Molaise Gaels and St Patrick’s played out an entertaining game in difficult conditions in Cloonacool on Saturday evening last. Both sides had plenty of possession in the opening minutes, but scores were hard to come by with both defences on top and tackling hard but fair.

The first score didn’t arrive until the seventh minute and what an important score it was. The ball broke in the Pat’s goalmouth and Gaels’ half-forward, Keelan Watters, was the first to react and punch the ball into the Pats’ net. It was to prove a vital score for Molaise at the end. A minute later, Gaels increased their lead when Luke Towey, making one of his many runs from half-back, slotted over for a fine point from 35 metres.

Gaels won possession from the resulting kickout and worked the ball to Alan McLoughlin who kicked his first point of the day from play. Pats had a chance to get back in the game in the 10th minute with a goal chance but Gaels’ custodian, Niall McLoughlin, made a brilliant save from point blank range, the first of three outstanding saves he made during the game.

The next score didn’t arrive until the 17th minute when Michael Langan pointed a free for Molaise, Pats got off the mark in the 20th minute when impressive full forward Pauric Clarke, who was having a great battle with teak-tough Liam Kennedy, pointed a free kick.

St Patrick’s corner forward, Ciaran Brady, kicked a point from play two minutes later. Pats had another goal to cut the Molaise lead to four a minute later but once again, McLoughlin in the Gaels’ goal was equal to the task and kept his goal intact. Alan McLoughlin pointed a free in the 26th minute to extend the lead to five. A second point from Brady and one from McMunn, both from play, brought the first half to a close with Molaise leading by three; 1-04 to 0-04.

The rain eased somewhat at the start of the second half, the opening four minutes following the pattern of the first half with both sides having possession before Keelan Watters, as he did in the first half, got the first score in the 4th minute, kicking a point from play. Pats responded in the 6th when impressive midfielder, James Clarke, kicked a fine point on the run. Langan pointed again for the Gaels in the 12th minute and three minutes later, Pats found themselves with yet another goal chance. And again, McLoughlin denied them with another superb save. Gaels broke directly and Alan McLoughlin kicked over from play.

Pats got the next two scores, one from attacking half back, David Giblin from play followed by a free converted by Pauric Clarke to leave just three points between the teams entering the final quarter.

The 21st minute saw Alan McLoughlin point a free and what was to be the Gaels’ final score of the game. Pauric Clarke pointed again in the 25th from play before Fiachra McCann, who had just entered the fray, kicked a majestic score from 40 metres. Pat’s laid siege to the Molaise goal in the last few minutes and try as they might, they couldn’t break a hard-working Gaels’ rear-guard.

Final score: Molaise Gaels 1-08, St Patrick’s 0-09 and Molaise go through to the intermediate semi-finals with a game to play. St Pat’s will wonder how they didn’t get something from the game and Gaels have their netminder to thank they didn’t.

Molaise Gaels: Niall McLoughlin, Liam Kennedy, Ethan Watters, Marc Heraghty, Luke Casserly, Keelan Waters (1-01), Luke Towey (0-01), Dean Carroll, Paddy McGowan, Joseph Keaney, Alan McLoughlin (C) (0-04, 2f), James Heraghty, Cathal Herron, Michael Langan (0-02, 1f). Subs used: John Kerins, Josh Fallon, Cathal Burns, Micheál Gillen.

St Patrick’s: Cormac Boland, Jonathan Higgins, James Kearins, Enda Clarke, David Giblin (C) (0-01), Joe McMunn, Daragh Williams, James Clarke (0-01), Cathal Freeman, Ciaran Giblin, Tomás McMunn (0-01), Canice Mulligan, Ciaran Brady (0-02), Padraic Clarke (0-03, 2f), Pierce Kearins. Subs used: Fiachra McCann (0-01)