GAELIC FOOTBALL: RUGBY Gaels made it two wins out of tw in the Warwickshire Intermediate League Division Three after beating Derby-based St Joseph’s by 24 points to 11 on Sunday.
The men from Derby scored two goals in the first five minutes as Rugby failed to find the pace of the game early on.
But the visitors clawed their way back with a goal from the penalty spot following a foot block on Sean Byrne.
Rugby were second best but escaped further punishment with the excellent Ben O’Riordan soaking up the pressure and a goal from Dan O’Brien just before the break meant that The Gaels only trailed by one point at half-time.
Rugby came out for the second half on the front foot with manager Mick Treacy bringing himself on at full forward and within the first few minutes he had set up Connor Shaw for his second goal and fed Ryan Ward for an excellent point while also adding a point of his own.
Rugby had the lead and kept the ball for long periods with Lewis Fairgrieves and in particular Fenton Collins lording it in midfield.
When St Joseph’s broke forward, the half back line of Steven Clarke, Cathal Stakleum and Michael O’Meara stood firm and forced them into shooting from distance with little effect.
When Alex Baalham Donaldson found the net with ten minutes to go, Rugby’s lead was out to eight points.
But Dan O’Brien completed the scoring with a poacher’s goal following a mistake by the St Joseph’s keeper to give Rugby a thirteen point victory.
