Cortoon Shamrocks into last eight

Menlough exit following defeat in Ballinasloe

QUIETLY but surely, Cortoon Shamrocks have put themselves among the Intermediate Football Championship’s elite as they stayed on top of Menlough in Sunday’s preliminary quarter-final and now qualify for a clash with An Spidéal.

Goals from Joseph Donnellan and Adrian Varley, coupled with strong performances from Donal O’Neill and Paul Varley, gave Damien McHugh’s team a third win from four. Their only slip up came when conceding late to St. Brendan’s in Round 2 of the group phase.

The 2020 champions were effectively dismissed from title talk before their first round win over Oranmore-Maree. But when they got their opening goal on 20 minutes in this fixture, a first quarter-final since 2023 never looked in doubt.

Menlough will reflect on a positive year even if they’ll be down after three straight defeats. The 2023 Junior champions were expected to fight relegation but avoided that with a first day win over Clifden.

It was a close affair in the early exchanges as the teams shared parity twice. O’Neill opened Cortoon's account while Alan Banks added a free. Menlough found a response each time through Liam Carty and Brian Monaghan.

Shamrocks should have made a breakthrough .......

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