McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final

Tyholland 3-12 Donaghmoyne 3-11                                    5/10/13

Tyholland produced an amazing comeback to edge out Donaghmoyne in a dramatic finish to the first IFC semi-final at Clontibret last Saturday. Donaghmoyne looked to be cruising throughout the first half and they were nine points up midway through the second half, but despite missing a number of goal chances, Tyholland won the final quarter by 2-6 to 1-0 to snatch a place in the final. Dermot Coyle, Karl O’Connell, Paul Coyle and sub Ryan McKenna were central to Tyholland’s strong finish, while Darren McElroy, Colm Connolly, Francis Markey and Pádraig Donaghy had done most to build up Donaghmoyne’s lead.

Raymond Ronaghan and Darren McElroy swapped points from frees early on, before Shane Treanor kicked the first point from play for Tyholland, who missed the first goal chance when Paul Askin shot wide. They were quickly punished when McElroy slid a low shot into the net at the other end and points soon followed for Donaghmoyne from Colm Connolly and Ciarán Daly. Askin missed a glorious chance to find the net in the 12^th minute, before Pádraig Donaghy and Daly converted frees to stretch Donaghmoyne’s lead, which became nine when Donaghy, Daly, Christopher Deery and Francis Markey combined to set up goal number two for Connolly.

Tyholland tried to hit back, but Karl O’Connell and Paul McCormack were both unable to find a way through the Donaghmoyne defence, before a foul on Shane Hughes allowed Raymond Ronaghan to tap over a 20-metre free. McCormack then punched a Paul Coyle cross to the net to give them hope, but McElroy replied from a 30-metre free after a foul on Connolly and he also linked up with Markey to kick a fine point from play, which had Donaghmoyne well ahead by 2-8 to 1-3 at half-time.

Connolly put nine between them less than a minute into the second half and although Tyholland responded with points by McCormack and Askin (free), they missed another great opportunity when a miskick by Askin fell for Peadar Farrelly, whose shot was cleared off the line. Donaghy kicked a brace of points – one with either foot – to keep Donaghmoyne in charge, but that was when the wheels came off for the Fontenoys. A point by Farrelly and a free by Askin, after a foul on McCormack, gave no indication of what was to come, but Tyholland did take some hope when Donaghmoyne keeper Gerry Lynch gave the ball away to James McQuaid, who won a penalty, which Dermot Coyle swept to the net.

Brian McArdle blasted another goal chance wide and time seemed to be ticking away for Tyholland when they still trailed by three points with just two minutes of normal time remaining, but James McQuaid set up Dermot Coyle for his second major. Askin and sub Ryan McKenna added great points from play, before McKenna booted over a huge free from 55 metres, following a foul on O’Connell. This had Tyholland three points up in unlikely circumstances and even though Darren Coleman punched a high ball from Daly to the net to level it up, there was still time for O’Connell to win another free, which Askin stroked over the bar to see Tyholland through to their second consecutive final and their third in four years.

Tyholland: P Hamill; S Connolly, G Ronaghan, P Coyle; G McQuaid, R McNally (Capt.); S Treanor (0-1); S Hughes, B McArdle; D Coyle (2-0, 1-0 pen), K O’Connell, P Farrelly (0-1); P McCormack (1-1), R Ronaghan (0-2f), P Askin (0-4, 3f).

Subs: R McKenna (0-2, 1f) for Hughes (35), J McQuaid (0-1) for Treanor (42).

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

Subs: N Garland for Martin (36), F Keenan for McBride (43), D Coleman (1-0) for Daly (46), N Kelly for McElroy (54).

Referee: B Walsh (Ballybay).