Éire Óg always up against it

Éire Óg 0-12 Templenoe 1-17

ÉIRE Óg bowed out of the Munster Intermediate Football Championship on Sunday after Templenoe flexed their considerable scoring muscles to cruise to a comfortable eight-point win.

After a substantial championship layoff that saw the Kerry champions have to wait all of six months to get going in this year’s provincial competition Templenoe put in two very impressive displays in two weeks, first seeing off St Saviours of Waterford before discarding the Rebel winners emphatically – in a fashion that will send shock waves far and wide throughout this particular grade.

1,777 football fans made their way to Ovens for this one and if they came looking for class, precision and near perfection they didn’t leave disappointed as the Kingdom side were magnificent on the day – particularly in the opening 30 minutes when they cut Éire Óg apart at every opportunity.

On the Éire Óg side of things former Cork attacker Daniel Goulding lead the attack from corner forward with Cork’s newest recruit – returning hero Ciarán Sheehan – making his second championship start of the season in a roving full forward position.

The home side also had Eoin Sheehan and midfielder Ronan O’Toole on form with wing back Diarmuid Dineen and John Mullins also up for the fight. Leading the line for Templenoe was the attacking double act of Killian Spillane and Stephen O’Sullivan – who between them equally shared a game winning tally of 12 points. Kerry stars Adrian Spillane, Tadgh Morley and Gavin Crowley also impressed throughout with captain Brian Crowley at centre forward another to show his wares throughout.

Templenoe won the toss and chose to play with the strong wind in the opening half – a decision that clearly helped them to dominate their hosts for the entire first half. From the first whistle, it was clear that the Cork county champions were up against it as Templenoe set about dismantling what to that point was a very impressive Éire Óg rear guard.

Players of the quality of O’Sullivan, Killian Spillane and Crowley were making hay against the home side with Sean Sheehan and Adrian Spillane dominating the middle third. Sheehan in particular was hugely impressive as Éire Óg failed to get to grips with the challenge that was put in front of them.

On the rare occasion in the first half that the boys in red and yellow advanced into the Templenoe danger zone they invariably saw the final pass go astray with four early efforts also dropping into the grateful arms of Templenoe keeper Danny Cahalane – add that to five first half wides and it was clear that the Cork side were on a sticky wicket.

For their part, Templenoe put in as close to a flawless first 30 as one could ask for at this grade with 12 points and only one wide. 0-12 to 0-2 at the short whistle.

As one would expect Templenoe took their foot off the gas after the break leaving the Leesiders put a little respectability on the board.

Goulding was impressive from placed balls bagging five frees and a point from play while Sheehan made his mark with a serious effort from the wing. O’Toole never stopped running and managed to bag two points for himself however they couldn’t get close to their opponents who put this one firmly to bed on 55 minutes when Adrian Spillane raised the only green flag of the day.

Credit to Éire Óg for their never say die attitude which was typified by them scoring the last three points of the game but on this day, there was only one side on song as Templenoe deservedly took the spoils.

Templenoe must now square up to and beat Clare champions, St Breckans, if they are to claim their second Munster title in three years – a huge achievement for any club while for Éire Óg, life as a senior football club awaits – now that’s something to look forward to.

TEMPLENOE: D Cahalane; M Hallissey, T Morley 0-1, K O’Neill; S Sheehan, T Spillane, G Crowley 0-1; P Clifford, A Spillane 1-0; T Doyle 0-1, B Crowley (Capt), J Crowley Holland; S O’Sullivan 0-6 (2f), K Spillane 0-6 (4f), C Hallissey 0-1 Subs: P Spillane 0-1 for C Hallissey (50), M Reilly for J Crowley Holland (58), J Spillane for S Sheehan (60), J Sheehan for M Hallissey (60), J Rice for B Crowley (63)

ÉIRE Óg: E Kelleher; J Kelleher, J Mullins, D O’Herlihy; D Dineen, John Cooper, D McCarthy; L Sheehan, R O’Toole 0-2; J Murphy, K Hallissey, E O’Shea 0-1; D Goulding 0-6 (5f), C Sheehan 0-1, B Hurley 0-1 Subs: C O’Callaghan 0-1 for L Sheehan (half time), Joe Cooper for K Hallissey (52), D Hurley for J Murphy (56), M O’Shea for J Kelleher (58), D Murphy for B Hurley (60), P O’Sullivan for E O’Shea (62)

REFEREE: Alan Kissane (Waterford)