Clonmore Intermediates got their season off to a winning start with an encouraging display in a game played in ideal weather conditions in Myshall on Friday evening.
Clonmore started brightly and, playing some fast attacking football, raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes with points from the lively Shane McGrath (2) and Owen Coleman (free). Myshall gradually worked themselves into the game and three points from centre forward, Conor Foley, brought them level on 20 minutes. Clonmore then took over for the rest of the half and two frees from Owen Coleman and a point from Luke Connolly left them leading by 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time, a narrow enough lead considering the number of chances created.
In the second half, Clonmore continued to dominate the game with their youthful exuberance and points from Owen Coleman (2 frees), substitute Sean Tompkins (2) and Shane McGrath again established a commanding 0-11 to 0-4 lead by the 50th minute. Two points from Myshall's best player, Conor Foley, reduced the arrears to 0-11 to 0-6 on 55 minutes and Myshall then went searching for goals. But the young Clonmore defence, in which Sean Moran and Anthony Kealy-McDonald made impressive debuts, held firm. Clonmore had missed a couple of goal chances to finish the game as a contest but in the 62nd minute, up popped Sean Tompkins to put the icing on the cake with a well worked goal to leave Clonmore with a well deserved seven point win.
For Clonmore, Enda McGrath, Paddy Gahan, Tom Pollard, Shane McGrath and Sean Tompkins stood out in what was a very committed performance from all 19 players, 9 of whom were on the Under 20 Championship winning team last year with another 6 on the panel.
TEAM: Jordan Kane, Anthony Kealy-McDonald, Willie Rooney, Sean Moran, Paddy Gahan, Enda McGrath, Cormac Connolly, David Mulvany, Willie Byrne, Tom Pollard, Con Murphy, Luke Connolly (0-1), Shane McGrath (0-3), Owen Coleman (0-5,5f), Collie McGrath. Subs: Sean Tompkins (1-2) for Willie Byrne (25m), Matt Cullen for Collie McGrath (40m), Billy Lawlor for Owen Coleman (59m), Rory Maguire for Con Murphy (60m).
REFEREE: John Hickey (Fenagh).
PHOTO: Substitute Sean Tompkins scored an impressive 1-2 after his introduction on the 25th minute of the game against Myshall.
