Junior/Intermediate Final Play-Off
Junior/Intermediate Final Play-Off
October 09, 2017
Intermediate/Junior Football Championship Play-off
Cu Chulainns 0-13
Thomas McCurtains 2-9
This game was played in Tir Chonaill Gael GAA Grounds on Saturday the 7th October with windy conditions which Cu Chulainns played into in the first half. Many in attendance would have thought that the intermediate champions should have it all their own way but that was quickly highlighted that this was not the case as with the aid of the wind Thomas McCurtains started the better and had a wide kicked before they found the back of the net on 3 minutes thanks to their full-forward. Thomas McCurtains would miss 2 more scoring chances before Cu Chulainns found their feet and got their first score on the board on the 8-minute mark thanks to a long-range Darren McManus point. In the following few minutes there was tit for tat scoring due to open football being played by both teams which left the score reading 1-3 to 0-3 points in favour of the wind assisted McCurtains. Then came the best period of the game for Cu Chulainn as they hit 4 unanswered points 2 of these coming from an impressive for Fiachra McCardle. This was the first and only time Cu Chulainns would lead the match a lead which would last just 1 minute as in the 29th minute Thomas McCurtains goaled through their no.7 Mark McGirr who was just beginning to find his feet. 2 points for Cu Chulainns and 1 for Thomas McCurtains just before half-time left the score at 2-4 to 0-9 points Thomas McCurtains in the driving seat. On the resumption of the 2nd half McCurtains kicked two wides before Mark McGirr kicked two scores in a row the second thanks to the hard work of Richie Ellis who turned over possession in defence and worked the ball through the lines before setting up Mark McGirr. Cu Chulainns could only find 1 point amongst a run of 5 McCurtains scores leaving the score at 2-9 to 0-10 with 19 mins of the 2nd half played. Thomas McCurtains were not to score in the final 11mins of the game as Cu Chulainns kicked into gear and started using the ball well keeping possession and pressurising a tiring McCurtains team. On the 21st min Conan O’Brien kicked a fine point to leave 4 points between the teams. From the resulting kick-out Cu Chulainns won possession and worked it to Darren McManus who took on the defence only to be dragged down about 20 yards from goal. Fiachra McCardle calmly slotted the resulting free along with another score on the 60min. The score now stood at 2-9 to 0-13 and it was all Cu Chulainns at this stage. In truth Cu Chulainns had the chances to win this game as they kicked two wides in the dying minutes however it was not to be and Thomas McCurtains provided the shock as the junior champions overhauled the intermediate champions to score a 2-point victory and they have Mark McGirr to thank with his tally of 1-4. The standout player for Cu Chulainns being their corner forward Fiachra McCardle who kicked 0-4 and kept them in touching distance from start to finish. Thomas McCurtains now move on to the All Britain Junior Championship Quarter Final against the winners of the Yorkshire County Championship.