Naomh Muire claim second place with a big win over St Naul’s

Naomh Muire, Íochtar na Rosann rounded off the group stages of the Intermediate Football Championship with a comfortable win over St Naul’s at the Banks on Saturday evening.

Eoin Martin and Tuathal Lunny scored the goals for the locals, and Martin, Daniel Devlin, Ryan Gallagher, Harry Harden, Ferdia Doherty, Fintan Doherty, Joey Gillespie and Cathal Fee all chipped in for points in a tie the winners dominated for most of the 60-plus minutes.

Stephen Griffin top scored for St Naul’s, who lined out without the injured Brendan McCole and Barry Griffin, while regular full forward Declan Duignan was only used from the bench in the second half.

Former county player Griffin ended the tie with a personal tally of 1-4, all scored in the second half, before he was replaced five minutes from the end.

Gavin Mulreany, Joe Campbell, Peadar Mogan, Ian Campbell and Oisin Mogan were also among the point scorers for St Naul’s, who went into the game on the back of a three-game winning run.

The men from Gerard Gallagher Park were the only team with a 100% record in the championship.

But apart from the opening five minutes and a brief period in the second half, Naomh Muire dominated this tie.

With Patrick Gillespie dominating in the middle of the field and Ferdia and Fintan Doherty, Shaun Burns, Daniel Devlin, Joey Gillespie, Ryan Gallagher and Eoin Martin playing well, Naomh Muire led 0-11 to 0-5 at half time.

Harry Harden and Daniel Devlin with two-point scores, along with Eoin Martin, Ryan Gallagher and Fintan Doherty, kicked the first half Naomh Muire points.

Joe Campbell, Peadar Mogan and a monster two-point free from Gavin Mulreany, way out wide close to the right-hand side line, kicked the St Naul’s opening half points.

Naomh Muire pulled further ahead with four quick-fire points at the start of the second period and led 0-14 to 0-5 just four minutes into the new half.

St Naul’s were thrown a lifeline shortly after when Stephen Griffin palmed a Peadar Mogan fisted cross to the Naomh Muire net to trim the lead to seven points.

And the gap was further reduced when Griffin added a point. But it was game set and match when fullback Tuathal Lunny got on the end of a sweeping move to rattle the back of St Naul’s net in the early minutes of the final quarter.

And Eoin Martin added the dressing to the result when he got on the end of another sweeping Naomh Muire move to palm past Gavin Mulreany for a 2-18 to 1-9 lead with under ten minutes remaining.

Ian Campbell, Oisin Mogan and Mulreany with his second two pointer free kicked late points for St Naul’s.

And Martin with his second two-point free and Cathal Fee landed late points for Naomh Muire for their third win in the group games.

Naomh Muire, Íochtar na Rosann scorers: Eoin Martin 1-7,2tpf,1f; Daniel Devlin 0-6,1tp; Tuathal Lunny 1-0; Ryan Gallagher 0-3,1tp; Harry Harden 0-2,1tp; Ferdia Doherty, Joey Gillespie and Cathal Fee 0-1 each.

St Nauls scorers: Stephen Griffin 1-4,1tp; Gavin Mulreany 0-4,2tpf; Joe Campbell 0-2; Peadar Mogan, Ian Campbell and Oisin Mogan 0-1each.

Naomh Muire, Íochtar na Rosann: Declan Ward; Conor Cannon, Tuathal Lunny, Jack O’Donnell; Fintan Doherty, Ferdia Doherty, Shaun Burns; Patrick Gillespie, Adam O’Brien; Joey Gillespie, Daniel Devlin, Ryan Gallagher; Harry Harden, Cathal Fee, Eoin Martin.

Subs: Corrthaigh Doherty for O’Brien (ht); Darragh White for Gallagher (37); Daniel Gallagher for Harden (57).

St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreany; Daniel Gallagher, Oisin Mogan, Martin Breslin; Michael Coughlan, Patrick Craig, Jonathan O’Driscoll; Ian Campbell, Joe Campbell; Tommy Friel, Peadar Mogan, Rory Kennedy; Darragh Reilly, Thomas White, Stephen Griffin.

Subs: Declan Duignan for Craig (53); Patrick Craig for S Griffin (55).

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan).