OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship – Group 2 – Round 3
Friday 15th August
Report by Niall Kelly from Pairc MhicDhomhnaill/ÚiDhoctairtigh
Pics by Bert Trowlen
Naomh Treasa 3-19 Gort Na Móna 0-12
St Teresa’s sealed a superb win over local rivals Gort Na Móna with some to spare on a sun-drenched Friday evening. In what was an accomplished team performance, Niall McCann was their shining star amassing an incredible 2-11 over the hour. Despite the opening exchanges being tit for tat, the hosts would pull away following Darren McCann’s major on the fifth minute and always seemed to assert a measure of control over proceedings. Try as they might, the visitors just couldn’t seem to deal with the constant runners from deep as the men in blue and yellow always seemed to have an option off the shoulder.
The opening few minutes were lively as both teams battled to gain the ascendancy, and both looked menacing when on the front foot. The two opposing number twelves, Niall McCann and Manus McMullan, exchanged early scores before the former would assist his namesake Darren for the game’s first major on the fifth minute. Quick hands and some fluid interplay paved the way as McCann’s low effort crossed the line with the spin on the ball perhaps deceiving the despairing Gort’s netminder, Jack Ireland, as it slipped under him.
The Turflodge side responded in positive fashion with the talented Tarlach Enright displaying his prowess off the deck with a superb two pointed free before the hosts hit back with two scores of their own from Sean Maguire and a soaring effort from Pierce O’Rawe. Enright was once more on hand to tap over a free of his own earning before the men from the Glen Road really clicked into gear.
Neat and tidy distribution coupled with pace in their runners from deep would scythe through the visitor’s defence as Niall McCann finished a flowing move with a superb two pointer. McCann would pounce moments later from the resulting kick-out to deal a hammer blow to Gort Na Móna as he rifled to the net with conviction on the eighteenth minute. He wasn’t finished there though as he finished the salvo off with another score with a free from the deck.
Stunned, the visitors were in desperate need of a response which came from an unlikely source as full-back Ciaran Donnelly found himself deep in enemy territory to blaze over from close range to cut the gap to seven with five left until the short whistle. St Teresa’s patient approach paid dividends once again though as sharpshooter McCann closed out the first half with a fine point to leave the scores 2-07 to 0-05 in favour of the home side.
Trailing by eight, Gort Na Móna gaffer, Niall Mulrine, shuffled his pack at the interval and half-time substitute Brendan Burns put his imprint on affairs immediately from the throw in with a fine score assisted ably from the tireless efforts of Christoper Carson. Points were then exchanged between Eoghan Hamill and Jack Thompson in what was a blistering opening ninety seconds from the restart.
Naomh Treasa were poised to turn the screw once more though as the McCann show was in town yet again. The potent number twelve pointed from a free off the carpet before finishing a blistering counter to the net with yet another emphatic finish moments later and hopes of a heroic comeback were fading by the second for the Gorts.
Despite this, they were determined not to go down without a fight and Shane Scullion, whose distribution with his feet throughout the game was impressive, reduced arrears with a well-taken point. But still the Super T’s juggernaut continued to press forward as Darren McCann found his bearings before namesake Niall grabbed his second two pointer. It was then corner back Conor O’Rawe’s turn to get his name on the scoresheet as he added the gloss to a fine move.
The men in maroon and yellow continued to plug away regardless of the growing deficit as substitute, Darren Boyd, announced his arrival to affairs with a free before Enright knocked over his second two-pointer of the evening with another beautiful effort from a free off the ground with the clock ticking down to the final five minutes.
The hosts finished with a flurry though and were relentless in their pursuits. Darren and Niall McCann sent their efforts the right side of the post before Eoghan Hamill doubled his tally with a lovely, flighted effort. There was just enough time left for the evergreen Philip Maguire to open his account before Mark O’Neill’s final whistle.
After a somewhat indifferent opening to their Championship campaign, St Teresa’s demonstrated exactly what they’re capable of once they get into their grove. Having played an extra game than their counterparts, today was a must-win to enhance their chances of progression to the knockouts. Job done in that respect as they now look to a potentially huge game against Davitts.
Despite the large deficit, Gort Na Móna can take heart from the resilience they demonstrated as their determination never waned. Unfortunately, the chips are perhaps now stacked against them and their next outing against St Comgall’s is now simply a must win if they are to have any chance of progressing.
Teams:
St Teresa’s:
M Small; R Mallon, P Johnston, C O’Rawe (0-01;) P O’Rawe (0-01,) E Connolly, C McGoldrick; D McCann (1-02,) S Maguire (0-01;) E Hamill (0-02,) P McGoldrick, N McCann (2-11;) M Mallon, C McCann, A Taylor
Substitute Scorer:
P Maguire (0-01)
Gort Na Móna:
J Ireland; D Cahill, C Donnelly (0-01,) S Campbell; P Mulvenna, T Morton, P Cournane; T Enright (0-06,) R Brown; M Savage, C Carson, M McMullan (0-01;) S Scullion (0-01,) M McConnell, J Thompson (0-01)
Substitute Scorer:
B Burns (0-01)
D Boyd (0-01)
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