Intermediate team off to winning start. Mayo Gaels 0-16 Lahardane 0-13

Mayo Gaels 0-16 Lahardane 0-13

Our intermediate team got their league campaign off to the ideal start at a mild Abbey Park on Sunday afternoon when they overcame Lahardane 0-16 to 0-13. The foundations for this victory were laid in a fine first half performance. The Gaels flew out of the traps and had four points on the board after thirteen minutes. Two Danny Burke points from play and two points from Mallie Byrne, a free and one point from play, left the Gaels four clear. Lahardane responded with a point from play and a free to leave the Gaels leading 0-4 to 0-2 after twenty minutes. The Gaels responded in fine style with four points in eight minutes. A fine point from play by Martin Connor, another Danny Burke free after a foul on Johnny Morrin, a fine team move finished off by Adrian Heneghan and a great Mallie Byrne point after a quick fifty by Johnny Morrin left the Gaels six clear. The sides swapped frees with the Gaels score coming from Danny Burke after Mallie Byrne was fouled. A Lahardane free in first half injury time rounded off the scoring to leave the halftime score Mayo Gaels 0-9 to 0-4.

Lahardane started the second half in flying form with two points from play in the opening two minutes to cut the gap to three. Mallie Byrne responded for the Gaels with a free after a foul on Shane Vahey. A Lahardane free left one score between the sides. A great through ball by Johnny Morrin was finished off by Danny Burke to steady the ship for the Gaels after thirty six minutes. A point from play kept Lahardane within reach before another Danny Burke free left the score 0-12 to 0-8 with twenty minutes remaining. A Lahardane point from play left a dangerous lead and were it not for a fine save by Paul Mannion the sides would have been level. The Gaels upped their game a closed out the match in the next ten minutes through two Danny Burke frees after he was cynically fouled twice. Two points from play by Mallie Byrne and Danny Burke rounded off the Gaels scoring with a commanding 0-16 to 0-9 lead. In an eventful final few minutes Lahardane finished strongly with four point from play before Martin Connor was dismissed for a second yellow. Overall an emtertaining game with a deserved win for the home side.

They face Davitts at home on Saturday at 5pm in the secondary league before making the short trip to Clogher the following week to play Ballintubber B in the second round of the league.