McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Round 1A

Donaghmoyne 1-11 Tyholland 1-7                          7/9/13

Donaghmoyne won their long-awaited IFC first-round game against Tyholland, but only after a dogged battle in Ballybay. Despite having Raymond Ronaghan sent off on 26 minutes, Tyholland were in this one right to the finish, but a goal from Colm Connolly eight minutes from time proved crucial for Donaghmoyne. Connolly, Pádraig Donaghy, Ciarán Daly, Francis Markey and Darren McElroy played key roles for Donaghmoyne, while Shane Treanor and Peadar Farrelly led Tyholland’s challenge.

A Shane Treanor brace for Tyholland in the opening stages was cancelled out by Darren McElroy and Ciarán Daly, but the north-Monaghan men regained the lead when Peadar Farrelly scored the opening goal. They then lost Raymond Ronaghan to two yellow cards in quick succession, however, and pointed frees by McElroy and Daly left Donaghmoyne trailing by just a point at half-time (1-2 to 0-4).

Fouls on Daly and Colm Connolly allowed McElroy to convert another couple of frees in the first three minutes of the second half, before Pádraig Donaghy kicked a good point to double Donaghmoyne’s lead. Ryan McKenna ended a 23-minute scoreless run for Tyholland via a ’45 and a free won by Paul McCormack and although Connolly replied, a technical foul allowed Treanor to bring Tyholland back on level terms. Daly won and scored a 30-metre free as Donaghmoyne gradually took over and even though Paul Askin got on the end of a long ball from Gary McQuaid to equalise, the eventual winners struck a telling blow when Barney and Shane Kelly linked up well to set up Connolly to find the net from close range. Donaghy and Niall Garland added points – the latter at the end of a well-worked move involving Barney and Niall Kelly – before Treanor got one back for Tyholland. Treanor and Donaghy were sent off after clashing deep into added time, but it had no effect on the end result.

Donaghmoyne: G Lynch; F McBride, C Deery, C Martin; S Kelly, D Burns, G Woods; S Byrne, F Markey; C Daly (0-3, 2f), B Kelly, M Murnaghan; D McElroy (0-4f), C Connolly (Capt., 1-1), P Donaghy (0-2).

Subs: F Keenan for Woods (22 mins), N Garland (0-1) for Burns (40), N Kelly for McBride (53).

Tyholland: P Hamill; G Ronaghan, R McNally (Capt.), S Connolly; K O’Connell, P Coyle, T Connolly; R McKenna (0-2, 1f, 1 ’45), B McArdle; S Treanor (0-4, 2f), P Farrelly (1-0), G McQuaid; P Askin (0-1), R Ronaghan, P McCormack.

Sub: D Coyle for McKenna (53).

Temporary sub: C Curley for Coyle (48-50).