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Fanad too hot for brave Urris
17.09.09
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Fanad Gaels...1-13 Urris..0-10 By Aidan O’Donnell at Páirc Naomh Columba Photo by Donna McBride FANAD Gaels remain on course for a second Intermediate Championship in three years after overcoming Urris in their semi final clash in Glenswilly on Saturday night. Despite there being only a six points in it at the end, the win was as comprehensive as they come with Seimi Friel spearheading the attack, grabbing a personal tally of 1-7. Urris, who showed a stubborn resistance in the early stages and appeared comfortable with the threat of Fanad’s frontline, could never really contain their opponents as the game developed. Unfortunately, there was little reading in the fact the Inishowen side had lead by 0-2 to 0-0 with 20 minutes gone. A more striking statistic was that Fanad had shot a eight wides in the same space of time. |
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However, there was little
need to panic for the men from the far side of Lough
Swilly as within the space of two minutes Fanad had
cancelled out the opening scores that Rocky Ivers and
Eddie Kelly had provided for Urris. A quick fire double
from Brendan Callaghan and the first of six pointed
frees from Seimi Friel edged Fanad in front for the
first time in the game with almost 24 minutes on the
clock. A great solo effort from Eddie Kelly though, after dribbling the length of the field, tied the game up with two minutes remaining in the half, only for three successive points from Fanad to close out the opening period in their favour. Brendan Callaghan grabbed his third point in ten minutes with a beast of a score from the guts of 50 metres before a Friel free and a Michael Sweeney point left a 0-6 to 0-3 half time score-line in favour of the Division Three pacesetters. Fanad continued in exactly the same vein as they ended the first by starting the second with three more unanswered points. A double from Friel – one a free and one from play – and a lovely angled score from Davitt Walsh left six points separating the sides with 20 minutes remaining. Ivers grabbed his second of the day with yet another free for Urris only for Friel to respond for Fanad with the same method. Urris then bagged three successive scores of their own with Eddie Kelly and two off the boot of substitute Donal Kelly making it a three point game. |
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Fanad though responded
energetically and ruthlessly with Michael Sweeney and
two Seimi Friel frees, the second of which was fired
with torpedo-like accuracy from 50 metres, meant Urris
could never bridge that three point gap any further.
Rocky Ivers did add another two frees while Eddie Kelly
also took his tally for the day to 0-4, however, in
between those scores Fanad bagged their goal in simply
awesome fashion. In a quick break down the right hand sideline from Ephrin McFadden, the half forward cut in linking up superbly with Davitt Walsh, and after receiving the return ball, unselfishly and smartly angled it across the box leaving Seimi Friel the simple task of a tap in from barely a yard out. It was the final nail in the coffin for Urris who to their credit refused to go away and always kept themselves within some sort of range. Unfortunately though they could never really kick on when they pulled themselves back into contention and it always looked like Fanad had too much in the tank. For the finalists they will have been delighted with their second half wide tally of just two as they now look forward to yet another Intermediate Final and their first under Manus McFadden. Urris now must concentrate on qualifying for a promotion play-off place in Division 3. Five points from their remaining four league games, three of which are at home, should secure the play-off place, most likely against Cloughaneely. Fanad: Mark McConigley; Patrick Heraghty, Cathal Martin, Francis Sweeney; Patrick Shiels, Patrick McConigley, Fergal Friel; Eamonn Sweeney, Michael Sweeney (0-2); Aidan McAteer, Ephrin McFadden, Brendan Callaghan (0-3), Davitt Walsh (0-1), Seimi Friel (1-7, 6f), Ciaran McElwaine. Sub: Colm McElwaine for McAteer (52 mins). Urris: Johnny Noone; Michael Grant, Patrick Doherty, Adrian Doherty; Martin Kelly, Phil Pat Doherty, Damien Harkin; Liam Diver, Brian Kelly; Rocky Ivers (0-4, 4f), Edward Kelly (0-4, 1f), Alan Friel; Mark McLaughlin, Brian Doherty, Bernard Friel. Subs: Darragh Doherty for B. Doherty (44 mins); Donal Kelly (0-2) for B. Friel (45 mins); Shaun Toland for Kelly (47 mins). Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Ruadh). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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