Draw enough to see Shamrock Gaels through to semi-final
SHAMROCK GAELS CASTLECONNOR 2-11 1-14
Shamrock Gaels advanced to the semi-final of the Kennedys Intermediate Championship after an exciting draw with Castleconnor in the final group game played at Tourlestrane last Saturday.
Castleconnor advance to the quarter final where they face a tough assignment against St Johns next weekend.
Castleconnor opened the scoring with a point from Sligo minor Michael Cahill while the Gaels responded with a David Quinn free. Quinn put the Gaels ahead with another free on five minutes while Frank Quinn pointed from long range to put the Gaels two up. Castleconnor defended deeply deploying a sweeper, and this forced the Gaels to shoot from distance often resulting in the wrong option with a number of efforts falling into the grateful hands of keeper Anthony Killcullen.
Castleconnor on the other hand broke at pace and were more direct and indeed Ciaran Kilcullen was unlucky to be denied a goal mid-way through the half after a goal mouth scramble which the Gaels managed to clear.
The Gaels settled after this early scare and points from brothers David and Joe Quinn put them four points up heading in to the closing stages of the half and it looked like they could kick on.
Castleconnor had other ideas and with the Gaels guilty of a loss of concentration and getting caught in possession resulting in costly turnovers, Castleconnor took full advantage. Paul Flynn and Captain Kevin Langan pointed to close the gap to two. With the Gaels now on the back foot, the impressive Sligo U21 Sean Carrabine closed the gap to one after another turnover and Carrabine levelled the game on the stroke of half time after a great run that could have ended up in a goal.
Castleconnor opened the scoring in the second half with a free from Kevin Langan and it was Castleconnor who now raced into a four point lead as their more direct style was in stark contrast to the Gaels slow patient build ups and they frequently caught Gaels on the counter attack. Mark Tuohy in the Gaels goals kept them in the game with an excellent save at full stretch from Sean Carrabine after another great run. The Gaels were given a lifeline mid-way through the half when Frank Quinn earned a penalty which the impressive Liam O’Connell converted to narrow the gap to one. David Quinn levelled the game on seventeen minutes and Joe Quinn converted a free shortly after to put the Gaels ahead again.
Castleconnor hit the front again on twenty minutes with a great goal from Michael Cahill who climbed high above keeper Mark Tuohy to punch the ball to the net after a high ball into the square. The celebrations were short lived with an immediate response from the Gaels with a sweeping move direct from the kick out involving several players, finished to the net by Johnny Quinn to restore the Gaels advantage. Joe Quinn extended the Gaels lead with a free on twenty six minutes while man of the match, Sean Carrabine responded with an excellent long range point to narrow the gap to one.
Full forward Brian Howley had the final say with an equally impressive point with two minutes remaining to level the game. Kevin Langan had a chance to win the game in the closing stages for Castleconnor; however the game ended in a draw which was probably the fairer result.
Shamrock Gaels: Mark Tuohy, Colin Harte, Declan Willis, Keith McMorrow, Ciaran O’Connor, Frank Quinn (0-1), Conor Merrick, Paul Higgins, Joe Henry, Liam O’Connell (1-0), David Quinn (0-6), Andy Flynn, Johnny Quinn (1-0), Joe Quinn (0-4), Daire Kearns. Subs: Darragh Hailstones for C O’Connor.
Castleconnor: Anthony Kilcullen, Ronan Keane, Keith Earlis, Brendan Howley, Alan Cawley, John McDonnell, Ciaran Killcullen, Kevin McDonnell (0-2), Stephen Durkan, Sean Carrabine (0-3), Paul Flynn (0-2), Michael Cahill (1-1), Brian Howley (0-1), Kevin Langan (0-4). Subs: Luke Munnelly for S Durkan, Cian Barrins for B Howley, James Boland for J McDonnell, Barnes Kelly for M Cahill.