Seans go Stale after bright Start

Sunday 20th June 2004 - ACC Bank Senior Football Championship

Magheracloone 0-15 v Sean McDermotts 1-7

Magheracloone put down a championship marker in this opening game of their current ACC Bank Senior Football Championship when they deservedly advanced to the next round with five points to spare over Sean McDermotts in Clontibret on Sunday evening last. A goal and a point in injury time by Sean McDermotts made the score line give the impression that this was a much closer contest than it actually was a Sean McDermotts had few answers once Magheracloone stepped up the pace in the second half.

It was an even enough contest in the first half with sides level twice and Sean McDermott's taking the lead on a couple occasions but it was a different story after half-time as Tom and Damien Freeman took a grip on proceedings to lead the Sean McDermott's defence a merry dance. Their understanding of each other is uncanny, their ability to read the intention of the other is likewise while their ability to find each other with short and long range passes is radar like and those qualities had Sean McDermotts chasing shadows for most of the second half.

James Coyle did all that one man could to restrict their influence but to little avail and their direct contribution of seven points between them in the second half sums it all up. Sean McDermott's cause however was not helped with the dismissal of Emelyn Clerkin for a striking offence on Damien Freeman eight minutes into the second half but the writing was already on the wall at that stage. Sean McDermotts got off to a lively start and might well have had a goal within seconds of the throw-in but Damien Larkin's fisted effort was just outside the post. He made amends two minutes later when he opened the scoring with a point. Tom Freeman equalised from a free but Sean McDermotts then opened a two points lead after nine minutes with points by Damien Larkin and Paddy Kierans.

That set the tone for the first half with Sean McDermotts two in front again after twelve minutes, Gary McEntee replying to Paudie Finnegan's point in the 10th minute. The sides however were level again at the end of the first quarter with points from Tom and Damien Freeman, Tom from a free for a foul on Fintan Kindlon and Damien well placed by Francie Jones. The second quarter saw Magheracloone becoming more dominant. Paudie Finnegan put them in front for the first time in the 19th minute and three minutes later Damien Freeman put them two up. Seans were still creating chances, Damien Larkin had a shot blocked and they were off target with another effort. Magheracloone were similarly wasteful with two shots off target but three others fell short to the Seans keeper.

By the break just one point separated the sides after Paddy Kieran finished well at the end of a strong run. Half-time score Magheracloone 0-6, Sean McDermotts's 0-5. The second half belonged almost exclusively to Magheracloone. Damien Freeman extended their lead to two points within a minute of the restart and then centre back James Ward, who put in a commanding performance, got in on the scoring act with the first of his two brilliant long-range points from frees in the third minute.

By the end of the third quarter Magheracloone had extended their lead to six points with three on the trot from Tom Freeman and Seans down to 14 players with the dismissal of Emelyn Clerkin. Further pressure saw Tom Freeman extend their lead to seven points in the 18th minute and then another long-range special from James Ward made it eight on 20 minutes and Magheracloone firing on all cylinders. The trend continued with points from Damien Freeman in 22nd minute and Fintan Kindlon in the 23rd to put ten pints between the sides and the result wrapped up. Seans to their credit did not capitulate although their attack had been starved of possession for most of the second half and Damien Larkin had their first score in the second period when he pulled back a point in the 25th minute. They then closed the gap further when Larkin pounced to exploit a defensive error on 30 minutes for the only goal of the game. A minute into stoppage time Paddy Kierans pulled back another point to leave five in it at the finish.

TEAMS AND SCORERS:
MAGHERACLOONE: Shane Duffy, Donal Kindlon, Padraig Kelly, Michael Jones, John McMahon, James Ward (0-2), Bernard Freeman, Francis Doogan, Francis Jones, Tom Freeman (0-6), Paudie Finnegan (0-2), Damien Freeman (0-4), Fintan Kindlon (0-1). Subs: Gerard Finnegan for K McCaul, Fergal Monaghan for F. Jones, Shane Martin for B. Freeman, Bart Kindlon for F. Kindlon.

SEAN MCDERMOTTS: Darren McArdle, Stephen McElvaney, Emelyn Clerkin, Paul Acheson, Emmet McElvaney, James Coyle, Michael McGuinness, Gary McEntee (0-1), Conor McElvaney, Christopher Connolly, Patrick Kieran (0-3), Adrian Larkin, Damien Larkin (1-3), Gary Larkin, Nigel Lynch. Subs: Fergal Sheridan for N. Lynch, James Treanor for S. McElvaney, David Treanor for S. McElvaney.

REFEREE: Nicky Calvert (Rockcorry).