Clonmore 1-14
St.Patrick’s 0-11
Hands up, this reporter predicted a six point win for the Tullow men minutes before throw in. Clonmore weren’t aware of that prediction, but it was a thought that obviously never even entered their minds.
The opening five minutes were a bit scrappy and nervy but after those few moments I can’t remember a better start to a game by a team in a long time. And it wasn’t a case of St.Patrick’s being a bit flat or anything else, it was simply a case of Clonmore tearing into the game with lightning force.
Two points from, first Eoin Connolly and then a Shane McGrath free had Clonmore in front, then McGrath kicked a short free and ultimately Aaron Kelly put the ball in the Tullow net. 1-2 to 0-0 on the board and only nine minutes gone.
Again McGrath took a short free and took the return before slotting a nice point and then Rob Bulmer was fouled and McGrath did the necessary. 1-4 to 0-0 and 14 minutes in the clock.
St.Pats went the whole first quarter without kicking a score and only registered a couple of speculative wides in that same period.
However, in the 16th minute they finally got off the mark with a Jack Kennedy free, then, from the resulting kick out the stylish TJ Kavanagh gave them a second point and Dylan Hanly pointed to give maybe a glimmer of hope.
Clonmore, after pausing for breath and allowing those three scores, then kicked three points on the trot. Shane McGrath converted a wonderful free, Aaron Kelly nicked a point and Oisin Doyle took on a man, slipped, regained his balance, took on his man again and pointed for what was score of the game until that point.
However, to give him full credit, Brian Byrne had a very difficult free moments before half time which was a right sided kick from 40m. He struck across it with the right foot and slotted a lovely score to rival Doyle’s.
At the break 1-7 to 0-4 in favour of Clonmore.
With 30 seconds into the second half St.Pats reduced the gap with a Jack Kennedy free and for a moment it felt like the come back was on. Clonmore had other ideas though and they hit four on the bounce, Shane McGrath with two, Doyle and Tom Pollard made it 1-11 to 0-5 and Clonmore looked comfortable. They wouldn’t kick a score again for another 20 minutes though.
Jack Kennedy kicked three points in a row for Tullow, two of them from frees. Brian Byrne somehow kicked a score from near the endline and with 10 minutes to go kicked another to make it 1-11 to 0-10. Suddenly a four point deficit looked reachable and when a direct, penetrating run from Will Doran finished with him kicking a lovely point we had a one score game.
That was all St.Patrick’s could muster though and Clonmore introduced a lot of experience with Con Murphy and Owen Coleman entering the fray. They managed to tag on three points from Jake Hickey, Billy Lawlor and Eoin Connolly to finish the second half as strong as they had started the first.
The winners of the intermediate championship will be one of three: Clonmore, St.Patrick’s and Kildavin/Clonegal.
Clonmore: Jordan Kane; Rory Maguire, Shane Murphy, Anthony Byrne; Billy Lawlor(0-1), Matt Cullen, Eoin Connolly(0-2); Cormac Connolly, Luke Connolly; Rob Bulmer, Shane McGrath(0-6,4f), Enda McGrath; Tom Pollard(0-1), Oisin Doyle(0-2), Aaron Kelly(1-1). Subs: Jake Hickey(0-1), Con Murphy, Owen Coleman.
St.Patrick’s: James Tobin; Shane Rohan, Rob Gahan, Dylan Hanly(0-1); Dylan Gorman Comerford, Jamie Ansbro, Lee Kavanagh; Will Doran(0-1), Craig Staunton; Jack O’Neill, TJ Kavanagh(0-1), Cathal Healy; Jack Kennedy(0-5,4f), Cian Gorman Comerford, Brian Byrne(0-3). Subs: Niall Sherry, Stephen Metcalfe, David Orbinski, David Tobin.
Referee: Seamie Doyle (Fighting Cocks)
