McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Round 2A
Donaghmoyne 1-13 Cremartin 1-10 14/9/13
Donaghmoyne became the first team to qualify for the IFC semi-finals when they saw off Cremartin in a keenly-contested game at Aughnamullen last Saturday. The closeness of this one was illustrated by the fact the teams were never separated by more than four points, but Donaghmoyne timed their run well in the second half to make it through. The Fontenoys had good performances from Darren McElroy, Pádraig Donaghy, Francis Markey, Christopher Deery and Colm Connolly, while Kevin Brennan, Liam Atkinson, Johnny McGuigan and Niall Flanagan were best for Cremartin.
Pádraig Donaghy gave Donaghmoyne a sixth-minute lead from a 45-metre free after a foul on Francis Markey, but Kevin Brennan quickly brought Cremartin level with a point from play. Darren McElroy and Brennan swapped points from frees after fouls on Donaghy and Niall Flanagan, before Brennan converted another brace of 25-metre frees, following fouls on Shane Burke and Flanagan. McElroy responded from a 35-metre free after a foul on Colm Connolly, who then linked up with Niall Kelly to land a well-taken point; Donaghmoyne’s first from play. Johnny McGuigan replied with an equally good point after strong work by Mark Magee and Brennan also added a fine score, but Christopher Deery linked up with Donaghy to fist over, before Donaghy had a shot at goal blocked. There was still time for Markey to leave the sides level for the fourth time (0-6 apiece) at the interval.
Straight from the throw-in for the second half, Flanagan won the ball and set up Gary Boyd for a shot which fell short, where Shane Burke was on hand to divert it to the net. McElroy responded from frees after fouls on himself and Connolly and although Barry Carragher then converted a free for a foul on Brennan, a foul on McElroy allowed Connolly to curl over a difficult free from the left wing. Brennan hit back with a free from a tight angle, following a foul on Boyd, only for McElroy to point a 40-metre free for a foul on Mikey Murnaghan, before Donaghy linked up with Deery to bring Donaghmoyne back on terms. Connolly then won and scored a 20-metre free and Donaghmoyne took charge ten minutes from time when Murnaghan and Deery combined to release McElroy for a decisive goal. Liam Atkinson drove forward to end 14 scoreless minutes for Cremartin, but they needed Damien Lavelle to keep them in the game when he stopped a fisted effort by Joe Kelly from a Donaghy cross. Donaghy split the posts from the resulting ’45 and even though Burke repeated that trick at the other end, Donaghmoyne stood firm to make it three wins from three in the IFC.
Donaghmoyne: G Lynch; F McBride, J Kelly, M Murnaghan; S Kelly, D Burns, C Martin; S Byrne, F Markey (0-1); N Kelly, C Deery (0-1), B Kelly; D McElroy (1-5, 0-5f), C Connolly (Capt., 0-3, 2f), P Donaghy (0-3, 1f, 1 ’45).
Sub: N Garland for N Kelly (H-T).
Cremartin: D Lavelle; P McGuigan, C Mulligan, L Atkinson (0-1); J McGuigan (0-1), D Farrell, K Atkinson; G Boyd, S Burke (1-1, 0-1 ’45); K McVicar, N Flanagan (Capt.), M Magee; K Brennan (0-6, 4f), B Carragher (0-1f), S Buckley.
Subs: R Burke for Buckley (inj., H-T), D Bishop for Carragher (42), D Mulligan for McVicar (58).
Referee: M Conlon (Castleblayney).
By cshalvey Thu 19th Sep
