Clinical St Mary's give wasteful Fenagh a tough lesson

League champions St Mary’s Kiltoghert gave their predecessors a lesson in efficiency and ruthlessness when they secured a comfortable three point win over a wasteful Fenagh St Caillins in the opening game of the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC in Pairc Sean O’Laodain.

St Mary’s ability to carve open goal chances saw them breach Fenagh’s rearguard three times with first year Senior Brian Keaney claiming two real poacher’s goals while Killian Gaffey made two brilliant one-on-one saves at the other end to deny Fergal McLoughlin and Ryan O’Rourke.

Fenagh will look back on this one with regret with their two missed goal chances and a host of wides costing them dearly yet, in a strange way, St Mary’s never looked in any real trouble as they contained whatever their hosts through at them in a calm and assured manner.

The control they exerted in the League final was not quite the same here as Fenagh played on the front foot but Alan Flynn’s side looked in control and while Fenagh were missing Riordan O’Rourke and Conor Dwyer, two big losses to be sure, St Mary’s were without Paul Keaney, Jack Casey, James McGrail & Sam Barnes although Keaney and McGrail did come on.

What the game did illustrate was St Mary’s strength in depth as both Diarmuid Kelleher and Adam Reynolds left the action relatively early but it made little difference to the Carrick men whose organisation, teamwork and tactical nous stood out certainly in this game.

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Neither team will read too much into this result but it does reinforce that St Mary’s, back to back finalists and winners in 2022, are going to be very hard beaten this year with some new faces such as Brian Keaney making a bright impact even at this early stage.

Fergal McLoughlin opened the scoring with a brilliant point after 25 seconds but Conor Hackett skipped through the Fenagh defence to tie two minutes later. Fenagh missed a couple of chances before St Mary’s lost their kickout the Fenagh got the ball to Ryan O’Rourke for his first point.

The St Mary's team who defeated Fenagh St Caillins on Friday evening Picture: Willie Donnellan

The kickout was turning out to be a problem as St Mary’s lost the ball again, Fenagh bore down on goal but Fergal McLoughlin was denied a goal by a brilliant save from keeper Killian Gaffey. Ryan O’Rourke added a point on eight minutes to put the home side two clear.

The game took a major shift 11 minutes in when Ben Guckian’s superbly accurate long delivery found Brian Keaney in behind the defence and showing great footwork, he skipped by defender and keeper to fire the ball to the net.

Nicholas McWeeney immediately added a point after good work from Oisin Bohan but Fenagh captain Conal McGovern burst through at pace to score. Ryan O’Rourke traded points with McWeeney, the St Mary’s driving over the bar when a goal was on as Fenagh missed some good chances.

That proved crucial - Gaffey found Bohan unmarked in the centre of the field with a low kickout, he transferred to a raiding Diarmuid Kelleher. A pass to Ben Guckian left him with a two on one and a timely pass saw Keaney volley first time to the Fenagh net for Mary’s second goal on 26 minutes.

The Fenagh St Caillins team who were defeated by St Mary's Kiltoghert Picture: Willie Donnellan

Killian Gaffey then came upfield to boot a monster 50 yard free from out on the wing over the bar with a Ryan O’Rourke free, sandwiched by two misses from placed balls, leaving the halftime score at 2-4 to 0-6 in favour of St Mary’s.

Fenagh came out with great intent in the second half and despite an Oisin Bohan point, three scores from Ryan O’Rourke, play and free, and Mark Keegan cut the St Mary’s lead to just two points after four minutes.

But all that good work was wiped out two minutes later when Conor Farrell won a Fenagh kickout and a free. He gave the ball to a teammate who kicked long to Brian Keaney and he passed quickly to a charging Farrell who drilled low and hard to the Fenagh net for a killer third goal.

St Mary’s took off Adam Reynolds but had the luxury of bringing on Paul Keaney to replace him and a flick from Gavin Reynolds set Cian Singleton free for a well taken point. Fenagh came back again with points from Fergal McLoughlin and Mark Keegan but St Mary’s responded with one each from Paul Keaney (free) and fellow sub Cillian Hanratty to maintain their five point lead.

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That was their last score with more than 13 minutes of normal time left and despite Ryan O’Rourke firing over a free, St Mary’s managed the game superbly. Ryan O’Rourke hit two more points, one a free, on 51 & 54 minutes but St Mary’s saw out the rest of the game quite comfortably, particularly when Aaron McLoughlin got his marching orders in the final minute.

ST MARY’S KILTOGHERT

Scorers: Brian Keaney 2-0; Conor Farrell 1-0; Nicholas McWeeney 0-2; Killian Gaffey (f), Cian Singleton, Conor Hackett, Oisin Bohan, Cillian Hanratty & Paul Keaney (f) 0-1 each

Team: Killian Gaffey, Mark Lenehan, Mark Diffley, Mark Lenehan, Nicholas McWeeney, Cian Singleton, Kyle McCrann, Gavin Reynolds, Conor Hackett, Adam Reynolds, Ben Guckian, Diarmuid Kelleher, Ashley Mayiza, Brian Keaney, Oisin Bohan. Subs: Cillian Hanratty for Kelleher (HT); Paul Keaney for A Reynolds (37); James McGrail for Bohan (47); Emmett Regan & Jack Barnes for Hackett & Singleton (56)

FENAGH ST CAILLINS

Scorers: Ryan O’Rourke 0-9, 5f; Mark Keegan & Fergal McLoughlin 0-2 each; Conal McGovern 0-1

Team: Shane Doonan, Aaron McLoughlin, Gary Butler, Eoin McLoughlin, Oisin McLoughlin, Jack Gilheany, Conal McGovern, Daniel McLoughlin, Donal Wrynn, Colm McLoughlin, Fergal McLoughlin, Mark Keegan, Shane Smith, Ryan O’Rourke, James Gilheany. Subs: Martin Doonan for Smith (HT); Alan Doonan for F McLoughlin (49)

Referee: Mark McCloskey