St Michael’s get off the mark with a win over Kilcar

After three straight defeats in their opening three games, St Michael’s finally got off the mark in Division 1 with a comfortable win over Kilcar at the Bridge on Sunday.

The locals, with Max Roarty, Martin McElhinney, Michael Cannon, Michael McGinley, Ciaran Kelly, Daniel McLaughlin and Carlos O’Reilly leading the charge, held a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage at half-time.

O’Reilly and McLaughlin were the standout scorers, combining for 0-11 between them over the hour. The elusive O’Reilly posted six, while McLaughlin added five, including a brace of two-point frees.

Jack Hegarty carried the main scoring threat for Kilcar with three points, two of them in quick succession in the opening half. 

Veteran midfielder Ciaran McGinley, who limped out of the game after 20 minutes following a heavy fall a few minutes earlier, had already registered two points before his departure. His loss was a huge blow for a young and inexperienced Kilcar side.

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St Michael’s led 0-4 to 0-3 when McGinley was forced off, after the sides had been level three times in the opening 15 minutes.

Leading by three at the break, St Michael’s pushed on in the second half. Despite Brian O’Donnell reducing the deficit early on, the dominance of McElhinney, Cannon, and McGinley around the middle proved decisive.

St Michael’s outscored Kilcar by nine points to three after the restart, with Carlos O’Reilly, Cannon, McGinley and McLaughlin all on target.

Liam McLaughlin (free) and Hegarty (from play) accounted for Kilcar’s only scores in the second period.

St Michael’s scorers: Carlos O’Reilly 0-6, 2f, Daniel McLaughlin 0-5, 2 tpf, Michael Cannon and Michael McGinley 0-2, Max Roarty 0-1.

Kilcar scorers: Jack Hegarty 0-3, Ciaran McGinley 0-2, Brian O’Donnell 0-1, Liam McLaughlin 0-1, 1f.

St Michael’s: Oisín Cannon; Sean Ferry, Stephen Doak, Kit Regan; Patrick Sproule, Ciaran Kelly, Max Roarty; Michael McGinley, Michael Cannon; Ethan Ferry, Daniel McLaughlin, Fionn Chernick; Carlos O’Reilly, Martin McElhinney, Edward O’Reilly.

Sub: John McFadden for M. Roarty (55).

Kilcar: Eoin O’Donnell; Ciaran O’Donnell, Eoin McCormick, Seanie Boyle; Eoin McShane, Brian O’Donnell, Conor Doherty; Ciaran McGinley, Pauric Love; Ryan O’Donnell, Michael Gallagher, Jack Hegarty; Liam McLaughlin, Stephen McBrearty, Conor O’Donnell.

Subs: Eoin Love for C. McGinley (20, inj); Oran Hegarty for J. Hegarty (55).

Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s).