Relegation deciders down for decision
THIS SATURDAY’S relegation finals at Senior and Intermediate level will bring together strugglers that have already played each other in the championship. The Homeland Senior Football Championship relegation showdown between St Farnan’s and Curry, which takes place at Keash’s Fr Kevin Brehony Park, 4.30pm – is their second meeting in the current campaign. St Farnan’s had nine points to spare, 1-16 to 0-10, when they defeated Curry under lights at Tourlestrane GAA Club on Saturday, September 16.
The west Sligo club, who were inspired that day by intercounty attacker Patrick O’Connor, were without Finnian Cawley and the Sligo senior player is expected to miss the rematch with Curry due to injury – with a number of other injury concerns for the David Cummins-managed side.
This is Curry’s second successive relegation final – they defeated Coolaney-Mullinabreena by five points in last year’s trapdoor fixture.
St Farnan’s have ended up in the last chance saloon due to last Saturday’s relegation semi-final defeat to Tubbercurry, 4-14 to 2-10, at Tourlestrane. The Dromore WestTempleboy outfit will be raging because they coughed up a four-point lead, 2-9 to 0-11, with matters heading into the last 10 minutes. Tubbercurry – the south Sligo club that has won the Owen B Hunt Cup a record 20 times – ensured they would spend another 12 months in the top tier by incredibly shooting 4-3 in the closing stages.
Brian Morahan goaled twice and there were also three-pointers from Aaron Perry and Luke Gilmartin. Tubbercurry had Niall Murphy black-carded during the frenetic finish.
Patrick O’Connor bagged 0-7 for St Farnan’s and their goalscorers were Patrick’s brother, Ciaran, and Fionn Connolly. St Farnan’s were a point up at half-time, 1-5 to 0-7. Meanwhile, Saturday’s Connacht Gold Intermediate Football Championship relegation decider will be contested by Castleconnor and Shamrock Gaels’ second XV. This game
RELEGATION FINALS
Saturday, October 14
INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP takes place at Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry, with a 4.30pm start. Castleconnor and Shamrock Gaels, last year’s Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship winners, have already met in the competition earlier this year – Castleconnor were 0-10 to 0-7 winners at Seamie Donegan Memorial Park in a Group One fixture played on Saturday, August 26.
Castleconnor had Sean Carrabine for that fixture (he scored five of the winners’ 10 points) but a knee injury sustained in the next round – against Enniscrone-Kilglass – has sidelined the Sligo star since.
Carrabine was absent for last Saturday’s relegation semi-final defeat to St John’s, 1-8 to 0-7, at Quigabar.
St John’s were 0-5 to 0-1 at the break but then five points without reply from Castleconnor put the west Sligo side a point up, 0-6 to 0-5.
A 55th minute goal from Oisin Cox would prove the turning point for St John’s, with Brian McGowan – St John’s top scorer in the championship – kicking four of their eight points. Castleconnor’s leading scorers were Oisin Flynn and Stephen Rogan with 0-2 apiece. St John’s were in last year’s Intermediate Football Championship relegation final but overcame Ballymote by a point.