Connacht Gold Intermediate Championship Relegation play off
Sunday 10 October
Cloonacool
Referee Keith Henry
Eastern Harps 2.16, Castleconnor 3.09
Eastern Harps cemented their Intermediate status for 2022 by
virtue of a four point winning margin when they overcame Castleconnor on a
beautiful sunny October afternoon at Cloonacool GAA pitch. Castleconnor get
another opportunity to save their fate when they play Tourlestrane's
Intermediate team next weekend with the loser dropping down to Junior football
next year.
While the quality on offer in this game might be best
described as mediocre the close intensity of the encounter kept the crowd
entertained. Sean Carrabine was outstanding and on several occasions when the
game appeared to be slipping out of sight for Castleconnor he single-handedly
wrestled them back into the game. His awesome contribution of 3.06, nearly all
from play showcase his talents. Strangely enough Eastern Harps helped his cause
by declining to play a sweeper obviously
happy that they would outscore their opponents irrespective of his
contribution.
Their confidence appeared to be well justified as teenager Matt Henry
tormented the west division’s defence scoring 2.03 from play. Shane O Grady, Shawn O Hara and Caelan Hunt
all added three points each from play with O Grady adding an additional two
white flags from placed balls. The better distribution of scorers from Harps
was possibly the most significant reason they won this game.
The importance of this fixture certainly kept a bit of spice
in the encounter and while Castleconnor ultimately finished the game with 13
players due to black cards , it was more to do with frustration in the final
few minutes at the inevitable result
rather than anything more
sinister.
There were several patches of brilliant play by both teams.
Any of the three Carrabine goals, in particular the one he scored after a mazy
run with his so called weaker foot, the first point by Matt Henry when he
showed his marker a clean pair of heels along the sideline before accelerating
inwards and kicking a beautiful point, Alan Davey's save on yet
another Carrabine effort when he was going for his fourth goal or Caelan Hunt
who had the audacity to kick the insurance point from the outside of his left
boot from the touchline on the left hand side.
For Castleconnor Paul Flynn who fielded a tremendous kick
out in the first few minutes played very well and was well supported by Patrick
Cooney and Eoin Kent but they will all have to do it all again next week if
Intermediate football is to be retained in Castleconnor in the future.
Eastern Harps Alan Davey, Tomas Taheny, Barry Cryan,
Luke Taheny, Ronan Mulligan, Kevin Gallagher, Cian Higgins, Michael
Clarke(0.02), Kyle Cosgrove, Dylan Walsh Shawn O Hara(0.03), Bryan Molloy, Matt
Henry(2.03), Shane O Grady(0.05) Tony Taylor.
subs used Caelan Hunt (0.03) Darragh Madden, Connor Higgins
Castleconnor Liam Donegan, Rory HealyKeith Earlis,
Fergal BolandPatrick Cooney, Cian Barrins, Eoin Kent Sean Carrabine Brian
Howley Paul Flynn(0.01) Oisin Flynn(0.01), James Tully. Miceal Cahill Jason
Earlis (0.01) Ronan Wilson.
Referee Keith Henry