IFC Semi-Final
St. Teresa’s 1-10 Sarsfield’s 1-9
St. Teresa’s withstood a late rally from Patrick Sarsfields at Davitt’s Park on Saturday to advance to the final of the Intermediate Football Championship where they will meet All Saints, Ballymena in two weeks-time.
In a game played with real championship intensity with no quarter asked or given it was the Glen Road side who led 1-5 to 0-6 at half time despite having a penalty saved in the 4th minute.
Michael Bradley dived to his left to push away Francis Dugan’s spot kick but Anton Taylor climbed to get the final touch to an inviting delivery to beat Bradley for the game’s opening goal in the 9th minute.
Sarsfield’s came back with an excellent goal from Miceal Ferris entering the final quarter to level the contest at 1-8 apiece but two quick points in reply from Francis Dugan and Niall McCann steadied St. Teresa’s.
The Stewartstown Road side threw everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents in the closing stages but a Gary Lennon point would be as close as they got despite ample opportunities to send the game into extra time.
Niall McKenna pointed Sarsfield’s ahead in the opening minute before referee Darren McKeown pointed to the penalty spot at the other end when Anton Taylor was brought down in the small square.
Bradley went full lengthy to deny Francis Dugan from the spot kick but Taylor pointed before climbing to fist home to put his side ahead after 9 minutes.
A couple of fisted points from Philip McPeake and Ethan Mervyn closed the gap to one before Paul McGoldrick replied with a good point for the Glen Road side.
Bradley in the Sarsfield’s goals brought off his second great save of the evening to deny Anton Taylor but Niall McCann pointed a free and then added another from play to move St. Teresa’s four in front.
Sarsfield’s who finished the half strongly however and a couple of points from Daniel Smyth and a fisted effort from Caolan McKernan had it back to two at the break.
It was St. Teresa’s who made the better start to the second half with John Mallon striking two terrific points to increase their lead to four with only two minutes of the new half gone.
Conor Glenholmes from a free and Caolan McKernan for Sarsfields and Francis Dugan for the Glen Road side exchanged further points to leave just a goal in it and when Ferris fired left footed to the net in the 17th minute it was all square.
The momentum seemed to have swung in favour of the Stewartstown Road side but Francis Dugan and Niall McCann responded with St. Teresa’s points and the men in Yellow and Blue withstood a frantic finish from their opponents to advance to the final.
St. Teresa’s: 1 Ciaran Murtagh, 2 Aodhan Dugan, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Ryan Mallon, 5 Eoin Connolly, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Conor Mallon, 8 Darren McCann, 9 Pierce O’Rawe, 10 John Mallon, 11 Niall McCann, 12 Sean Maguire, 13 Francis Dugan, 14 Anton Taylor, 15 Paul McGoldrick, 17 Philip Glennon, 16 Phil Maguire.
Sarsfields: 1 Michael Bradley, 2 Caolan McDonnell, 4 Martin McPollin, 5 Ethan Mervyn, 6 Liam Mitchell, 7 Christopher Loughran, 8 Cormac Murray, 9 Niall McKenna, 10 Philip McPeake, 11 Caolan McKernan, 12 Samuel Walsh, 23 Conor Glenholmes, 28 Daniel Smyth, 15 Miceal Ferris, 17
Subs: Gary Lennon for Daniel Smyth, Thomas Skillen for Samuel Walsh
Referee: Darren McKeown (ST. Gall’s)