McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship
Cremartin 1-11 Inniskeen 0-11 26/8/12
Cremartin came from behind to secure the last IFC semi-final place with a three-point win over Inniskeen in an entertaining match at Aughnamullen on Sunday. Inniskeen, who were fancied to advance after an impressive win over Aughnamullen the previous week, had burst out of the starting blocks by scoring the first five points and even after Cremartin hit back with the next five, the south-Monaghan men looked to be on their way when they re-opened a four-point lead midway through the second half. Cremartin were gradually taking control at midfield and they made that count, winning the final quarter by 1-5 to 0-1 with county minor Mark Magee scoring the only goal of the game on 50 minutes. Fergal Mulligan, Kevin Brennan, Darren Bishop, Gary Boyd and Johnny McGuigan led the charge for Cremartin, who were helped by a couple of astute changes which saw McGuigan move to midfield and Magee go to full-forward, with Niall Flanagan dropping back into defence. Matthew McKenna, Paul Meegan, Martin Dooley and Fergal Duffy were best for Inniskeen.
Inniskeen hit the ground running with an early point by Martin Dooley, after he took a pass from Paul Meegan. Colm Meegan doubled their lead before Dónal Meegan converted a brace of 30-metre frees for fouls on Dooley and Ronan Meegan. Fergal Duffy had a goal chance after being put through by Matthew McKenna, but the ball broke for Paul Meegan to send over Inniskeen’s fifth point. An off-the-ball foul on Kevin Brennan allowed Darren Bishop to tap over Cremartin’s first score from a 20-metre free, before Brennan had a shot saved by Inniskeen keeper Pauric Dowdall, following a quick one-two with Mark Magee, although the rebound eventually fell for Liam McVicar to kick Cremartin’s first point from play.
Fergal Mulligan landed a fine point before setting up Niall Flanagan to kick an equally good score and Cremartin drew level when Barry Carragher got on the end of a Bishop free and laid it off for Brennan to split the posts. Dooley linked up with Colm Meegan to boot over a good score from distance and end 17 scoreless minutes for Inniskeen and Paul Meegan doubled the Grattans’ lead with a free from a difficult angle following a foul on Colm Meegan. A surging run by McKenna created a point for Duffy, which gave Inniskeen a 0-8 to 0-5 half-time lead.
Cremartin had a couple of half-chances of a goal in the first four minutes of the second half, as Magee punched a Brennan cross wide and Bishop drove a shot past the post at the end of a well-worked move involving Magee and Flanagan. Another strong run by McKenna finished with the county panellist exchanging passes with Ronan Meegan and kicking a point and although Brennan replied with Cremartin’s first in 15 minutes’ play, McKenna was then brought down to end another run, allowing Dónal Meegan to tap over a close-range free.
Dowdall was equal to a Kevin Atkinson shot at goal after Carragher had caught a high ball in from Gary Boyd, but it was clear around the mid-point of the half that Cremartin were taking over, as they won eight kick-outs in a row and they took a point off their deficit when Carragher converted a 30-metre free for a foul on Shaun Buckley. Bishop kicked an inspirational point after he took a pass from Declan Farrell at pace and Cremartin took the lead ten minutes from time when Carragher, Atkinson and McVicar combined to open up the Inniskeen defence and Magee fired to the net, giving Dowdall no chance.
A nicely-finished left-footed point by Paul Meegan brought Inniskeen back to within a point, only for Darren Bishop to boot a superb point from a long-range free out on the right wing, following a foul on Brennan. Damien Lavelle saved a rare Inniskeen goal-attempt from McKenna, with Paul Meegan’s rebound effort going past the post and eventually given as a ’45, which dropped short and was cleared. The game was extended by 11 minutes after a couple of injuries to Inniskeen players, including a nasty-looking knee problem for substitute Dermot McArdle late on.
In the seventh added minute, Cremartin moved three clear thanks to a point by Farrell after good approach play by Johnny McGuigan and Bishop and even though there was still time for Inniskeen to get an equalising goal, they never looked like finding a way through the Cremartin defence. The Shamrocks will play front-runners Doohamlet in the IFC semis, while Inniskeen turn their attentions to the rest of their league campaign.
Cremartin: D Lavelle; P McGuigan, J McGuigan, C Mulligan; S Buckley, D Farrell (0-1), F Mulligan (0-1); N Flanagan (0-1), G Boyd (Capt.); K Atkinson, M Magee (1-0), B Carragher (0-1f); K Brennan (0-2), D Bishop (0-3, 2f), L McVicar (0-2).
Sub: D Mulligan for McVicar (60 mins).
Inniskeen: P Dowdall; A Keenan, S Loftus, A Ryan; T Hilliard, M Fitzpatrick, R Lorenz; G McArdle (Capt.), M McKenna (0-1); R Meegan, M Dooley (0-2), C Meegan (0-1); D Meegan (0-3f), F Duffy (0-1), P Meegan (0-3, 1f).
Subs: P Cassidy for Fitzpatrick (inj., 33), D McArdle for C Meegan (47), M Lennon for Dooley (inj., 56), J Butler for D McArdle (inj., 65).
Referee: M Conlon (Castleblayney).
By michael Mon 27th Aug
