Intermediate Championship Semi Final

Lahardane.............0-07
Kiltimagh.................0-07

These sides will have to meet again after this low scoring Intermediate Championship Semi Final which was played in Knockmore last weekend ended level. This game turned out to be a bruising battle and there was a major shortage of skill in this contest. Kiltimagh will feel the happier team to have survived this encounter with a draw after midfielder Gary Smith was sent to the line for two bookable offences early in the first half, the East Mayo side also had to face a strong breeze in the second half.

Lahardane started the brighter side and took an early lead with a Declan Leonard point from close range, minutes later the same player was unlucky to see a lobbed effort come back of the upright with county goalkeeper Peter Burke left stranded. Kiltimagh were playing with the wind in the first half and forward Sean Burke kicked a huge free from sixty yards to register his sides first score, midfilder James Gillespie scored a point from close range for the North Mayo men, Sean Burke kicked Kiltimaghs only point from play, Lahardanes Cormac Rowalnd pointed from a free, indeed Rowland turned out to be the outstanding forward on view as he scored five points in total, with four of them coming from general play. At this stage the game seemed to swing in Lahardanes favour when Smith was sent off after a clumsy challenge on an opposing forward, however Christy Walsh was in fine free taking form for Kiltimagh and he ended the first half by pointing on three occasions to leave his side with a two point lead at half time.

The second half was marred by long stopages in play as players seemed to go down with injuries for long periods, some supporters seemed to think this as a tactical move rather than cases of genuine injury and Kiltimagh were the major culprits of this tactic. Shane Blake had a glorious opportunity to goal for Lahardane, however his goal bound shot was superbly saved by Peter Burke. Lahardane were dominating possession as the second half wore on, but were failing to have any impact on the scoreboard, Cormac Rowland scored a free and then the same player added two more points from play, as the game entered its final quarter Christy Walsh pointed from another placed ball after Paul Lydon was taken down. Rowland pointed again after being set up by midfielder Gillespie, Lahardane were totally dominant as the neared completion but they missed numerous chances to put the game out of Kiltimaghs reach. Christy Walsh pointed the final score of the game to send this game to a replay. Kiltimagh piled on the pressure in injury time and wing back Greg Mulhearn almost won the day only to see his goal effort stopped on the goal line. The replay is fixed again for Knockmore on Saturday, September 28th at 5.30.

Both teams will be happy to get another crack at this semi final, each outfit will have lots of room for improvement, with the winners advancing to meet Kilmaine in the final, for Kiltimagh Greg Mulhearn and Seamus Cosgrove were solid in defence while Christy Walsh and the Lydon Brothers Paul and Noel were the most effective of the forwards. For Lahardane Anthony McDermott, Mervyn Marley and J J Leonard were the stalwarts of the defence, Gillespie was the best midfielder on view and Damian Kelly also done well around the middle, while up front Cormac Rowland was their most dangerous forward. Declan Leonard and substitute Chris Barrett done well also.

Lahardane: E. Deffley, M. Marley, A. McDermott, R. McDermott, B. Rowland, T. Marley, J. Gillespie (0-01); D. Kelly, J. Rowland, J. McDonnell, V. Cawley, D. Leonard (0-01); S. Blake, C. Rowland (0-05). Subs.: G. Burke (for V. Cawley); C. Barrett (for D. Kelly).

Referee: J. Hughes (Kilmaine)