McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Round 2A

Currin 2-13 Clones 1-5                                             15/9/13

 

Currin cruised through to the IFC semi-finals with a surprisingly comfortable win over neighbours Clones at a wet and windy Ballybay last Sunday. With a strong wind at their backs in the first half, Currin built up an unassailable lead, one that Clones never looked capable of reeling in. Currin had extra quality up front in Ciarán McCaffrey, Philip O’Callaghan, Stephen Smyth and Jack McCarron, with Dick and Ben Clerkin were also to the fore, while only Fintan Kelly, Paul Shields and Adrian Alford made any impact for Clones.

Ciarán McCaffrey opened the scoring after a one-two with Ben Clerkin and points quickly followed for Currin from Shane O’Connor and Jack McCarron, from a 40-metre free, before McCaffrey doubled his tally. Stephen Smyth tapped in the opening goal after Dick Clerkin had a shot saved and he then got on the end of a McCarron free to add a point. Despite losing Francis O’Callaghan to a shoulder injury, Currin moved further clear with points by O’Connor and Philip O’Callaghan; the latter at the end of a well-worked move involving McCarron, Enda McCaffrey and sub Paddy McDermott.

When Philip O’Callaghan linked up with his brother Gerard to fire home Currin’s second goal, the game was already as good as over as a contest and it could have been even more comprehensive had Clones not managed to deny the same player with a despairing block in added time. Ben Clerkin got on the scoresheet after Smyth had made a good catch from a high ball by Philip O’Callaghan, before McCarron converted a ’45 to make the half-time score 2-10 to 0-0.

Despite facing the elements, it was Currin who were quicker out of the blocks in the second half, as Ciarán McCaffrey kicked a point and Philip O’Callaghan had an effort saved by Ciarán Morgan after Dick Clerkin and McCarron had combined to create the chance. Clones finally got off the mark in the 34^th minute when an Adrian Alford free dropped into the square, where Darragh Holland eventually forced it over the line after Fergal Connolly parried Sarto Quigley’s initial effort.

Darren Freeman added a first point for Clones, but McCarron replied from a 20-metre free after a foul on Ciarán McCaffrey and the town side then saw Eugene Holland sent off on a second yellow card for a high tackle on Philip O’Callaghan. Alford and David Freeman sent over well-taken points for Clones and Daragh Graham also split the posts, but the scores soon dried up as the game wound down. Fintan Kelly landed a nice point late on, but Niall McEntee wrapped the game up with Currin’s only score of the last 20 minutes.

 

Currin: F Connolly; D Brady, S Brady, E McCaffrey; B Clerkin (0-1), Conor McCaffrey, G O’Callaghan; D Clerkin, F O’Callaghan; S Smyth (1-1), Ciarán McCaffrey (0-4), S O’Connor (0-2); P O’Callaghan (1-1), J McCarron (0-3, 2f, 1 ’45), N McEntee (0-1).

Subs: P McDermott for F O’Callaghan (inj., 16 mins), C North for O’Connor (57).

 

Clones: C Morgan; E Holland, P Shields, P Connolly; D Graham (0-1), D McQuaid, M Treanor; A Alford (Capt., 0-1), E Audley; D Holland (1-0), Darren Freeman (0-1), F Kelly (0-1); David Freeman (0-1), E McEntee, S Quigley.

Subs: C O’Connor for Quigley (44), C Kelly for Graham (47), S Cunningham for McEntee (48), E Treanor for Connolly (49), J Gibson for Treanor (58).

 

Referee: B Finnegan (Toome).