Kennedys Intermediate Championship Semi-final.
Shamrock
Gaels Late Rally Earns A Draw. Report
by Padraic Duffy.
Enniscrone/Kilglass 1-10 Shamrock Gaels 0-13.
A pulsating
final ten minutes saw Shamrock Gaels keep their Championship hopes alive as
they secured a draw against a spirited Enniscrone/Kilglass team in the Kennedys
Intermediate championship semi-final in Bunninadden Community Park on Sunday
afternoon. The sides were level at the interval but the seasiders held a
significant three points lead for much of the second half.
Although
Shamrock Gaels enjoyed regular possession, their short passing game
was capably
dealt with by a sterling opposition defence where J.P.Carden and Brendan Byron
were very prominent. Shamrock Gaels were over reliant on David Quinn’s accuracy
from frees to keep them in the game and eventually clinch the equaliser. Indeed
the same player almost stole it for the maroon and white but his well struck
45 just missed the target in the dying
seconds.
Yet this was
an entertaining game with well contested exchanges all over the pitch and an
evident determination by both sides to qualify for the decider, where Curry
await.
Despite
their draw and extra time v Ballymote last week, Enniscrone /Kilglass opened in
energetic fashion with corner forward, Shane Hargadon opening their account
with a point after three minutes.
Shamrock
Gaels settled and had their most productive spell in the game, reeling off five
points without reply. Darragh Hailstones pointed from play and David Quinn
added two points from frees. Brian Boyd added another before David Quinn
finished off good approach work with a point from an acute angle on the left.
Indiscipline
in the Gaels defence saw the ball brought forward and Michael Moyles pointed
the 30m.free for his side’s second score. The impressive Brian Coleman added
another point .Enniscrone then had a real goal chance, but Michael Moyle’s
goalbound effort was well saved by the Gaels’ keeper Donal Touhy.
Points from
Brian Boyd and David Quinn gave their team a four points lead approaching the
interval. Enniscrone /Kilglass, however finished with a flourish. The Gaels
defence failed to deal with a high ball into their goalmouth and Mark Gordon
picked up the break to hammer the ball to the net.
Team captain,
Cathal Mullaney, who led by example throughout, pointed from play to send the
teams to the dressing rooms on level terms 1-4 to 0-7 at the interval.
On the
resumption the influential Frank Quinn pushed S.Gaels ahead with a point from
40m.
Brian
Coleman equalised before Cian Mulrooney put his side ahead again when he
flicked a delivery from Kevin Cawley over the bar. Mark Gordon, who was always
a threat to the Gaels defence, increased the Enniscrone/Kilglass lead. Cian
Mulrooney added his second point to leave his side ahead 1-8 to 0-8.
Keith Mc
Morrow broke forward from defence to pull a point back for a Gaels side who
were now under pressure. Ciaran O’Dowd restored the seasiders advantage with
one of the points of the game. Brian Boyd steadied the S.Gaels ship with a
point from play but they were soon reduced to 14 players following the dismissal of Ben Touhy on a
second yellow card.
Michael
Moyles pointed from 40m. to push Enniscrone/Kilglass further ahead.
Following a
throw-in after the Enniscrone/Kilglass ‘keeper was penalised for a delayed kick
out, S.Gaels midfielder, Joe Henry won
the ball but his attempt on goal from close in went to the right and wide.
Shamrock
Gaels upped the tempo with a possible exit looming.
Brian Boyd
pointed from play and David Quinn pointed a 13m free to reduce the deficit to a
single point. Amid mounting excitement and with the clock ticking down, David
Quinn pointed a 20m. free from the left to bring the sides level. The momentum
was now with his team in injury time but an overworked Enniscrone/Kilglass
defence held out to earn a replay next weekend.
Both sides
will be relieved to have another chance, but Shamrock Gaels in particular will
probably feel they have further room for improvement.
Enniscrone/Kilglass
will be encouraged by their determined display over the past two weeks and will
relish another opportunity to prove that they are well capable of performing at
this level.
Both teams
revert to Bunninadden on Sunday next, with the throw-in at 4.30p.m.
Scorers: Enniscrone/Kilglass: M.Gordon 1-1,M.Moyles
0-2(0-1f.),B.Coleman 0-2,C.Mulrooney 0-2,S.Hargadon, C.Mullaney & C.O’Dowd
0-1 each.
S. Gaels: D.Quinn 0-6 (0-4f.),B.Boyd
0-4,D.Hailstones,K.Mc Morrow & F.Quinn 0-1 each.
Line-out: Enniscrone/Kilglass: G.Regan;E.Burke,B.Byron,J.Ellis;K.Cawley,J.P.Carden,E.Hallinan;D.Mullaney,C.Mullaney(capt.);C.Mulrooney,C.O’Dowd,B.Coleman;M.Gordon,M.Moyles,S.Hargadon.
Subs used:B.Fitzgerald,A.Duffy & R.Jacob.
S.Gaels:
D.Touhy;B.Touhy,E.Lyons,K.McMorrow;K.McKenna,P.Higgins(capt.),A.Flynn;
D.McDermott,J.Henry;M.Kilkenny,B.Boyd,C.O’Connor;D.Hailstones,F.Quinn,D.Quinn.
Subs used:J.Carroll,S.Hailstones.
Referee:
J.Griffin (Calry/St.Joseph’s).