Silverbridge 0-5 Madden 1-7
A first half goal from Madden sharpshooter Aron McKenna gave the Raparees a first-round victory over Silverbridge.
Played in horrible conditions, it was the visiting side who made the most of their chances to win by five points.
Madden, with the breeze at their backs during the opening period, charged into a seven-point half time lead.
The visitors, with the aid of the weather, kept their hosts and the Division 1B league champions scoreless throughout the first 30 minutes of action.
Joe Sheridan started proceedings with the first point of the night coming on the fourth minute mark.
Christopher Reel in the Silverbridge goal pulled off a fine save to deny a Madden goal form Ciaran Rafferty.
Sheridan doubled their advantage before his older brother Jamie was called into action at the other end, saving from a Pete Carragher chance.
1-2 in under ten minutes from McKenna extended Madden’s lead and fired the visitors seven-points ahead.
A direct dart from Donal Rafferty open things up before he shifted possession to McKenna who netted. That put Madden 1-4 to 0-0 ahead at the interval.
Silverbridge finally got their end of the scoreboard up and running three minutes after the turnaround through Sean Conlon.
Jamie Sheridan made another final save, again denying Carragher, before Sean Rock popped over a ‘Bridge free.
Darragh McMullen opened Madden’s account for the second half, with the first of their two points after the break.
Silverbridge claimed three of the next four scores, narrowing the margin to four inside the final few minutes.
Tiarnan Murphy raised a white flag while a Rafferty point split scores from Jarly Og Burns and Paddy Reel.
Madden had the final say on the night, however. Niall Smith raced forward to fire over the last score and secure a seven-point win.
