First Intermediate Team of the Week revealed
Paddy Higgins and Colm Garvey both impressed for St. Brigid's and Kilmore respectively. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin.
The opening weekend of the J Keane & Sons (Ros) Ltd Intermediate Football Championship saw Creggs and Kilmore claiming noteworthy wins while Elphin, Éire Óg and Shannon Gaels all started their campaigns in ideal fashion. Here we pick the 15 players who impressed in an action packed opening round of games.
Arguably the hardest spot to pick on this team is the first one. Colm Lavin is unlucky to miss out after he kept a clean sheet against Fuerty with the Éire Óg ‘keeper making a vital save in the first half to deny Cian Murray. Jamie Donoghue was undoubtedly Pádraig Pearses’ best player as he denied Niall Higgins a goal while kicking his side’s first point against Elphin. However, it is Aaron Brady who gets the nod as he slotted over two placed balls and stayed outfield for most of the first half as he proved extremely effective in disrupting the Pearses kickout.
The Creggs defender enjoyed a lively duel with St. Croan’s attacker Michael Holland while also helping to lead an impressive Creggs defence. He showed impressive leadership throughout while restricting the ever willing Holland to just one point from play, with the inside forward kicking a gem of a point that Dowd nor any defender could have done little to prevent. A huge display from Dowd and one that was pivotal to Creggs securing the spoils.
Éire Óg were pushed to the pin of their collective collars by a fired up Fuerty side but amidst the chaos, Denis Barron showed admirable composure to lead his side to victory. The full back won a critical turnover that kickstarted initiated the move which led to Brian Greene’s crucial goal in the 41st minute. Barron was composed throughout and was an important cog in the wheel as Éire Óg survived a huge test of their credentials.
The Creggs defender led by example at the heart of the defence and a late surge up the right hand side of the field helped to lift the mini siege the home side were facing late in the contest. Although St. Croan’s were charitable in kicking 13 wides, eight of which came in a first half they controlled for large stages, Crean was an important part of the reason why St. Croan’s at times panicked and shot from range instead of working the ball closer to goal.
Although he was down to start at corner forward, Sharkey dropped out the field throughout and acted as an effective spoiler. Sharkey strode forward and kicked a neat score while he also caught a St. Brigid’s free from under his own crossbar at a critical juncture of the contest. The Kilmore man was able to help his side look menacing on the counter with his use of possession another impressive aspect of his sides’ crucial win.
Garvey has been a model of consistency for Kilmore in campaigns gone by and produced another polished display last Sunday. Kilmore managed to produce the slught upset win over St. Brigid’s due to their defensive solidity and willingness to suffer at times. Garvey was at the coalface of his side’s rearguard action and even opened the scoring with a neat effort from range.
Ward led from the front throughout and grabbed a rousing score with the final kick of the first half to tie the game to 0-6 apiece at the interval. The wing back’s runs from deep were causing noticeable problems for the Éire Óg rearguard. In the 35th minute he was hauled down in the early stages of the second half with calls for a penalty ignored and a 20m free awarded instead. Ran himself into the ground in a polished all round display.
Elphin didn’t set the world alight in defeating Pádraig Pearses with their attacks often methodical and risk averse. However, Niall Higgins was a bright spark for last year’s beaten semi finalists. He injected pace and a directness that was lacking in Elphin’s overall play. Higgins was denied a goal by a fine Jamie Donoghue save while he helped the winners control the midfield exchanges throughout.
It is arguably harder to make the Team of the Week when on the losing side, but Richard Thompson did everything he could to prevent St. Croan’s from slipping to a damaging opening round defeat. The midfielder kicked a point to help his side arrest a run of shipping 2-5 without reply, saw a late goalbound effort blocked while he helped his side control the middle third for large stages.
St. Brigid’s struggled to break down a teak tough Kilmore defence as they appeared hesitant to pull the trigger at key stages. The Kiltoom based side were able to get themselves in position to trouble the scoreboard thanks mainly to the work of Higgins out the field who produced an unselfish display. The St. Brigid’s wing forward was industrious throughout in setting up chances and kicked two scores of his own.
It was a weekend for inside forwards and although Cox started close to goal, he drifted out the field to good effect when needed. He called for and claimed a Lavin restart to set up a goal chance for Brian Greene while he was able to win his own ball despite Philip Neilan doing a decent job against him. Kicked all six of his side’s opening half points while some of his frees, which he kicked off the outside of the boot were of the highest quality.
If the first half from Greene was perspiration, then the second half was laced with inspiration. The Éire Óg attacker kicked 1-3 all of which came in the final half. The lively forward needed to be patient in the opening period as he held up possession well for a Cox point. However, he came into his own during the second half, expertly dispatching his goal while his steal off Niall Keenan and subsequent point was an inspirational score. Stood up when needed most.
Shannon Gaels were utterly dominant particularly in the opening half of their eight point win over Kilbride. Central to that was the performance of Evan Corcoran who kicked 2-4 and formed one half of a deadly two man inside full forward line. Showed his poacher’s instincts to grab his first goal after a fine stop from Cathal McDonagh. A man few defences will relish the sight of seeing in the coming weeks.
The full forward line was the toughest line to choose with Fuerty’s Gearoid Ennis and St. Croan’s Michael Holland strong contenders. However, Corcoran could not be omitted after starring up front. Even though Shannon Gaels faced a Kilbride side who appear destined for a relegation battle, Bourke’s 1-3 from play (he scored 1-6 overall) was of the highest quality. He also did the heavy lifting for Corcoran’s first goal in a Player of the Match display.
The Creggs corner forward kicked 2-2, was fouled for three converted frees and teed up Ronan Dowd for a crucial score to help his side eat into an early five point deficit. Creggs designed their system around ensuring Gately received possession and his duel with Brendan Pacey was an intriguing one until the latter was unfortunate to be forced off injured. Gately’s goals came at critical junctures of this game with his first following a deft “chip flick” one of the goals of the weekend.
