Glenfin staged a superb comeback to defeat St Naul’s and book a berth in next weekend’s Intermediate Championship final.
Glenfin 0-7 St Naul’s 0-6
by Charlie Collins at Pearse Memorial Park
When these sides met in Tir Chonaill Park in a quarter-final last year on a similar day weather wise it was the Mountcharles men who prevailed by a similar scoreline but on this occasion late points by sub Eoin Donnellan, a ’45 by goalkeeper Andrew Walsh and a super free by another sub Paddy O’Conner in the 4th minute of injury-time gave Glenfin the lead for the first time at just the right time.
St.Nauls played with the strong wind and driving rain in their favour in the opening half and started well with an early free from Stephen Griffen and a point from play by his brother Barry in the first seven minutes .
Peadar Mogan made it three in the 11th minute and he was fouled which led to a second free from Stephen Griffin and a 0-4 lead after 13 minutes. Glenfin had to defend in numbers and depend on retaining the ball and the odd breakaway . From one of those they earned a free which Gerard Ward converted in the 17th minute.
Two minutes later St.Nauls broke quickly and Stuart Johnson was played in behind but his goal-bound shot was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Andrew Walsh.
John Rose kicked a super point with the outside of his right foot in the 23rd minute and after a off the ball pull Stephen Griffen kicked his third free to make it 0-5 to 0-1 in the 26th minute.
In the first minute of injury-time Gerard Ward converted another free to leave four in it in favour of St.Nauls but one left feeling that Glenfin would be happy enough with the situation at the break, 0-6 to 0-2 in favour of St.Nauls.
Gerard Ward got Glenfin off to a fast start with their first score from play in the opening minute of the second-half to make it a three point game.
Five minutes later it was down to two points after nice link-up play by Frank McGlynn his final pass found Jason Morrow who kicked an excellent score to make it 0-06 to 0-4.
In the 48th Glenfin’s Gavin McDermott had an opportunity but shot wide from close range as both teams were finding scores very difficult to get . Glenfin sub Eoin Donnellan brought it back to a one point game with a fine effort from 30 metres in the 54th minute.
Three minutes later Glenfin got a great chance to equalise but Gerard Ward’s free dropped shot – a big let off for St.Nauls.
Glenfin kept up the pressure right into injury-time and in the 62nd minute goalkeeper Andrew Walsh came forward to kick a brilliant ’45 and in a dramatic finish sub Paddy O’Connor kicked a super free from an narrow angle to give Glenfin the lead for the first time in the match and referee James Connors blew the final whistle to send them through to meet Aodh Ruadh in the intermediate final next week.
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh (0-1, ’45); Ross Marley, John Harkin, Gary Herron; Daniel McGlynn, Frank McGlynn , Stephen Carr; Stephen Ward, Paddy Costello; Karl McGlynn, James Morrow (0-1), Gavin McDermott; Gerard Ward (0-3, 2f), Ciaran Brady, Conor Ward. Subs: Eoin Donnellan (0-1) for K. McGlynn (42), Paddy O’Connor (0-1f) for Costello and Gary Dorrian for C.Ward (47).
St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreaney; John Relihan, Edward Kane, Conor McBrearty; Stuart Johnson, Brendan McCole, Diarmuid Gallagher; Lee McBrearty, Barry Griffin (0-1); John Rose (0-1), Stephen Griffin (0-3fs), Peadar Mogan (0-1); Cathal Lowther, Martin Breslin. Subs: Daniel Meehan for Breslin (42), Aiden Meehan for Johnson (51).
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s).
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