News

IFC Quarter Final: Clonmore 1-15 Grange 0-10

November 8, 2018

The Intermediates produced one of their best performances for years in NCP when overcoming a physically imposing Grange team to reach the semi-final against Myshall next Saturday at 6pm in NCP.

Fielding a much changed team after two defeats in the Championship, Clonmore were nervous at the start and took a while to establish any pattern of play. After a settling in period, the changes started to work with Anthony Byrne doing well as a third midfielder and gained confidence by kicking the first point of the game. With Niall Humphries and the returning Shane McGrath running the legs off the Grange full back line, the scores began to flow and we deservedly led by 0-6 to 0-4 at half time.

The second half opened with Clonmore showing a marked improvement in their play and Niall & Shock both notched points to add to the one each they scored in the first half. We still found it hard to pull aweay with John Murphy a constant threat and the score stood at 0-8 to 0-6 on 40 minutes. Then Gavin Byrne kicked the first of two huge long range frees that scaped over the outstretched fingers of 6 foot 8 inch Paul O 'Halloran on the Grange line and a Gavin point from play and a 45m free off the ground from Con put us 0-11 to 0-7 ahead on 46 minutes. A rocket of a shot from Darren McGrath put us 1-11 to 0-7 ahead on 47mins and it looked like we might be able to relax for once. But Grange continued to put pressure on our goal and Jordan Kane had to produce a great reaction save to deflect a punched ball by John Murphy over the cross bar. Further fine points from Gavin, David McCarney, Collie McGrath and Darren again gave us a hard earned but deserved win on a scoreline of 1-15 to 0-10.

TEAM: Jordan Kane, John Kelly, Sean Doyle, Andrew Byrne, Paddy Gahan (BC,38m)), Shane Murphy, David McCarney (0-1), Gavin Byrne (0-4,3f), Alan Humphries, Paul Hogan, Con Murphy (0-1,f), Enda McGrath (0-1), Shane McGrath (0-2), Anthony Byrne (0-1), Niall Humphries (0-2). Subs: Darren McGrath (1-2) for Alan(inj), Willie Byrne for Paddy (BC, 38m), Collie McGrath (0-1) for Hogie.

PHOTO: Darren McGrath make a huge contribution to the Intermediates win over Grange. After coming in on the 15th minute for the injured Alan Humphries, he scored a great point to extend our lead to 0-4 to 0-2 on 20 minutes but his most telling contribution was a cracking goal on 47 minutes that put us 1-11 to 0-7 ahead and killed off any hopes of a Grange comeback. He scored another great point on the 60th minute to complete an impressive performance for a man who has battled numerous injuries over the last few years and keeps coming back. For his sheer determination and commitment to the Clonmore cause, Darren thoroughly deserved his moment of glory.