Match Report: St. Fáithleach's ease into quarter-finals
Brian and Diarmuid Murtagh, who kicked four points this evening, celebrating St. Faithleach's intermediate football championship success in 2021.
St. Fáithleach’s cruised by North Roscommon with a straightforward eight point win over an outclassed North Roscommon side.
The logistical challenge of organising training sessions and challenge matches told for North Roscommon as Fáithleach’s looked much sharper and organised than their opponents.
Some credit is due to North Roscommon, they put in a much better performance when compared to last year’s beating from eventual All-Ireland runners-up St. Brigid’s, but the aforementioned logistical challenges became apparent early on in the game.
Their opponents weren’t afraid to kick the ball to their inside forwards throughout the game, reaping instant success in the third minute when David Rooney kicked the game’s first point.
The game went at a slow pace for the next ten minutes, North Roscommon controlling much of the early possession, but the final handpass just was not sticking, meaning they could not benefit from this period of control they had over the game. The best chance they produced was a long ball from Pauric Halpin that just missed the aerial threat of Shannon Gaels’ Matthew Bourke.
Fáithleach’s began to exert their dominance following this, with Diarmuid Murtagh kicking his first free of the evening. His side would go on to kick the next four point unanswered through Conell Kennelly, two Ciarán Murtagh frees, and a well taken free off the ground on the 45’ from Rooney.
Fintan Sweeney brought his good club form from Shannon Gaels into this game at wing back, replying with a good point after a great individual run. Kennelly responded with a long range effort before Sweeney kicked the point of the evening, cutting inside his marker and connecting sweetly with the outside of the right boot.
Fáithleach’s created numerous goal chances in the first half. The final point of the half come from Darren Nerney who found himself one-on-one with North Roscommon goalie Marcus Feeney, but he blazed the ball over the crossbar to put his side 0-8 to 0-2 up at half time.
Fáithleach’s kicked three points in the first five minutes in the second half through Johnathan Hussey, and a free each from Diarmuid and Ciarán Murtagh. Gary O’Daly was sharp for North Roscommon in the second half, kicking a point a winning a free which was converted by Bourke.
The game went ten minutes without a score before Diarmuid Murtagh converted his third free. His brother Ciarán added another from play, which was cancelled out by a long range free from Halpin to cut the deficit to seven points with as many minutes left.
Cian Glennon eventually converted a Fáithleach’s goal chance, running at full speed on to a Lee Kilcoyne pass and rifling to the back of the net. North Roscommon got a goal of their own against the run of play, substitute Pierce Bolger intercepting a kickout and lobbing Darragh Hussey from 35 yards out. Tommy Cox added North Roscommon’s sixth point before Diarmuid Murtagh kicked a free in the game’s final play.
St. Fáithleach's: D. Hussey; K. Nerney, P. Farrell, D. Harrison; J. Browne, D. Nerney (0-1), K. Farrell; C. Kennelly (0-2), C. Glennon (1-0); J. Hussey (0-1), C. Murtagh (0-4, three frees), J. Murray; L. Kilcoyne, D. Rooney (0-2, one free), D. Murtagh (0-4, all frees). Subs used: A. Dooney for J. Murray (48 mins).
North Roscommon: M. Feeney (Shannon Gaels); D. Wynne (Ballinameen), C. O'Dowd (Shannon Gaels), I. Finneran (Ballinameen); F. Sweeney (Shannon Gaels, 0-2), P. Halpin (St. Barry's, 0-1, a free), C. Harmon (Shannon Gaels); E. Diffley (St. Barry's), T. McManus (St. Ronan's); F. McDermott (Ballinameen), D. Carlos (Ballinameen), M. Murtagh (Shannon Gaels); C. Campbell (St. Barry's), G. O'Daly (St. Ronan's, 0-1), M. Bourke (Shannon Gaels, 0-1, a free). Subs used: T. Cox (Kilglass Gaels, 0-1) for F. McDermott (half time), J. Glynn (St. Ronan's) for T. McManus (47 mins), A. Taylor (Shannon Gaels) for M. Murtagh (48 mins), E. Flynn (St. Ronan's) for E. Diffley (54 mins), P. Bolger (Kilglass Gaels, 1-0) for M. Bourke (57 mins).
Referee: I. Monaghan.
*A minute silence was observed for Chris O'Dowd, former Northern Board Chairperson and uncle to North Roscommon captain Cathal O'Dowd, who passed away on Tuesday.
