SFC Relegation Section
Gaels send St Mary's deeper into relegation trouble
15.08.10 | SFC Relegation Round 1 | Fr. Manning Gaels 1-9 St. Mary’s 0-8 | By Deniese O'Flaherty
Fr Manning Gaels recorded a valuable win over St. Mary's on Sunday evening last in the first round of the relegation group matches.
With this year's relegation issue being determined by results of three round-robin games it was vital for teams to get that first win.
The Gaels achieved that with a four-point winning margin and it leaves St. Mary's with a real fight on their hands if they want to avoid the drop to the Intermediate Championship next year.
Getting scores has been a big problem for the Granard side in this year's championship and on Sunday evening they struggled yet again in front of the posts, kicking several scoreable efforts wide. They also lost the ball in the forward line through sloppy passing.
The Gaels were also wasteful on a number of occasions, but they got scores at the right times; their goal in the 46th minute came when Granard looked like they were getting back into the game. It extended the Drumlish side's lead from two points to five and knocked Granard out of their stride.
As a spectacle it was a very poor game and it's no wonder both sides are fighting relegation with the standard of football that was played.
Gaels started the game brightly and should have registered a few scores on the board but their inaccuracy in front of the posts let them down. It was Granard who opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a free from the boot of Liam O'Rourke. Minutes later they had to make their first change of the game when David Blessington came off injured.
David Cassidy got the Gaels first score of the game in the 10th minute. Nine minutes elapsed before they got their next point to put them into the lead and even at that early stage Granard were chasing the game.
The last two points of the half were scored by the Gills; Pauric tapped over a great score in the 22nd minute before Kieran got his side's fourth of the half just before the break to leave three between the teams.
The lead was extended to four, minutes after the restart before Granard fired over four unanswered scores to level matters. Substitute Declan Hynes got their first score after 30 minutes of play in the 35th minute. That was followed by a lovely score from Liam O'Rourke and then frees from the boot of Derek Sheridan and O'Rourke.
Instead of giving Granard the impetus, those scores sparked the Gaels into life and they regained their lead shortly after with a point from David Collum. They decided to make changes and county minor James Noonan really made an impact when he came on in the 39th minute; he got on the scoresheet four minutes after he was introduced.
Granard also decided to change things around but made the strange decision of taking off Liam O'Rourke, who had been one of their better players and someone capable of getting a score.
One minute after the substitutions the Gaels got their decisive score; Kieran Gill received a pass on the edge of the area and he made no mistake finding the back of the net.
Granard were stunned into action and staged a mini-revival. A free from Sheridan and a point apiece from Glen Kelly and Jim-Bob Reilly cut the Gaels lead to just two points but that was as close as they were to get to their opponents.
In the latter stages of the game Noonan fired over two fine points to give his side a comfortable four point win.
FR. MANNING GAELS: Aidan Gray; John Paul Farrelly, Aaron Quinn, Cian Brady; Fergal Reilly, Diarmuid Cooney, Sean Diffley; David Collum (0-2), Johnny Kane; Emmet Collum, Pauric Gill (0-1), Mickey Kelly; David Cassidy (0-2, 2f), Kieran Gill (1-1), Kevin Whelan.
Subs used: James Noonan (0-3) for Kelly and Gary Brady for Farrelly 39mins; Sean Whelan for P Gill 60mins.
ST. MARY'S: James Hynes; Kevin McGauran, Vincent Nally, Gene Kearney; Sean Duggan, Alan Neilon, Paul Smith; Darren Gallagher, Thomas Gallagher; Liam O'Rourke (0-3, 1f), David Blessington, Jim-Bob Reilly (0-1); Glen Kelly (0-1), Derek Sheridan (0-2,1f), Thomas Devanney.
Subs used: Michael Murray for Blessington 10 mins; Declan Hynes (0-1) for Devanney half-time; Adam Cunningham for Murray and Fergus Kelly for O'Rourke 45mins; Ian Small for G Kelly 59mins.
Referee: Derek Fahy (Ballymahon).
Connolly's boost relegation hopes with facile Ardagh win
14.08.10 | SFC Relegation Round 1 | Sean Connolly's 1-10 St Patrick's 0-6 | By Liam Cosgrove
A second half Eugene Murtagh goal gave Sean Connolly's relegation hopes a massive lift as they comfortably saw off the challenge of a disappointing Ardagh side at Pearse Park on Saturday evening.
Murtagh's fisted effort came less than ten minutes into the second half to seal what was a workmanlike, rather than polished, performance from Connolly's.
After slumping to a six point defeat to Abbeylara just six days previously, Connolly's were well aware that their relegation rivals, Ardagh were likewise struggling for form.
Having finished bottom of Group One, there was little for those sporting green and gold colours in the terraces to get excited about with last weekend's morale-sapping 17-point drubbing to Killoe, still leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of supporters and management alike.
That said, it was Ardagh who started the better as Seamus Shortt and then Daniel Keenan opened up a two point cushion after ten minutes.
Despite their inauspicious start, Connolly's never panicked and buoyed on by the impressive Martin Brady at midfield, they gradually clawed their way back into proceedings, so much so that by the 20th minute both sides were level at four points apiece.
A fine Enda Dalton turn and shot sandwiched two Stephen Lynch efforts soon after as Connolly's eased into a three point lead.
But Ardagh could and should have been level at the interval. Spotting an infringement off the ball, referee Michael O'Brien awarded a penalty before flashing a yellow card in the direction of Andy McNamee.
The bemused corner back needn't have worried however, as seconds later Shortt side footed his spot kick wide of Joseph Croash's right hand post.
That miss proved extremely costly and eight minutes into the second half, Connolly's underlined their superiority when Eugene Murtagh fisted the ball home following a Martin Brady free.
It was no more than Connolly's deserved with Brady and full forward Lynch pulling the strings. Trevor Murtagh added another score moments later to give Connolly's an unassailable seven point cushion.
Enda Ward and a Patrick Keenan free at the death did add a degree of respectability to the scoreline, but perhaps more worryingly from an Ardagh perspective were the losses of Daniel Keenan and Ciaran Kelly late on to injury.
Kelly's enforced departure with an ankle injury looked particularly serious and no doubt much attention will turn to whether the duo can return to the fold for what is now a must-win encounter against Fr Manning Gaels tomorrow evening (Thursday).
SEAN CONNOLLY'S: James McKenna; Andy McNamee, Paddy McDonnell, Brendan Tracey; Thomas Keogh, Padraig Brady, Eamon McEvoy; Martin Brady (0-2, one free), Michael McGlynn; Shane Carrigy, Ciaran McKeon, Trevor Murtagh (0-2); Enda Dalton (0-2), Stephen Lynch (0-4, two frees), Eugene Murtagh (1-0).
ARDAGH ST PATRICK'S: Joseph Croash; Desmond Murphy, Enda Gillen, Paul Ivel; Derek Farrell, Gerard Farrell, Brian Farrell; Seamus Shortt (0-1, free), Philip Gillen (0-1); Enda Ward (0-1, free), Patrick Keenan (0-1, free), James McGoey; Daniel Keenan (0-1), Ciaran Kelly, Shane Henry (0-1).
Subs used: Kevin O'Brien for Derek Farrell (49 mins); David Farrell for Daniel Keenan (55 mins); Frank Galvin for Ciaran Kelly (59 mins).
Referee: Michael O'Brien (Longford Slashers).
Gill points Fr. Manning Gaels to safety
19.08.10 | SFC Relegation Round 2 | Fr. Manning Gaels 0-13 St. Patrick’s 0-6 | By Deniese O'Flaherty
Fr Manning Gaels secured their senior championship status for another year when they swept aside the weak challenge of St. Patrick's, Ardagh last Thursday night.
It was a drab and dour encounter with very little to entertain the brave souls that turned out at the Killoe venue.
Over the course of the game Gaels played some nice football and should have won by more and were particularly wasteful in front of the posts in the second half.
The Gills were very much to the fore for the Drumlish side; Pauric put in a fine performance finishing with two points to his name, while Ciaran notched up six points.
County minor James Noonan also played his part, scoring three fantastic points.
Added to that, the Gaels defence as a whole played very well and defended resolutely.
St. Patrick's, on the other hand, were poor. They scored three points in each half and will have to improve on that front, as well as showing some battling qualities if they are to avoid relegation to the Intermediate Championship.
It was the Ardagh side that opened the scoring in a dire first half; Seamus Shortt played a short free to Enda Ward and he found space to point over.
The Gaels responded and could've grabbed a goal but Pauric Gill's powerful shot was deflected out for a '45. From the resulting kick Ciaran Gill opened his account. Two minutes later James Noonan got his first point of the game with a well taken score.
Ciaran Kelly brought St. Patrick's level in the 13th minute but that was as close as they were to get to their opponents as the Gaels started to show their dominance on the scoreboard. Pauric Gill curled over a beautiful point two minutes later before Noonan grabbed another great score.
Shortt had a chance to cut the deficit in the 19th minute but he hit his free into the hands of Gaels keeper Aidan Gray. Two more points from Ciaran Gill ('45 and a free) extended the Gaels lead to four points five minutes from the break.
St. Patrick's only reply was a point from Shortt in the 27th minute, after 14 minutes without a score, to leave them trailing by three going in at the interval.
Points were exchanged in the opening few minutes of the second half between Ciaran Gill and Philip Gillen before the Gaels took hold of proceedings. David Cassidy and Noonan added to their score. The margin could've been bigger had they not kicked four wides inside those opening 12 minutes of the half.
Danny Keenan got his side's first score of the second half from a free 10 minutes from time but Gaels responded in fine fashion with a point apiece from Cassidy and Pauric Gill to leave six between the sides with four minutes to play.
Ciaran Gill got his side's last two points (free and play) before Danny Keenan fired over the last score of the game grabbing St. Patrick's sixth point.
Fr Manning Gaels: Aidan Gray; John Paul Farrelly, Mark Duffy, Cian Brady; Diarmuid Cooney, Fergal Reilly, Sean Diffley; Johnny Kane, David Collum; Emmet Collum, Pauric Gill (0-2), Mickey Kelly; David Cassidy (0-2), James Noonan (0-3), Ciaran Gill (0-6,3f,2'45).
Subs used: Kevin Whelan for Kelly 42 mins; Niall Kieran for E Collum 56 mins.
St. Patrick's, Ardagh: Joseph Croash; Dessie Murphy, Enda Gillen, Paul Ivel; Derek Farrell, Brian Farrell, Danny Keenan (0-2,1f); Seamus Shortt (0-1), Philip Gillen (0-1); Frank Galvin, Paddy Keenan, David Farrell; Enda Ward (0-1), Ciaran Kelly (0-1), Shane Henry.
Sub used: James McGoey for D Farrell 41 mins.
Referee: Frank Toher (Emmet Óg).
Granard survive as Ardagh relegated to
Intermediate status
27.08.10 | SFC Relegation Round 3 | St. Mary’s 0-8
St. Patrick’s 0-7 | By Padraic O'Brien
If that particular scenario had materialised, leaving the sides level on
points, the result between the teams (and not scores difference) was going to
determine who was going down and thus it was a close call for Granard who were
very relieved indeed to hear the sound of the final whistle.
Ardagh actually led by two points at the break, 0-6 to 0-4, and were looking
the likely winners but only managed to register one more score in the second
half despite enjoying a fair amount of possession. A free converted by Paddy
Ganley in the 49th minute was all they could manage and at that stage the sides
were deadlocked at 0-7 apiece.
A draw was good enough to keep Granard in the top flight and after missing a
few chances they grabbed the winning score when prominent full-forward Fergus
Kelly fired over a cracking point in the 57th minute after receiving the ball
from Derek Sheridan in a well-worked move that was created by centre-half-back
Alan Neilon.
Ardagh were unlucky moments later when hitting the upright and St. Mary's held
out for a hard-earned victory. Forced to field without Danny Keenan who was
sorely missed, this was always going to be a real uphill battle for St.
Patrick's and they were left to rue missing a clear-cut chance of a goal at a
crucial stage of the first half when Shane Henry shot over the bar from close
range in the 23rd minute.
That left the sides level at 0-4 apiece with the Granard scores coming from
Derek Sheridan (free), Fergus Kelly, Liam O'Rourke (free) and Adam Cunningham
while Paddy Ganley converted a couple of frees for Ardagh with Ciaran Kelly
also shooting a point after having a goal disallowed for fisting the ball
direct from the hand into the net after just two minutes.
St. Patrick's midfielder Seamus Shortt was working really hard to save his side
from relegation and he landed the lead point in the 25th minute before the
advantage was extended when Paddy Ganley slotted over another free to put the
pressure on St.Mary's going into the second half.
However, Granard improved sufficiently to rescue the situation on the
changeover and had hit the front by the 47th minute after registering three
scores on the trot through Liam O'Rourke (two frees) and Fergus Kelly who was
proving to be a considerable threat in the target man role.
While a Paddy Ganley free levelled matters, that was as good as it got for
Ardagh and another well struck effort from Fergus Kelly late in the game
clinched a rather fortunate win for Granard who were minus the services of
county minor midfielder Darren Gallagher.
GRANARD: James Hynes; Gene Kearney, Thomas Gallagher, Kevin McGahern; Sean
Duggan, Alan Neilon, Paul Smith; Jim Bob Reilly, Glen Kelly; Liam O'Rourke
(0-3, all frees), David Blessington, Adam Cunningham (0-1); Declan Hynes,
Fergus Kelly (0-3), Derek Sheridan (0-1, free).
ARDAGH: Joe Crouch; Dessie Murphy, Brian Farrell, Paul Ivel; Derek Farrell,
Gerard Farrell, Enda Gillen; Seamus Shortt (0-1), Paddy Keenan; David Farrell,
Enda Ward, Ciaran Kelly (0-1); Paddy Ganley (0-4, all frees), Philip Gillen,
Shane Henry (0-1).
Sub:- James McGoey for D Farrell (half-time).
Referee: Michael O'Brien (Longford Slashers).
Sean Connolly's brush aside Fr. Manning Gaels
27.08.10 | SFC Relegation Round 3 | Sean Connolly’s 1-8 Fr. Manning Gaels 0-5 | By Liam Cosgrove
A second half fisted Shane Carrigy goal ensured Sean Connolly's status as a senior championship outfit as they easily brushed aside the limp challenge of Fr. Manning Gaels in this relegation round-robin encounter at the Killoe grounds on Friday night last.
After slipping to an agonising three point defeat against fellow relegation candidates Granard the previous week, Connolly's knew a win against a Fr Manning Gaels side already assured of senior championship football was absolutely essential.
The Connolly's cause was made all the more easier because their opponents had little or nothing to play for except competitive pride.
Even events a few miles down the road in Drumlish between two other perennial strugglers, Granard St. Mary's and Ardagh St. Patrick's, in the end had little bearing on what transpired in front of a sparse crowd at Emmet Park.
It was hardly surprising to see Connolly's dictate matters from the off. Shane Carrigy and Kieran Gill went toe to toe early doors with a point each, while Martin Brady and another Carrigy strike edged Connolly's two ahead after 16 minutes.
It was turgid stuff, not helped by both sides struggle to gain any real meaningful possession in midfield.
Kieran Gill did manage to lift the gloom seven minutes before the break with a delightful turn and shot, but that proved to be only a fleeting talking point as Connolly's emerged with a three point lead at half-time, 0-6 to 0-3.
An unlikely second half comeback by Fr. Manning Gaels never looked like materialising and with ten minutes gone on the changeover, those hopes were dashed when a Martin Brady free was delightfully guided home into the bottom left hand corner of the net by Shane Carrigy.
Six points down, the Gaels were struggling badly. That said, the ever dangerous Padraig Gill did reduce those arrears to just four with a couple of virtuoso points soon after. But the evening and the match belonged to Connolly's.
Three minutes from time, Martin Brady and then Enda Dalton raised the white flags to seal their sides win and more importantly put an end to any lasting relegation fears for another season.
SEAN CONNOLLY'S: James McKenna; Andy McNamee, Paddy McDonnell, Brendan Treacy; Thomas Keogh, Michael McGlynn, Eamon McEvoy; Trevor Murtagh, Martin Brady (0-2); Shane Carrigy (1-2), Ciaran McEoin, Mark Diffley; Eugene Murtagh, Stephen Lynch (0-2, both frees), Enda Dalton (0-2).
Subs:- Frank Reynolds for E Murtagh (58 mins); Colm Fox for B Treacy.
FR. MANNING GAELS: Aidan Gray; John Paul Farrelly, Gary Brady, Cian Brady; Niall Kiernan, Fergal Reilly, Sean Diffley; Johnny Kane, David Collum; Emmet Collum, Padraig Gill (0-2), Mickey Kelly; David Cassidy, Kieran Gill (0-3, two frees), Kevin Whelan.
Subs:- Pete McWade for E Collumb (30 mins); Mark Duffy for D Collum (49 mins).
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon).
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