Hard-fought win for Fechins

CLAN NA GAEL 3-6

ST Fechins concluded the group stages of the Paddy Sheelan Cup with a hard-fought victory over Clan na nGael in Darver on Saturday evening.

Played in wintry conditions on the all-weather pitch there was an excellent debut for Neil Boylan at corner back and a goal keeping debut for Fergal McNally who at 36 skewed the average age of the team somewhat but was brave enough to step forward with the three first choice keepers all unavailable.

Playing against the wind in the first half Fechins started strongly with Joe Corrigan scorching through the Clans rearguard to bury a goal and this was followed by a point from wing back Paul McEvoy .Clans responded immediately with a goal of their own as Sean O’Hanlon burst through a static Fechins backline before placing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Clans were on top now and the Dundalk side went ahead with four successive points including a brilliant long range effort from Mark McGeown.

The Fechins responded well however and closed the opening half out in style with Sean Kerrisk scoring a brace from frees as well as a point each for the Devlin brothers.

All of that left the half-time scoreboard reading 1-5 to 1-4 in the Fechins favour.

The Clans started the second half in devastating fashion with Barry Carr and Mark Lee scoring goals in quick succession to put the visitors five points clear.

Eventually Fechins awoke from their slumber and two goals from big full forward Cathal Doherty soon had the Clans on the rack.

Two points apiece from Niall Devlin and Joe Corrigan as well as scores from Sean Kerrisk and an excellent point from Harry Haughney pushed the Fechins into an unassailable lead as the home side qualified for the quarter-finals.

ST FECHINS: Fergal McNally; Neil Boylan, David Lally, Danny Burnell; Paul McEvoy 0-1, Harry Haughney 0-1, Pauric O’Donohoe; Joe Corrigan 1-2, Matthew Flanagan; Alex Smith, Niall Devlin 0-3, Brian Devlin 0-1; Adam O’ Neill, Cathal Doherty 2-0, Sean Kerrisk 0-3. Subs: Cian Gorman for P McEvoy, David Collier for A Smith, Nicky Smith for N Boylan, Eoghan Ryan for C Doherty.

CLAN NA GAEL: Cillian Rice; Brian McDonnell, Paul Crewe, Stephen Fitzpatrick; Tiarnan Weldon, Gerry Curran, Jason Cullen; Adam Lynch, Reece O’Hanlon; Graham Stevens, Michael McDonnell, Dean O’Donnell; Mark McGeown 0-2, Sean O’Hanlon 1-2, Barry Carr 1-0. Subs: Mark Lee 1-0, Mark Newell 0-2.