BARRS MARCH
NAOMH Fionnbarra’s bid for a swift return to the Intermediate grade is still very much alive, following this three-point victory over a gallant and honest John Mitchels side in Darver.
One of the main talking points since the return of GAA action around the country has been the introduction of the water break and does it really kill momentum a team may have.
Going into the first drinks break, it was 0-2 each. By the time both teams retired for the half time break, Brendan Healy’s side led by 1-5 to 0-3.
It is a debate that will surely continue. However, the Finnbarrs were the better team overall, and could have had a few more goals but Mitchels keeper David Anderson produced a string of outstanding saves to deny Liam Shevlin and William Woods in particular, while Adam Hanratty saw his effort crash off the butt of the post.
Credit to The Mitchels who took the game to The Finnbarrs, and a free from John Gallagher and a cracking point from distance by Gareth Kane gave them that 0-2 to no score lead early doors.
The Barrs struggled to find their range, shooting into a difficult breeze, kicking 1-5 from 19 shots but Conor Osbourne provide terrific leadership throughout the match and his two points either side of a William Woods “45” put Naomh Fionnbarra ahead.
Osbourne emphasised his importance to this Finnbarrs side, with 21 possessions over the hour, and his goal just before the break, following great work by Ciaran Markey (25 possessions) coming after two further Woods scores (1f) left it at 1-5 to 0-2 in the Finnbarrs’ favour heading into the break.
The hard working pair of James Clarke and Mikey Nulty combined to set up Trevor Mathews to point for the Micthels just before that half time whistle to close the gap to five.
The Micthels started the second half more brightly and with players like James Clarke, Mikey Nulty and Niall Carroll determined to take the game to The Barrs, as well as points from Stephen Campbell, Trevor Mathews and Ben O’Brien, they closed the gap to two points heading into the first drinks break.
However, Naomh Fionnbarra introduced cousins Hugh and Eoghan Osbourne into the fray and both made valuable contributions with Hugh Osbourne cutting out Mitchels’ attacks at crucial times, while Eoghan
Osbourne scored a point and assisted one for Conor Osbourne as the Barrs stepped up to the mark.
Liam Shevlin (22 possessions) kicked superbly over the bar from distance to settle things down, before a William Woods free and those scores from Conor and Eoghan Osbourne left it at 1-9 to 0-6 with very little time remaining.
John Gallagher, despite wearing a heavy strapping on his left knee, drilled a left footed shot past Togher keeper Daithi Woods to put a goal between the teams, however that was virtually the last play as a relieved Naomh Fionnbarra held on to book their place in the Junior Championship Final, maintaining their hopes of a quickfire return to Intermediate.
Daithi Woods; Brendan Simms, Patrick McGrane, Kalum Regan; Niall Woods, Hugh McGrane, James Butterly; Josh Crosbie, Liam Shevlin 0-1; Padraig Butterly, Conor Osbourne 1-3, Ciaran Markey; Adam Hanratty, William Woods 0-4 (2f, 1 ’45), Martin Murphy. Subs: Hugh Osbourne for Regan (38), Martin O’Neill for Padraig Butterly (47), Eoghan Osbourne 0-1 for Hanratty (53).
David Anderson; Anthony Coyle, Niall Carroll, Alan Mackin; Mikey Nulty, Emmet Farrell, Aaron Kane; James Clarke, Aaron Keeley; Kevin Gallagher, Andrew Bingham, Trevor Mathews 0-2; Gareth Kane 0-1, John Gallagher 1-1 (1f), Ben O’Brien 0-1. Subs: Stephen Campbell 0-1 for Keeley (29), Robbie Coyle for Kevin Gallagher (55), Liam Devitt for Anthony Coyle (58).