Forkhill 0-8 Carrickcruppen 1-12
Carrickcruppen kickstarted their Intermediate Championship charge with a seven-point victory over Forkhill.
A first half goal from star man Eoin Woods, man of the match in the 2021 IFC final, was the crucial difference.
Forkhill, who had home advantage on the night, made the brighter start, claiming three of the first four scores.
Centre half forward Jemar Hall began proceedings with a point inside the opening sixty seconds.
Carrickcruppen matched that early score through full forward Conor Sloan before the hosts shot ahead again.
Shea Coleman fired over a 45 while Odhran Toal extended the gap to two points with his first of the evening.
Woods tagged one back for the visiting side, but saw his opening score cancelled out by Eoghan Roe O’Neill.
Woods added a second to his personal haul while two points in quick succession gave Cruppen to lead for the first time.
Then Woods put some distance between the sides, firing home on the 26th minute to put ‘Cruppen four up.
Midfielder Richard Keenan extended that lead further before Hall pulled one back for Forkhill. That left the score 0-5 to 1-7 at half time.
Two points straight after the turnaround for Barry Flynn’s men widened the gap before Coleman added his second.
Hall notched a third for the evening, popping over a free, which was followed by a point from by Owen Donaghy.
It was all Carrickcruppen in the final quarter however as they claimed the final three points of the encounter.
Conor Sloan started their scoring spree, while two further point followed to open up a seven-point gap when the final whistle sounded.
‘Cruppen, who won the IFC just two years ago, are one of the favourites for the crown. Friday’s win marks the perfect start to the 2023 campaign.
