IHC Group 2
St. Paul’s 1-15 Tir na nOg 2-18
The final games in Group 2 of the IHC were quarter-finals with St. Paul’s taking on Tir na nOg at Shaw’s Road in a winner takes all encounter with the prize a place in the semi-finals in two weeks-time.
The home side with the wind in their favour made the running during the opening half and spurred on by a Caolan O’Duibhfinn goal in the 19th minute the red and white hoops led by 1-10 to 0-8 at the interval and looked on course for victory.
It was a different story after the break as the Whitehill men took control with Sean Duffin leading the way and a Darragh Fagan goal in the opening minute set them up for a dominant second half where they would outscore their opponents 2-11 to 0-4
O’Duibhfinn got St. Paul’s off to a good start with a point in the opening minute and would be a major player for the home side over the hour and his second in the 6th minute brought it all square after Emmet Murray and Ciaran Logan had briefly given the visitors the lead.
Caolan Crossan for St. Paul’s and Sean Duffin with his first of the afternoon for the Randalstown side tied the contest once more before St. Paul’ took control with points from Mark Munce and two from O’Duibhfinn to move three clear after 13 minutes.
Tir na nOg responded with points from Ciaran Logan, Ciaran O’Neill and a fine long range effort from Colm Duffin to draw level again but O’Duibhfinn’s goal in the 19th minute saw the home side finish the half on top.
The visitors replied with points from Darragh Fagan and a long range free from Sean Duffin but St. Paul’s responded with a similar effort from Stephen Rooney, two from O’Duibhfinn and another from Caolan Crossan to lead by five at the short whistle.
HT St. Paul’s 1-10 Tir na nOg 0-8
The game swung decisively in favour of the men in Blue on the restart with Darragh Fagan’s shot taking a deflection before ending in the net in the opening minute.
A long range effort from Aaron McNeilly and further points from Sean Duffin and a point from Oliver McAtamney saw the visitors hit the lead by the 5th minute and it was a lead they would hold until the end.
Caolan O’Duibhfinn tried to steady the ship with St. Paul’s first and second points of the half but it brought a further response from the Og’s with Duffin (0-2 f’s) and Daniel Martin with a great long range point moving their side further ahead.
Once again O’Duibhfinn tried to rally his troops with a pointed free and another from play but Sean Duffin responded with three converted frees on the bounce and Fagan added another with three minutes remaining.
There was still only three between the sides at this stage as the home side went in search of the goal that would put them back into contention but it would be the Whitehill side who would claim the final major as a long delivery into the danger area ended in the home nets with no one quite sure who got the final touch.
Daire Stevenson replied with a late consolation point for St. Paul’s but the Shaw’s Road side never recovered from that early second half onslaught but are still in the Intermediate Football competition where they will fancy their chances.
Tir na nOg now go forward to meet Oisin’s Glenariffe in the semi-final in two weeks-time while the other semi-final will feature Cloney Gaels and Carey Faughs as the Intermediate Hurling Championship continues to deliver.
St. Paul’s: 1 Chris Murray, 2 Ciaran O’Carroll, 3 Frankie Sewell, 4 Conall Duffy, 5 Daire Stevenson, 6 Stephen Rooney, 7 Liam Walsh, 8 Conall Finnegan, 9 Declan Quinn 10 Caolan O’Duibhfinn, 11 Caolan Crossan, 12 Declan Chapman, 13 Lorcan Phillips, 14 Mark Munce, 15 Thomas Duff
Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Brandon McLarnon, 3 Christy Sheerin, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Caoimhin Duffin, 6 Sean Duffin, 7 Daniel Martin, 8 Aaron McNeilly, 9 Josh Higgins, 10 Ciaran O’Neill, 11 Colm Duffin, 12 Ciaran Logan, 13 Emmet Murray, 14 Darragh Fagan, 15 Dara Martin
20 Oliver McAtamney
Referee: Piarias McCaffery (St. Gall’s)
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