LOCC Solicitors
Intermediate Football Championship
Quarter-Final
Moneyglass 1-12 Tír na nÓg 0-10
Saturday September 7
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Uí Cheallaigh, Portglenone
Moneyglass underlined their credentials as favourites for the Intermediate championship with a hard-fought win over Tír na nÓg on Saturday afternoon. Five points separated the sides at the end of the hour but this quarter-final was everything it promised to be in the build-up. Intensity in abundance, big hits, tough tackles and super scores. In the end, the St Ergant’s captain Colum Duffin scored the only goal of the game which ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.
It was a hugely disciplined performance from the Tír na nÓg men who will feel the final score flatters their neighbours. Midway through the second half they had reduced Moneyglass’ three point half time lead to the minimum and were well placed to push over the line but the St Ergnat’s men didn’t panic and with their own defence on top form led superbly by Conor Boyd, Eamon Kelly and Peter McCormick, they restricted the Whitehill side to just two points in the final quarter.
Tír na nÓg were reliant on the free taking of Aaron McNeilly for scores over the hour, the half forward finished the contest with 0-6 beside his name on the scoresheet while two of Leigh Martin’s three points also came from placed ball. The St Ergnat’s men controlled the final quarter with Patrick McCormick pulling the strings and Colum Duffin showing his class as the game progressed.
Both sides played with two men on their forwards and packed the midfield. The early exchanges weren’t exactly fast and furious but were intriguing nonetheless with big hits and intensity the order of the day. Tír na nÓg were fighting for every ball and matching Moneyglass in every facet of the game from the first whistle. With defences on top, turnovers were greeted like winning scores and scoring chances were at a premium and while Moneyglass went into an early two point lead through Patrick McCormick and Liam Brady, Tír na nÓg were back on terms by the ninth minute with Leigh Martin and McNeilly finding the required accuracy from frees. Colum Duffin edge Moneyglass ahead once again in the 12th minute but the game was so evenly balanced that the scores were coming tit for tat. Leigh Martin scored Tír na nÓg’s first from play with an exquisite finish with the outside of the boot after a well worked move and when he landed his second free of the match midway through the half, Tír na nÓg had taken a deserved lead for the first time in the match. Tír na nÓg were looking to create space with their movement and McNeilly was leading that charge, he caused Moneyglass plenty of problems in the first half and his pace was a major asset coming up against a packed defence.
The match continued to ebb and flow however with Jimmy McMeel restoring parity before another McNeilly free restored the Tír na nÓg advantage but that was the Whitehill sides last score of the half as Moneyglass landed the first knock out blow of the tie in the time that remained. Their goal came in the 23rd minute and the quality of the build up was matched by the exquisite finish from Duffin. A fast, incisive move through the hands with Patrick McCormick giving the final pass to Smiley and the St Ergnat’s captain finished with a left footed strike to the back of Sean Paul McAtamney’s net.
Jimmy McMeel’s second of the half took the Moneyglass lead to three by the short whistle, 1-5 to 0-5. A harsh lesson for Tír na nÓg who took their eye off the ball and Colum Duffin for a split second but the Moneyglass man had the quality to produce the goods when it was needed most.
The second half began with Colum Duffin scoring Moneyglass’ first free of the match in the 33rd minute but Tír na nÓg found a second wind under the floodlights at Páirc Uí Cheallaigh. McNeilly pointed a free either side of a super score from Ryan O’Neill to leave just one between the sides going into the final quarter.
Moneyglass continued to show belief in their own game however and while it would have been easy to hit the panic button, they remained patient. Pressing and probing for the half yard of space needed in the scoring zone and refrain from high risk shots. A trio of points in as many minutes from Liam Brady, Colum Duffin and Dermot McErlain put them in the driving seat going into the final ten minutes.
McNeilly’s fifth free for Tír na nÓg stopped the mini charge from Moneyglass but the St Ergnat’s men were always a step ahead. They would have had another goal but for the brilliance of Sean Paul McAtamney between the posts for Tír na nÓg, the Whitehill ‘keeper deflecting a goal bound effort from Patrick McCormick over the bar to give his side a cushion point once again.
Tír na nÓg were pushing further up the field and leaving gaps in defence as they tried to revitalise their championship hopes in the dying embers of this quarter-final but Moneyglass were coolness personified and the picture of calmness in those closing minutes. They sucked the life out of the game by keeping possession and while McNeilly scored his sixth point of the match, scores from substitute Niall Boyd before and Colum Duffin’s fourth white flag of the match ensured a last four spot for Moneyglass after a cagey affair.
It wasn’t the feast of pure football they produced in the previous round but Moneyglass showed a different side on Saturday. A side that can grind out a win when the occasion arises and they did enough to edge past the tenacious talents of Tír na nÓg. Their championship journey continues with a semi-final meeting and the winners of Con Magees and Sarsfields. All eyes on Fr McGuigan Park, Ahoghill on Sunday.
Moneyglass: Mark Carey; Sean Kelly, Tiarnan Duffin, Peter McCormick; Jack McCoy, Conor Boyd, Eamon Kelly; Colum Duffin, Dermot McErlain; Jimmy McMeel, Paul Tohill, Patrick McCormick; Liam Brady, Kevin Marron, Gavin Murray.
Subs: Niall Boyd for J McCoy (Black Card 30 mins); Seanchann Duffin for K Marron (52); Jervis Weir for G Murray (56); Ryan Doyle for T Duffin (Black Card inj).
Scorers: Colum Duffin 1-4 (1f); Liam Brady 0-2; Jimmy McMeel 0-2; Patrick McCormick 0-2; Dermot McErlain 0-1; Niall Boyd 0-1.
Tír na nÓg: Sean Paul McAtamney; Sean Redmond, Niall Cassidy, Ciaran Logan; Barry McCormick, Caoimhin Duffin, Darren McCormick; Christy Sheerin, Malachy Duffin; Ryan O’Neill, Aaron McNeilly, Peter Cullen; Ciaran O’Neill, Leigh Martin, Darragh Fagan.
Subs: Kevin Sheerin for P Cullen (HT); Ciaran Dobbin for D Fagan (40); Declan Mallon for M Duffin (52); Ronan O’Neill for L Martin (Black Card 55 mins).
Scorers: Aaron McNeilly 0-6 (6 f’s); Leigh Martin 0-3 (2 f’s); Ryan O’Neill 0-1
Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)
