The senior footballers opened their Intermediate Championship campaign with a home tie against Naomh Seamas at Páirc Mhic Dháibhéid on Saturday evening. Despite only trailing by two points at half time and turning with the aid of the wind, a second half onslaught by the away side saw them run out comfortable winners on a score line of 1-11 to 3-18.
The opening scores came from Naomh Seamas with their first point from Cormac McGarry, a well taken point after the ball was worked down the right side and the second from Fergal Burke when the ball was moved quickly from defence into attack. However, we hit back when the ball was moved quickly through the hands and James Lindsay passed off to Padraig McParland who calmly drove the ball to the back of the net. We extended our lead with a pointed free by CJ Sullivan but we found ourselves on the back foot as Naomh Seamas tagged on four consecutive points courtesy of Eoin Gough, Emmet Irvine, Seamus McGarry and Ronan Hanna. From this point both teams traded point for point. Padraig McParland scored a nice point after side stepping his man to reduce the deficit to a single point, but a converted free from Cormac McGarry again doubled the advantage. A brace of points from CJ Sullivan put us back on level terms, the first after good defensive work from Jack Scally and his second following a nice solo run from Sean O’Neill. Again, Naomh Seamas hit back with four consecutive points from Ronan Hanna (0-3) and Seamus McGarry and we were probably a bit fortunate not to concede a goal when a one on one with the goalkeeper resulted in the ball being fisted over the bar rather than going for the goal. We finished the half well with points from Padraig McParland from a tight angle and Anthony Rowntree who received a pinpoint pass from Caoimhe Slane and he duly scored. At the break we trailed by two 1-6 to 0-11.
Both teams kicked early points on the restart with Cormac McGarry on target for the away side and Anthony Rowntree responding with a left footed point. Naomh Seamas stamped their authority on the game with the first of three second half goals. The ball was worked from their own box, and a series of quick transfers saw the ball arrive with Fergal Burke and he managed to find the net. Another fisted point from Oisin Graham extended the away teams advantage before their second goal, again after a period of quick passing through tight spaces resulting in a fine finish by Cormac McGarry to give them a 1-7 to 2-13 lead after 41 minutes. We responded with a pointed free from Sean O’Neill out near the side line but the visitors were in full attack mode and added a further three points with Seamus McGarry, Ronan Hanna and Cormac McGarry on target. Michael Connolly kicked a consolation point in the dying minutes but Seamus McGarry pointed before Naomh Seamas third goal when James Trowlen got the ball and for a brief moment the opportunity for a goal looked to have gone as goalkeeper Ryan McAuley advanced but Trowlen somehow managed to get a flick to the ball and it trickled to the net. Trowlen quickly followed up with another point before the final score from Padraig McParland, a two pointer, saw the away side comprehensive winners 1-11 – 3-18.
Scorers: Padraig McParland 1-4, CJ Sullivan 0-3, Anthony Rowntree 0-2, Sean O’Neill 0-1, and Michael Connolly 0-1
