Ranelagh Gaels 2-9 - St Jude’s 0-2

RANELAGH Gaels produced their best football of the season as they brushed past St Jude’s in Thursday evening’s AFL Division 9 clash at Bushy Park.

Gaels are in their first season at this grade having earned promotion at the start of the year and after four games they top the table with their 100 per cent league record still intact.

Conditions were terrible, but despite the driving rain and the heavy pitch the home side produced an excellent display.

The forwards were on song kicking 2-9, but the most impressive part of the performance was the defensive work rate.

The tackling and blocking started with the corner forwards and this ethic continued right throughout the field.

Jude’s enjoyed a brief period of dominance during the first half, but the defence managed to bottle them up and they were held scoreless before the break.

“If we played like that every day we’d never be beaten,” said manager Liam O’Hagan.

Gaels started somewhat slowly and it took them a while to take control of the game. They led by 0-5 to 0-0 at the break and it really should have been more.

Just after the restarted Jer McCarthy, who had a productive game in the full forward line, got the first goal of the game and put Ranelagh firmly in the driving seat.

With the defence well on top some of the backs took the opportunity to get up the field and fullback Martin Egan showed his accuracy when he kicked a marvellous point.

All bar one of the second half points came from play with Enda Marren, Brian Regan, Denis Doolan and Alan Kelly all amongst those who raised the white flag.

Jude’s did have their chances, but keeper Conor O Droma made a brilliant stop to deny them any way back into the game.

Pat Koucheravy added the finishing touches with an improvised goal just before the final whistle.

Big Pat, born and raised in America, is a hugely popular figure around the club having only taken up Gaelic football little over a year ago and when he tapped home with his right knee there was a loud cheer.

There were several outstanding performances with Alan Toolan, Brian Regan, Denis Doolan, Enda Marren and Jer McCarthy all contributing well.

But man of the match was Conor Harnett at centre back, who held the defence together with authority and drove forward on the ball with purpose.