Raheens ...................................1-4

COUNTY champions Moorefield rapped out a stern warning to all and sundry on the night of the SFC draw, with a clinical demolition of hapless Raheens in the Herbert Cup final in Ballyteague. Backed by the icy wind the Moores raced into a nine-point lead (0-11 to 0-2) at the interval and were never troubled thereafter.

Wing forwards Patrick Murray and Michael Ryan were in champagne form in the first period with four and three points respectively. Robbie Delaney (2) Brian McGrogan & Kenny Duane also weighed in with some good scores, as Ronan Sweeney drove the champions relentlessly forward from midfield. Martin Taafe had opened the losers’ account as early as the second minute but they played second fiddle thereafter, with Ross McMahon adding their only other score, also in the first quarter.

On the resumption Robby Coffey shot a good score for the losers within something like 15 seconds of the throw - in. It was to prove a false dawn however, as Moorefield never broke their stride with Cian O’Neill ramming in a good goal after 40 minutes. That score seemed to wrap it up for the holders but to their credit Raheens were in for the goal of the game from Declan O’Toole at the three - quarter stage.

That score served only to spur the men in green to greater efforts and they added 1-4 without reply in the last quarter - Michael Ryan the goalscorer - to run out the easiest of winners. The winners gave a thoroughly competent performance in all departments with big Ian Smith making quite an impression when introduced at full forward in the second half and Seamas Murray outstanding at corner back. For Raheens who looked a little out of their depth at this level, John Sharpe Larry Malone Eddie Coffey and Declan O'Toole were always prominent.

Moorefield: Padraig Canavan J P McDonagh, Martin Ryan, Seamus Murray; Noel Buckley Leslie Hogan Kenny Duane (0-1); Ronan Sweeney Seanie White; Patrick Murray (0-4) Robbie Delaney (0-2) Michael Ryan (1-4); Brian McGrogan (0-1) Cian O’Neill (1-1) Kevin O’Neill Subs: Ian Smith for K. O’Neill, Jamie Murphy for McDonagh, Paul Potts for Sweeney, Pa Behan for McGrogan and Martin Murray for P. Murray.

Raheens: Gay Campbell Robby Roker John Sharpe Ciaran O’Toole Alan Roker Eddie Coffey Colm McLoughlin Robby Coffey (0-1) Larry Malone Kevin Thompson David Malone Martin Taafe (0-1) Ian Lawler Ross McMahon (0-1) Declan O’Toole (1-1). Subs; Darren Campbell for Lawler and John Taafe for McLoughlin.

Referee: Tommy O’Rourke (Rathcoffey).