by a nice point from Killian Price, and with the gap closing to four points, there was a chance of a decent battle ensuing.

Any neutrals in the paltry attendance were disappointed though as Loughcrew struck for two goals in as many minutes.

Oran Mulvaney smashed the ball to the net with his fist after an excellent ball across the face of the goal from CJ Healy, and then CJ Healy was on hand to nab his second major of the evening with a goal from the penalty spot after he had been fouled in the 36th minute.

The 10-point lead became 11 when a point from Joe Blake in the 39th minute saw the ball bounce off both uprights before finally dropping over the bar, while An Tuascairt kept battling with points from a Gary Breslin free and a second for Brian Cassidy in the 45th minute.

However Loughcrew tails were up and after a brillant interception from Moylagh's Shane Gibney, Dylan Garrigan was on his bike and away as he fired over an excellent point in the 49th minute.

Further points were traded with Castletown's Seamus Doherty pointing for An Tuascairt while Cormac Brown added his fourth of the evening for Loughcrew in the 56th minute.

Drumconrath’s Thomas Conlon came off the bench to add a further point to An Tuascairt's tally but Loughcrew were in no mood to relinquish their dominant lead and closed out the game convincingly with points from captain Seanie Geraghty and Oldcastle’s Pearse Sheridan to leave the result in no doubt and secure Loughcrew's semi-final spot against Boyne Valley.

Loughcrew - Dylan Scully (St Brigid's); Dylan Garrigan (Oldcastle 0-1), Darren Gibney (Moylagh), Shane Gibney (Moylagh); Darragh Caffrey (Ballinlough), Sean Geraghty (Ballinlough 0-1), Sean Guirke (Moylagh); Sean Reilly (Moylagh), Oran Mulvaney (Oldcastle 1-1); David Gibney (St Brigid's), Pearse Sheridan (Oldcastle 0-1), Lee Healy (Oldcastle 0-1); CJ Healy (Oldcastle 2-3 two frees), Joseph Blake (St Brigid's 0-1), Cormac Brown (St Brigid's 0-4). Subs - Ben Gray (Oldcastle) for Guirke 36m, Gareth O’Reilly (Oldcastle) for D Gibney 46m.

An Tuascairt - Dary Hutchison (Nobber); Conor Marry (Meath Hill), Killian Markey (Castletown), Thomas Carolan (Meath Hill); Killian Price (Castletown 0-1), Ryan Owens (Meath Hill), Barry Bradley (Nobber); Brian Cassidy (Kilmainhamwood 0-2), James Mooney (Meath Hill); Seamus Doherty (Castletown 0-2), Gary Breslin (Meath Hill 0-1 free), Dean Halpin (Nobber); Jack McMahon (Meath Hill), Dominic Yorke (Meath Hill), Niall Farrell (Nobber 0-4 frees). Subs - Oran Brady (Drumconrath), Thomas Conlon (Drumconrath 0-1), Eoin Muldoon (Drumconrath), Shaun Murray (Drumconrath), Daniel Byrne (Drumconrath).

Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's).