Sharpshooters lead the way in the Roscommon Herald Intermediate Team of the Week
Shannon Gaels wing-back Stephen Murray tracks the run of Éire Óg's Joseph Hester, who has made this week's team, during Sunday evening's intermediate football championship quarter-final at Enfield. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
As eight becomes four in this year’s intermediate championship, we’ve narrowed down the ten intermediate teams that played at the weekend to the best 15 performers in this week’s Intermediate Team of the Week.
The Kilmore stopper was called into action numerous times in Kilglass on Saturday.
He produced an acrobatic save in the second half and thwarted Shane Killoran twice from point blank range to prevent Elphin from racking up an inconceivable scoreline.
He was alert with quick kickouts also to give Kilmore some hope in the face of their opponent’s effective kickout tactics.
McKeague displayed his renowned determination as Creggs found the going tough against Strokestown.
He played an important role in his side’s defence that limited Strokestown sharpshooters Shane McGinley and Diarmuid McGann to 1-1 from play between them.
Since dropping to the full-back line at the start of this championship, Barron has fortified the Éire Óg defence.
Leading from the back with his intelligent decision making both on and off the ball, he will play a crucial part in his side’s effort to limit what looked like a rip-roaring Elphin attack in the semi-final.
Lyons has converted his trademark speed that saw him light up opposition defences at underage to becoming a very effective corner-back.
He did well in his duel against Ryan Dowling, who made a big impact in the Connacht U-20 final in May, and will likely pickup one of the aforementioned Strokestown forwards in Sunday week’s semi-final.
McGahon was at the heart of the Fuerty defence, forcing a crucial turnover with a perfectly-timed tackle in the 38th minute.
He also displayed high quality with the ball in hand, setting up his team-mate (who features later in this list) with a laser-like pass for his side’s opening score.
The Strokestown centre-back was a central cog in his side’s turgid defence that limited Creggs to just six points, only three coming from play, in Dr. Hyde Park on Saturday.
Murphy also kicked a point late on when his side was struggling for scores.
The former county player and coach on this year’s U-20 panel was his side’s best player on Saturday.
He produced moments of quality in a game that severely lacked it from the half-back line, setting up McGinley’s goal after six minutes with a superb pass, and did the simple things well throughout the game.
Elphin’s pace merchant often found his starting position behind his own ’45, but he used this extra space in front of him to torch the Kilmore defence, going on long and determined individual runs.
He was part of Elphin’s lethal swarm defence in the middle third, connected well with Elphin’s next representative in this team for marks and kicked a point of his own.
McCormack represented one of the few positives for Kilbride from their match-up against Fuerty.
Having lost their opening two games, they will take solace in retaining their intermediate status after a tough year for the club.
McCormack put in a decent performance on Sunday, battling valiantly in midfield.
Ennis kicked six more points at the weekend for Fuerty to bring his total tally this championship to 30 points.
He put in an all round performance in the quarter-final, converting from frees, from play, a ’45 and a mark. As scores tend to dry up in the later championship rounds, Ennis’ accuracy will be vital for his team.
After tearing apart defences in the Junior A championship last year, Henry and his Michael’s team-mates found the transition to intermediate difficult.
However, a sign of a good player is turning up when it counts, which Henry more than did to retain his club’s intermediate status.
He kicked six points in the opening half which St. Croan’s dominated, and kicked the all-important winning free.
The Éire Óg wing forward is the perfect example of the modern day utility player, and has lined out for his club in recent seasons in the full and half back lines.
On Sunday, Hester played at wing-forward, kicking two first half points and never shirked from his defensive duties in the latter stages of game.
The Shannon Gaels attack never caught fire against Éire Óg, but Corcoran could not be faulted for his efforts, kicking 1-3.
He was alert for Gaels' early first-half goal, calmly slotting to the net. He added another two good points from play accounting for more than half of his side’s final scoreline
Another week, another Conor Cox appearance.
Despite Éire Óg’s mature team display, the Listowel native still stood out from the crowd, kicking 2-7. He cancelled Corcoran’s early goal out swiftly, and combined well with Jason Doory for his second.
Éire Óg’s inside forward has 2-28 to his name already, and will expect to increase his tally against Elphin in two weeks’ time.
Cregg put in a performance against Kilmore that oozed confidence.
He kicked four high quality points in the first half and then in the second he switched to his left foot for two long range marks, judging the Kilglass wind to perfection.
He became the creator for his brother Gerry’s goal, topping off a well-rounded performance.
