INTERMEDIATE GOES TO A REPLAY
INTERMEDIATE FINAL WITH ST JOHN’S AND ST FARNAN’S GOES TO A REPLAY
St Farnan’s then had a chance to score, with Eamonn Kilgannon and Mark Devaney dispatching to midfielder Paddy O’Connor, the Sligo inter-county star was fouled but the shot from his brother Ciaran went to the left hand side and wide.
Finnian Cawley was on target for the west Sligo men on 8 minutes, Ciaran O’Connor involved in the build-up play, Cawley punching the air with glee.
A minute later and Tommy Kelly with a fine score from play, edged St John’s into the lead, after a well-worked attacking move from Dara McGarty’s men.
St Farnan’s were hitting a number of scoreable frees wide, before Paddy O’Connor levelled matters through a well-taken free on Shane Neary to make it two points each with 17 minutes played.
St Farnan’s could have extended their lead on 20 minutes when Neary found himself one on one with the St John’s keeper, Noel O’Donnell did well to avert the danger.
In a very low scoring opening half, there was little to separate the sides and the next score didn’t arrive until the 25th minute.
Kilgannon was working tirelessly mopping up any threat in the St Farnan’s defence, while both sides were looking to get the next score.
McNamara went on a long run and passed to Keane who did well but St Farnan’s defence collected, had Keane gained possession, a certain goal chance was on.
Harrison, who was driving the St John’s attack, was involved in their next point, again from the boot of Kelly, with another fine score from play for the half forward.
O’Donnell got his fingertips to what would have been another point for St Farnan’s, saving a definite score from the boot of James Hynes, impressive for St Farnan’s throughout.
Hynes was rewarded for his efforts on the brink of half-time, scoring the last point of the period as the sides were three points a piece at the interval.
Fans were hoping for a lot more scores and excitement in the second half and their wishes were certainly granted.
With less a minute played, Kilgannon sent a brilliant shot over the bar, the west Sligo support finding their voices as St Farnan’s led for the first time in the game.
Then the first of the black cards was issued by referee John Gilmartin. After consulting with his umpire, Matt Lang was shown a black card as the St Farnan’s captain had to make way.
The game sprung to life when St Farnan’s burst through the St John’s defence, Paddy O’Connor, Martin Mulligan and Hynes all involved as the St John’s keeper seemed to spill possession, substitute Stephen Mulligan was quickest to pounce and fired into the net, giving St Farnan’s a 1-4 to 0-4 lead with 35 minutes played. Hynes followed with a point from play to give St Farnan’s a four-point lead but it was shortlived. Fiachra Grennan went on a powerful run and slammed to the back of the St Farnan’s net on 37 minutes. Game on.
A minute later and Keane levelled again, much to loud cheers from the St John’s contingent as both sides registered 1-5 each. St John’s captain Niall Walsh was also shown a black card on 39 minutes and had to leave the battlefield, with Shane Stenson replacing. Ciaran O’Connor edged St Farnan’s into the lead again with a free on 44 minutes, the 23-year-old followed with another free on Kilgannon as St Farnan’s intensity was increasing.
Keane reduced it to a one point game after chipping over a free, with Stenson, who made an immediate impact, pointing a fantastic score from play to level on 50 minutes.
With ten minutes to go, the intensity from both was very much on the up.
A high challenge on Harrison saw St Farnan’s Darren Hynes being given a straight red, with St Farnan’s reduced to14, whether St John’s were going to exploit this remained to be seen.
St John’s midfielder David Rooney sent over a fine point from play with 8 minutes to go, while Ciaran O’Connor responded for St Farnan;s for a jersey pull on Mulligan.
O’Connor converted another St Farnan’s free with four minutes to go as they led by 1-9 to 1-8 as the clock was ticking down.
St John’s were desperately seeking the equaliser and McNamara linked up with Rooney whose shot sailed wide with less than a minute to go, the midfielder showing his disappointment,
Again St John’s attacked and this time it was Conor Greene who attempted to equalise but it too went wide. As time looked to be up, St John’s had the last play of the game. Up stepped midfielder Rooney and this time he didn’t miss, sending over one of the scores of the game as St John’s were level once again and a replay was on the cards.
ST FARNAN’S: S Healy, J Quinn, P Culkin, J Weir, E Kilgannon (0-1), M Lang (C), C Hallinhan, P O’Connor (0-1, 1f), M Mulligan, F Cawley (0-1), C O’Connor (0-4, 4f), J Hynes (0-2), K Lang, M Devaney, S Neary.
Subs: S Mulligan (1-0) for K Lang (h/t), R McCombe for Neary (h/t), D Hynes for M Lang (b/c 34), K McGee for Devaney (53).
ST JOHN’S: N O’Donnell, A Clerkin, C Harrison, E Roche, N Walsh (C), P McNamara, D Smith, J Murphy, D Rooney (0-2), T Kelly (0-2), B McGowan, C Greene, A Keane (0-4, 3f), F Grennan (1-0), O Cox.
Subs: S Stenson (0-1) for Walsh (b/c 39), K Sweeney for Grennan (49). REFEREE: J Gilmartin.