How the IFC went last weekend — Round 1

ATHENRY .1-9 An Spidéal .0-9 Last yearâ€â„¢s beaten county finalists Athenry put in a superb second half performance to turn a six-point deficit into a thrilling three-point win in the first round of the county intermediate football championship at Pearse Stadium last Saturday and in doing so showed that they will once again put in a strong challenge for honours. It looked bad for the winners when they trooped off the field on the wrong side of a 0-7 to 0-1 score-line at half-time but they had been playing against the infamous Salthill wind that blew in from the sea, and although it was not as strong as it often is it did make scoring difficult and gave An Spidéal a boost with their attacking forays. It was Ronan Oâ€â„¢Reilly, once again showing his expertise with the placed ball, who notched that point for Timmy Rabbittâ€â„¢s men in the opening period but it was scant reward for their great physical effort. They constantly made inroads into the heart of the An Spidéal defence but their shooting let them down on a number of occasions while other attacks were broken up by a determined and resolute opposing rearguard that was well marshalled by big Aodán Breathnach who brought off a few spectacular high catches in his goalmouth.[/private] The Gaeltacht side were slow enough to get going and in a low scoring first quarter they could only manage a point each from Mártín Beag Ó Droighneain and Mághnus Breathnach, a goalkeeper for Galway seniors but a centre-half forward for his club. Those scores came either side of Ronan Oâ€â„¢Reillyâ€â„¢s 12th minute free. They did however up the ante in the second part of that opening half and with Mághnus Breathnach scoring a brace from play and one from a free and corner-forward Donal Ó Maolallaigh also grabbing two from play they could be well satisfied with their 0-7 to 0-1 return at the change of ends. Athenry needed to get a good start and this they duly got. Cathal Fahy who ran himself to a standstill got their opening score when he shot over from close range although probably meant to keep his drive lower. Ronan Oâ€â„¢Reilly converted two frees in quick succession and suddenly they were only three in arrears, 0-7 to 0-4, with less than ten minutes gone. They got an opportunity to wipe out the lead at a stroke when wing-forward Mark Healy was brought down and a penalty was awarded. Cathal Fahyâ€â„¢s spot kick was well stopped by goalkeeper Padraig Lally-another county netminder- and the ball spun away from goal but Fahy somehow managed to squeeze the rebound inside a post from a very tight angle. With their county player Thomas Flynn in fine form and winning a lot of ball at midfield, aided by Sean Judge and with their industrious half-back line of Dean Healy, Paul Farrell and Jack Gibbons giving them plenty of back-up Athenry kept up the pressure and the points began to flow. Sub Eoin Donnellan got one from play to edge them ahead for the first time, Ronan Oâ€â„¢Reilly got another and he also pointed a free to make it 1-7 to 0-7. Fiontán Ó Cuanaigh narrowed the gap with a free at the other end but Cathal Fahy kicked a super point from play after collecting an intelligent ball into space by Jack Gibbons and when he added another it put Athenry into a winning position. Despite a late score by Galway under-21 panelist Éinne Ó hEocha An Spidéalâ€â„¢s brave late rally was repulsed and Athenry deservedly go marching on. Athenry: K. Loughnane; S. Healy, S. Kelly, M. Fahy; D. Healy, P. Farrell, J. Gibbons; S. Judge, T. Flynn; E. Caulfield, M. Foran, M. Healy; R. Oâ€â„¢Reilly (0-5, 4 frees), C. White, C. Fahy (1-3). Subs:  E. Donnellan (0-1) for White, C. Henry for Kelly (inj). An Spidéal: P. Ó Maolalallaigh; M. Ó Curraoin, A. Breathnach,F. Ó Tuathaill; E. Ó Curraoin, I. Mac an Rí, E. Ó Droighneain; E. Ó hÉocha (0-1), E. Ó Domhnaill; M. Beag Ó Droighneain (0-1),F. Ó Cuanaigh (0-1, free), C. Ó Laoi; D. Ó Maolallaigh (0-2), T. Ó Fátharta, M. Breathnach (0-4, three frees). Subs: A. Droighneain for Ó Domhnaill, C. Ó Laoi for M. O Droighneain, T. Ó Conghaile for Ó Fátharta, S. Ó Curraoin for D. Ó Maolallaigh. Referee: James Molloy (Salthill-Knocknacarra). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Cathal Fahy (Athenry). â€â€ N.C. MENLOUGH .2-14 Killanin .0-16 Scores and excitement aplenty at Pearse Stadium last Sunday when these clubs met in the first round of the Intermediate Football Championship and both of them enjoyed periods of dominance before Menlough struck vital dagger blows to the heart of Killanin with two goals in ninety seconds early in the second half. Niall Carty got the first after taking a Joey Glynn pass and almost immediately they were in for another when Mark Costello turned provider and Derwin Costello did the rest by plundering another major score. Those scores left Killanin shell-shocked but in fairness to them they rallied bravely and pushed the winners all the way. Indeed were it not for the brilliance of Menlough custodian Jason Oâ€â„¢Neill who repeatedly defied the men from the west of the county with a string of superb saves it is highly unlikely that his team would have emerged triumphant from this tie. He surely gave the goalkeeping display of the busy weekend. Menlough made the better start and went 0-4 to 0-1 clear through Brendan Costello, Joey Glynn, Robert Hughes (free) and Kevin Reilly with Enda Kelly converting a placed ball at the other end but Killanin then enjoyed a spell in control and got five scores in a row as Patrick Sweeney, Kelly, Edwin Murray (free), Eamon McDonagh and Johnny Heaney all found the target. Then it was the turn of Pat Queallyâ€â„¢s lads to take charge and they duly did so with points from Rob Hughes (2 frees) and Joey Glynn which levelled it at 0-7 each following an Edwin Murray free. In true see-saw fashion Killanin replied via Patrick Sweeney (2) who was then causing a lot of trouble to the defence although Con Lucey had a fine game, and an Enda Kelly free. Patrick Sweeneyâ€â„¢s fourth score gave Killanin a total of 0-11 for the half with Brendan Costello and Hughes driving over placed balls to complete Menloughâ€â„¢s 0-9. Killanin goalkeeper Patrick Oâ€â„¢Holleran was called on to make a great save from Derwin Costello before the break but he had no chance after it with the goals by Niall Carty and Derwin Costello after Johnny Heaney and David Reilly had traded points. Enda Kelly hit two frees in reply but he was out of luck with a goal effort when Jason Oâ€â„¢Neill spread himself well. Both goalkeepers proved their worth with fine saves as the scoring rate slowed down. Niall Carty, Brendan Costello (free) and Robert Hughes with two frees, the second a monster from over 50 metres completed the Menlough total as the Killanin challenge faded and to compound the troubles of the losers they had Damien Walsh sent off in the dying minutes. They will be glad of the back door system but can still make progress. Menlough: J. Oâ€â„¢Neill; C. Lucey, S. Lawless, P. Quirke; M. Costello, P. Kelly, J. Glynn (0-2); R. Hughes (0-6, all frees), D. Reilly (0-1); B. Costello (0-3, all frees), K. Reilly (0-1), C. Oâ€â„¢Brien; D. Costello (1-0), N. Carty (1-1), H. Keely. Subs: T. Mannion for Kelly, B. Laheen for K. Reilly Killanin: P. Oâ€â„¢Holleran; P. Fahey, P.J. Gorham, David Oâ€â„¢Connor; David Walsh, Damien Walsh, E. Murray (0-2, frees); C. Sweeney, E. McDonagh (0-1); K. Caldwell, J. Walsh, J. Heaney (0-3); E. Kelly (0-6, all frees), P. Sweeney (0-4), Diarmuid Oâ€â„¢Connor. Subs: D. Davin for David Walsh, F. Oâ€â„¢Halloran for Caldwell. Referee: R. McNicholas (Annaghdown). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Jason Oâ€â„¢Neill (Menlough). â€â€ N.C. Clonbur .2-7 Ballinasloe.0-11 The battle of the All-Ireland Junior champions of last year and this year resulted in the win for Clonbur when they beat Ballinasloe 2-7 to 0-11 at Tuam Stadium on Saturday evening. The old saying that goals win matches again proved correct as the winners had bagged two before the break. After only three first-half minutes Trevor Lydon had the ball in the Ballinasloe net but points from Darragh McCormack and Liam Lynch made it a one-point ball game after eight minutes. Matthew Mannion and Lydon followed with a point each from play for An Fhairche as we approached the midpoint of the half but Michael Colohan blazed a shot over bar for Ballinasloe when a goal was on to make it 1-2 to 0-3 after sixteen minutes. Goal number two arrived five minutes later, when Walter Holleran set up Alan Kyne to give Clonbur a five-point lead. Both sides shot a brace of points in the closing eight minutes with Eoin Joyce scoring two  for the winners while Padraic Cunningham and Liam Lynch replied for Ballinasloe to see them trailing by 0-5 to 2-4 at the short whistle. Ballinasloe made the better start to the second half scoring two early points from Paul Whelehan and James Shaughnessy but Joyce with a free replied for the winners, Keith Kelly and Shaughnessy followed with points to bring this â€ËœChampionsâ€â„¢ to within two points of An Fhairche 0-9 to 2-5 with ten minutes to go, but Joyce and Eamon Oâ€â„¢Cuiv replied with a point each to seal the victory despite two late points for Ballinasloe from Niall Hynes and Darragh McCormack. Glenamaddy.0-10 Corofin .0-9 Glenamaddy got the better of Corofin by 0-10 to 0-9 in the opening encounter in Monivea on Sunday afternoon. A rip-roaring affair from the outset Corofin opened up an early lead using the elements to their advantage. Glenamaddy led at the break by a point 0-5 to 0-4 but Corofin were denied two second half goal chances thanks to saves from goalie Damien Fannon and full-back Brian Curley, Eventually however, Glenamaddy wrested control at midfield with Mícheál Molloy securing victory with a point deep into injury-time. Corner-forward Keith Davis was inspirational with his four-point display while Michael Fox also contributed handsomely to the Glenamaddy effort. Corofin laboured on the ball while in the lead and if they could have matched the hunger of their opponents the result would have been much different. Dunmore MacHales, playing really well and highly motivated, were comfortable against Oranmore-Maree in Monivea on Sunday on a scoreline of 0-11 to 1-4. The wind and rain played its part once more and if it wasnâ€â„¢t for the concession of an opportunist goal with 10 minutes left, this game would have been long dead. Saying all that, Enda Walsh was immense in the middle of the park for Oranmore-Maree. The collective effort waned however, as the potent runs of Colin Lyons wreaked havoc in the Oranmore-Maree defence. In contrast to their opponents, Dunmore played as a team and corner-forwards Ronan Cleary and Damien Reddington caused most of the damage. Williamstown had an easy win over Monivea-Abbey in Menlough with top scorer Garry Kelly shooting seven points as his side led by 0-4 t0 0-1 at the break with Eoghan Roache getting the point from a 45 for the losers. Monivea-Abbey failed to score from play over the hour as Cathal Coleman pointed two frees with James Mannion shooting the other. Williamstown were in control in most sectors with impressive displays from Thomas Comer at full-back and up front David Brandley who scored two points, while David Lennon hit the other point. Claregalway became the second team relegated from Senior last year to lose their opening Championship game after Killannin lost to Menlough, when Claregalway lost to Oughterard. Claregalway were dominant in possession for most of first half and with a strong crosswind in their favour, Danny Cummins showed great accuracy from play and from frees. He scored an exceptionally difficult free into the wind and at a very tight angle. Oughterard stuck in with points from Niall Lee, Enda Tierney and Conrad Clancy but Claregalway went in at the break leading by a point, 0-5 to 0-4. And they scored the first two points of the second half, then Oughterard began to dominate as they gained possession from breaking ball and they drew level at 0-7 each after ten minutes; and with ten minutes to go they had a two-point advantage 0-10 to 0-8. Claregalway rallied and points from Peter Divilly and Danny Cummins had the match-tied with five minutes to go and extra-time beckoned but Oughterard worked the ball upfield to win a free and Niall Lee made no mistake from the kick to clinch a point win 0-11 to 0-10.  The draws were made for the next round of the Championship as it divides in two groups. In the winners group itâ€â„¢s Glenamaddy-Glinsk vs An Fhairche (Clonbur), Salthill-Knocknacarra vs Dunmore MacHales, Athenry vs Menlough and Oughterard vs Williamstown. The losers group has St Brendanâ€â„¢s vs An Spidéal, Oranmore-Maree vs Ballinasloe, Monivea-Abbey vs Killanin and Corofin vs Claregalway.[private]