Longford Intermediate champions Ardagh Moydow fall at the first hurdle in Leinster

Ardagh Moydow failed to build on a promising first half performance and were eventually well beaten by Meath opponents Kilbride in the opening round of the Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday.

Kilbride (Meath) . . . 2-19     Ardagh Moydow . . . 2-8

Well-taken goals from Connor Hogan and Dylan Fay in the early stages of the game suggested a possible surprise win for the Longford champions and they could have been further in front but for a missed opportunity by chief marksman Killian Farrell (0-6) in the 12th minute. 

Farrell blasted his great goal chance wide and Ardagh Moydow were later furious with the harsh decision by the referee to penalise Conor Carroll for overplaying the ball with his team on the attack. 

This led directly to a Kilbride counter-attack which yielded a fine individual goal from Conor McWeeney in the 28th minute to leave the sides all square at the break, 1-6 to 2-3. 

Against the wind in the second half, it had now developed into a fierce uphill battle for Ardagh Moydow against Kilbride who quickly asserted their superiority on the scoreboard. 

A terrific two-pointer (play) from wing back Andrew McWeeney was followed by a Josh Harford (free) and the killer blow was then struck as the clean through Conor McWeeney scored his decisive second goal.

With just three minutes gone on the changeover, the visitors were now in a commanding 2-9 to 2-3 lead as they cruised to a comprehensive winning margin of 11 points in the finish.

Ardagh/Moydow were guilty of wasting a number of scoring chances in the second half and their tale of woe was complete when they ended up with 14 players on the pitch following a second yellow card for centre-half-back Gerard Farrell in the 51st minute. 

ARDAGH MOYDOW: Cian O’Byrne; Mark McCord, Tommy Powell, Jack Gallagher; Conor Carroll, Gerard Farrell, James McGoey; Dylan Fay (1-0), Emmet Donlon; Diarmuid Farrell (0-1), Paddy Hanley, Connor Hogan (1-0); Dylan Coady (0-1, free), Daryl Carrigy, Killian Farrell (0-6, 3 frees).

Subs:- Eugene Murray for P Hanley (43 mins); Brendan Finnan for C Hogan (54 mins); Shane Henry for J McGoey (57 mins); Elliot Vaughan for D Coady (57 mins).

KILBRIDE (Meath): Luke Faherty; Mark Dempsey, Ronan O’Leary, Anthony Barker; Finn White, Timmy Farrell, Andrew McWeeney (0-2, two-pointer play); Daniel Boyd (0-1), Caolan Howard; Conor McWeeney (2-2), James Gavin, Gareth Rooney; Josh Harford (0-6, two-pointers from free and play, 1 free), David O’Leary (0-7, 1 two-pointer free, 3 frees), Cathal McKeon.

Subs:- Zach McGovern for G Rooney (half-time); Cadhla McKenna (0-1) for A Barker (58 mins); Conor O’Driscoll for C McWeeney (58 mins); Adam Smith for F White (stoppage time); Tommy Egan for D O’Leary (stoppage time). 

Referee: Lee Moore (Kildare).