Friday’s Intermediate Football round up

Friday 27.05.2011

Club

A staggered Friday evening of Intermediate League action resulted in wins for Clann Na Gael, Rock and Loughmacrory.

Clann Na Gael continued their winning ways thanks to a hard fought three point success over Augher this evening. The Clansmen were six points to the good courtesy of scores from Gareth McDermott and Dominic Devine amongst others before the visiting St Macartans opened their account in the 22^nd minute. Augher trailed 7-2 at the half time break before reeling off four successive points to set up an interesting second period even though both teams were fielding without their respective county stars. However, late points from Danny Ball and McDermott settled the issue with Clann Na Gael holding out for a merited 9-6 victory.

Substitute Diarmuid Carroll played a pivotal role in Rock’s two point, 1-9 to 1-7 victory over Newtownstewart, at St Patrick’s Park earlier tonight. Carroll entered the fray as a substitute, at a time, when the hosts were trailing 1-7 to 0-7, but he made an immediate impact, as he teed up Conor McVeigh for a goal that turned the tide in their favour.

Moments later Carroll landed a point, as the visitors hopes of victory ended with a late dismissal on a second yellow card. Newtown had played some decent football with a 13^th minute Ciaran McCaffrey goal helping them take control, as they led 1-3 to 0-4, at the interval.

Rock centre half back Aidan Girvan among the home points returns. The visitors continued to pose problems with Brendan Boyle augmenting his personal tally, but they failed to score in the final 12 minutes, as Rock aided in no small measure to the introduction of Carroll staged a revival that saw them go top of the Intermediate League table.

Loughmacrory picked up another brace of ACL League points, at Sigerson Park tonight, but the St Teresa’s were made to work hard for their eventual 3-6 to 2-8 success.

Mark McCullagh gave the visitors the best possible start with a point in the opening attack, but for the duration of the half Strabane were the better team, as they forged out a 1-7 to 1-3 lead. John Gallagher and Ritchie Graham with the goals but perhaps the highlight of the half and indeed the evening was a superb solo point from Strabane defender Danny McBride, who galloped the length of the field to hoist over in the 23^rd minute.

Loughmacrory enjoyed sustained pressure in the third quarter, but two JP Gallagher points kept Strabane in the hunt before Loughmacrory turned the game on its head. Stephen Donaghy and Damian McAleer with two quick fire goals in a three minute period rendering a late Gallagher major as token consolation for the North Tyrone men. As well as the two points the other big plus for the winners was the return to senior competitive action of Ronan Ward. His entrance to the game in the last ten minutes had a huge bearing on turning the game in favour of the loch.

The games continue to come thick and fast for the Division Two sides on Saturday with Pomeroy visiting Eskra where victory over the Emmett’s could see them go joint top again, while Edendork entertain Gortin in a game to mark the Official opening of their magnificent new facilities. Finally, the game between Aghyaran and Killyman will also take place on Saturday instead of Sunday with the St Mary’s making the long trek North hoping to build on last weeks solid showing against Rock.