Shanley points way for Fintan’s

HWH-BUNCLODY didn’t cut any corners with their sharp start in Bellefield on Sunday as Colm Farrell claimed a goal within the opening four minutes of this Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A tie.

Darren Kehoe followed up with a well-taken free before Donal Shanley did likewise at the other end for St. Fintan’s.

Shanley then claimed his side’s first point from play minutes later. Eoin Kelly and Pádraic Sinnott showed great combation play to give the former his place on the scoresheet, while Niall Moore and Shanley responded for St. Fintan’s.

Supporters were in for a lively second quarter as John Dunne from Bunclody and Conor Sinnott from St. Fintan’s both raised the green flag before the half-time whistle blew.

The sides were neck and neck throughout the second-half, as Shanley continued his scoring ways for the south county men while Kelly did likewise for their northern rivals.

Impressive wing-back Pádraic Sinnott added his name to the scoresheet when Bunclody got a succession of points, with Kehoe and Dunne the key players in this spell.

St. Fintan’s were in need of a goal and Shane Sinnott answered this call as he found the Bunclody net. A plethora of shots from Shanley brought the sides level with minutes remaining.

The respective goalkeepers, Patrick McDonnell and Patrick Kavanagh, were key figures, making numerous crucial saves.

Eoin O’Callaghan and Darren Kehoe swapped points within the dying minutes, but a black card to Bunclody and a late point from Shanley for St. Fintan’s left his side with the win.

An opportunity to make matters better arose for Bunclody in the final minute but Darren Kehoe could only claim a minor, leaving St. Fintan’s to claim a first victory by the slimmest of margins.

St. Fintan’s: Patrick McDonnell; Kevin Day, Frank Staples, Jimmy Staples; Peter Goldsmith, Jim Rossiter, Jamie Sinnott; Conor Sinnott (1-0 pen.), Robert Coakley; Eoin O’Callaghan (0-1), Donal Shanley (0-7, 5 frees), Adrian Murphy; Niall Moore (0-1), Joey Wadding, Shane Sinnott (1-0). Subs. - Jason Pettit for Coakley, Richie Kelly for Murphy.

HWH-Bunclody: Patrick Kavanagh; Billy Kelly, John Atkinson, Enda Slevin; Colm Farrell (1-0), Martin O’Connor, Pádraic Sinnott (0-1); John Dunne (1-1), Seán Kenny; Josh Martin, Eoin Kelly (0-2), James Moorhead; David Reck, Darren Kehoe (0-4, 3 frees), Peter Atkinson. Subs. - Aidan Nolan for Kenny, Paddy Dunbar for Farrell (black card).

Referee: Kevin Carty (Sarsfields).