Stradbally maintain their winning run with ACFL first win

ACFL Division 1 Rd 1 

Stradbally 1-15 

Ballyroan Abbey 0-10 

STRADBALLY have continued their perfect start to the year with an impressive victory away to Ballyroan Abbey on Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the ACFL Division 1.

Saturday’s visitors have been impressive throughout their Kelly Cup campaign with three wins from three, including a victory over Ballyroan Abbey and will be lining out for the final on Wednesday evening against O’Dempsey’s.

These clubs have dominated the U/20 scene in recent years with Stradbally Parish Gaels winning their second in a row last year and Ballyroan Abbey clinching three in a row up until 2023, and it was one of Stradbally’s 2025 champions, Fionn McEvoy, that starred on Saturday with the corner forward racking up an impressive 1-3 from play.

Former Ballyroan Abbey and current Stradbally manager Pauric Clancy will no doubt have been content with his side at half time in Saturday’s game as they went in two points to the good after kicking against a strong wind out on the front pitch in Ballyroan, though after racing into a six point lead after just 10 minutes, they allowed the hosts back into contention.

The hosts were more adept and inclined to kick from range and a brace of first half two-pointers kept them within touching distance at the break, but a goal from McEvoy early in the second half gave Stradbally a decent cushion with the wind then behind them and they tacked on further scores as the game progressed.

Stradbally’s running game was a constant throughout the afternoon and Joe Larkin kicked the opening score off the back of a great team move beginning with a clever kickout from Garry Comerford.

David Dineen made it two for the visitors before McEvoy showed some great footwork to find space to kick his fist point.

A trio of frees followed from Cillian Maher to put Stradbally six points to the good within ten minutes, though a fantastic reply from Conaire Gee from range put two on the board for Ballyroan Abbey.

Referee Brendan Hickey wasn’t going to stand for any messing as he blew two frees for holding inside, resulting in points at each end for James McWey and Maher, before Maher added another from play after a driving run by Colm Begley.

Ballyroan Abbey raised a second orange flag with an outrageous effort by Diarmuid Whelan and James McWey kicked a tidy score from play to reduce the gap to just two points at half time.

Stradbally emerged for the second half with the elements in their favour and made a dream start when Dineen fired the ball across the goals to McEvoy who rattled the roof of the net for a goal.

The hosts hit back with scores from Alan McWey and Whelan, but they were already leaving gaps behind for the pacey Stradbally forwards to run into and that resulted in scores for Conor Buggie and McEvoy.

Ballyroan Abbey stuck Cathal Doyle inside in the hopes he could cause some damage under high balls and it worked early with a second point for Alan McWey, but Stradbally soon wised up and were able to counteract with quick breaks down the field.

Tom Shiel pointed off the back of one said break and Ballyroan Abbey were reduced to fourteen men with a black card issued to Patrick Whelan for a cynical foul.

Stradbally piled on the pressure with the extra man advantage with points from Begley, McEvoy and Benny Lawlor seeing them home to an eight point win.

The next round of fixtures comes on the last weekend of the month when Stradbally will be aiming to make it two wins from two when they welcome Clonaslee/St Manman’s, while Ballyroan Abbey make a tough trip to Courtwood.

SCORERS:

Stradbally: Fionn McEvoy 1-3, Cillian Maher 0-6 (0-4fs), Joe Larkin, David Dineen, Conor Buggie, Benny Lawlor, Colm Begley, Tom Shiel 0-1 each.

Ballyroan Abbey: Diarmuid Whelan (1 tp) and James McWey (0-2fs) 0-3 each, Conair Gee (1 tp) and Alan McWey 0-2 each.

STRADBALLY: Garry Comerford; Sean Maher, Liam Knowles, Eamonn Delaney; Eoin Buggie, James Devoy, Ben Dillon; Jack Deegan, Conor Goode; Colm Begley, Conor Buggie, Joe Larkin; David Dineen, Cillian Maher, Fionn McEvoy.

Subs: Tom Shiel for C Maher (50m), Benny Lawlor for Dineen (50m), Damien Murphy for C Buggie (55m).

BALLYROAN ABBEY: Robert Eyres; Eamon Fitzpatrick, Conor Brennan, Patrick Whelan; Colm Walsh, Conor McWey, Conaire Gee; Killian Byrne, Cathal Doyle; Shaun Murphy, Diarmuid Whelan, Odhran Delaney; James McWey, Marty Scully, Enda McWey.

Subs: Subs: Charlie Whelan for Delaney (ht) Alan McWey for Scully (ht), Ben McDonald for E McWey (45m), Michael Brennan for Brennan (54m).

Referee: Brendan Hickey (Graiguecullen)