Slick Dromard send Cashel packing

15.08.10 | SFC Quarter-Final | Dromard 6-12 Cashel 1-7 | By Neil Halligan

Dromard underlined their championship credentials as favourites with an emphatic win over reigning intermediate champions Cashel on Sunday evening.

The margin of 20 points at the final whistle fully reflected what was as one-sided a championship encounter as Pearse Park is likely to witness this season.

The movement and speed of play shown by the north Longford side was simply too much for their Cashel counterparts. In fact, there should have been a wider margin at the end, had Dromard been more accurate in their point-taking (11 wides) or more ruthless in front of goal (three chances spurned).

The prize for Dromard is a semi-final against either Abbeylara or Rathcline, and barring an outrageous shock, another county final beckons for the blue and gold.

It's a different story altogether for Cashel, who made the step up to senior ranks this year, having won the Intermediate title the last two years running. The move up in grade, therefore, was a natural progress for the south Longford side.

They emerged from the group stages by virtue of an unexpected, yet deserved, win over an injury-hit Colmcille in their last game and were looking to build on that in a sun-drenched Pearse Park last Sunday.

However, they soon found that it wasn't going to be their day when the hard-working Dromard side produced a near-flawless display over 60 minutes, waning for just a brief period in the second half when Cashel managed to get on top around the middle through Ger Dennigan.

But for the most part, Cashel were harried for every ball and put under pressure for possession by a mean Dromard defence – invariably coughing up the ball and a score down the other end in the process.

There was one chink of generosity from Dromard's defence in the opening 20 seconds of the game, when a ball was allowed to bounce, allowing Shane Merrigan to steer his side into an early lead.

Dromard responded with two quick-fire points, before a touch of fortune came their way in the form a goal. Ronan McEntire picked up the ball 25 metres from goal and shot for a point. However, the ball dipped at the last minute and crept underneath Blaine Carberry's crossbar.

Dromard kicked on from there, knocking over four more points to Cashel's two.

The inevitable second goal came in the 17th minute, when Cian Mimnagh picked up possession on the right, rounded his man and raced through on goal, before slotting the ball into the left corner.

At the break, Dromard led 2-7 to 0-3 and continued to dominate on the resumption. Cashel enjoyed a brief period where they managed to match their opponents, during which time they scored one goal and probably should have bagged another.

Six minutes into the second half, Ger Dennigan launched a high ball to the edge of the Dromard small square. Wing forward Colm O'Shea managed to rise highest and field the ball before swiftly turning and rifling the ball to the top left corner of the net.

Midway through the half, Damien Sheridan pulled off a smart save to deny Cashel a second goal.

The chance came after a flowing move of quick handpassing through the heart of Dromard's defence, ending up with Shane Merrigan shooting low towards the left corner, but Sheridan was able to get down and palm the ball away.

Dromard stepped it up once more with two goals in as many minutes, the first of which came via the post. Jamesie Martin's shot for a point came back off the upright to the waiting Francis McGee, who placed the ball into the bottom left corner.

Minutes later, Diarmuid Masterson sauntered through Cashel's defence, before laying the ball off to Cian Mimnagh, who slid the ball past Carberry for goal number five. The sixth was scored on the stroke of full time as substitute Declan Mimnagh unselfishly put Jamesie Martin in for his second goal.

Dromard: Damien Sheridan; Paul McGee, Cathal Conefrey, David Pettit; Niall Vance, Pete Reynolds (0-1), John Sheridan; Donal Sheridan, Diarmuid Masterson (0-1); Peter Masterson, Cian Mimnagh (2-0), Padraig Martin; Jamesie Martin (2-2, 1f), Francis McGee (1-5, 1f), Ronan McEntire (1-3).

Subs: Noel Reynolds for Donal Sheridan and Kevin Donohoe for Pete Reynolds (both 46 mins); Declan Mimnagh for McGee (50 mins) and Bernard Sheridan for Mimnagh (both 50 mins); Peadar Faughnan for Vance (55 mins).

Cashel: Blaine Carberry; Paul Keegan, John Hopkins, Mark Egan; Ronan Farrell, Luke Casey, Conan Casey; Niall Donlon, Ger Dennigan; Colm O'Shea (1-0), James Rowan, Padraig Farrell; Derek Farrell (0-2, 2f), Gary Kenny (0-3, 2f), Shane Merrigan (0-1).

Subs: Peter Foy for L Casey (13 mins); Luke Casey for Hopkins (34 mins); Kevin Farrell for Donlon (36 mins); Ronan Muldoon for Foy (51 mins); Michael Donlon for Carberry (56 mins).

Referee: John Bannon (Legan Sarsfields).

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