The Blues raced into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes and although Clonmore matched them over the last three quarters of the game, we had left ourselves with too much to do.
You cannot give a team of the quality of the Blues an eight point start. When the teams met in the League semi-final, the management adopted a cautious approach and kept an extra defender back. That resulted in a tight, a low scoring game and Clonmore led by 1-7 to 0-9 on 45 minutes before going down 1-13 to 1-7. Tonight, a more orthodox approach was taken and the game was effectively over after 15 minutes as the Blues opened up an 8 point lead.
The Clonmore players gave everything and cannot be faulted for effort, skill or fitness. In spite of being a very young team, with 6 minors involved, the heads never dropped and the lads battled gamely to the end. But we were always chasing the game, whereas once the Blues established their eight point cushion, they could afford to drop men back and dictate the pace while we grew increasingly frustrated as things just weren't going our way.
We struggled to cope with the athleticism of the Blues all over the pitch, especially the speed of corner forward, Danny Thompson, who scored 2-2 and was taken down for a penalty. The loss of our half-back line – Paddy & Gavin to injuries, Jordan to a black card – didn't help our cause and losing three line balls to pitch incursions and a free where the Ref deemed the receiver not to be 13 metres from the ball added to our frustration.
A bad day at the office but at least we have five weeks before the next game against Fenagh for some injuries to clear up and to work on where we can improve.
Well done to all the team for your never say die attitude, especially John Kelly & Mick Smith in an overworked full back line, Enda and Ronan who swung the midfield battle in the second half, and forwards Con Murphy who showed unerring accuracy from placed balls and Shane McGrath who worked tirelessly and gave us hope with a cracking goal just before half-time.
TEAM: Paddy Byrne, Mick Smith, John Kelly, Andrew Byrne, Paddy Gahan, Gavin Byrne (0-1), Jordan Kane, Ronan Doyle, Willie Byrne, Con Murphy (0-7,5f,1'45'), Colin McGrath, Adam Byrne (0-1), PJ Byrne, Shane McGrath (1-1), Niall Humphries. Subs: Enda McGrath for Willie (18mins), Anthony Byrne for Paddy (inj, 28mins), Paul Byrne for Andrew (40mins), Dale McNamara for Gavin (inj, 45mins), Joe Hickey for Jordan (black card, 48mins). Ref: David Hughes (Bagenalstown)(0-1)
PHOTO: The 2014 Intermediate team which played O'Hanrahans on 8/8/14: Back (left to right): Gary Byrne, Gavin Byrne, John Kelly (Captain), Willie Byrne, Mick Smith, Collie McGrath, Paddy Byrne, PJ Byrne, Paddy Gahan, Andrew Byrne, Con Murphy, Ronan Doyle. Front: Enda McGrath, Paul Byrne, Joe Hickey, Dale McNamara, Anthony Byrne, Adam Byrne, Jordan Kane, Niall Humphries, Shane McGrath.
