*Jason McAuley of Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
WOLFE TONES justified favouritism and duly qualified for the TUS intermediate football championship semi-final when accounting for Shannon Gaels at Lissycaaey this Sunday afternoon.
Wolfe Tones 1-9
Shannon Gaels 0-3
Venue: Lissycasey
In difficult wet and windy conditions, they proved to be the stronger side and held their opponents scoreless in the second half.
In qualifying for the semi-final, they emulated the club’s hurlers who will contest the semi-final of the intermediate hurling championship next week when they will face Ruan.
Playing with the aid of the breeze, the Gaels, without inter county man Darragh Bohannon due to injury, were first on the scoreboard thanks to a well hit Dylan Kenny effort from forty metres in the third minute.
This score brought a strong response from the Shannon outfit and they landed three points in as many minutes, all coming from the boot of Gary Leahy.
Seventeen scoreless minutes followed during which the ‘Gaels grew in confidence leading to points from Kenny from a 40m free and Monaghan native David Bannigan which levelled the tie with six minutes to go to the half time whistle.
The eventual winners finished the half stronger with team captain Dean Devanney and Aaron Kelly landing points to send them to the break 0-5 to 0-3 in front.
Given the conditions it was always going to be difficult for Shannon Gaels against the wind in the second half which was eleven minutes old before the winners opened the scoring through Craig Riordan.
As the mid point of the half approached, they struck for the game’s only goal, Gary Leahy providing the finish. Points followed from Colin Riordan and Joe McGauley at the winners opened an eight point lead.
To their credit, Shannon Gaels battled to the ed but the overall balance of the winners proved too much on a day when Aaron Kelly, Jayme O’Sullivan, Joe McGauley, Dean Devannney and Gary Leahy did well. Dylan Kenny, Eoin Keane, Tomas Cleary, Thomas Kelly and Matthew Reidy did well for the losers.
Scorers Wolfe Tones: Gary Leahy (1-3, 0-2 f); Aaron Kelly, Craig Riordan, Joe McGauley, Dean Devanney, Colin Riordan, Tadhg Fitzgerald (0-1) each
Scorers Shannon Gaels; Dylan Kenny (0-2, 1f) David Bannigan (0-1)
Wolfe Tones;
1: Shane Russell;
2: Shane Nihill
7: Aaron Kelly
4: Aaron Brennan;
5: Jason McAuley
6: Jayme O’Sullivan
18: Conor Carigg;
8: Joe McGauley
9: Brian Murphy
13: Dean Devanney
11: Craig Riordan
12: Jack Ryan
17; Cody Waller
14; Colin Riordan
30: Gary Leahy
Subs:
15: Eoghan Gough for J. Ryan (38)
10: Chris Dunning for C. Waller (38)
3: Eoghan Casey for C. Carigg (43)
19: Tadhg Fitzgerald for D. Devanney (50)
24: Brian Monaghan for C. Riordan (50)
Shannon Gaels:
16: David Neylon
10: Eoin Keane
5: Fergal Kenny
3: Tadhge Kelly
11: Thomas Kelly
9: Matthew Reidy
7: Dylan Kenny
8: Jack McCarthy
14: Niall Ellis
15: David Bannigan
4: Damian Downes
21: Cormac Moloney
13: John Ryan
23: Tomas Cleary
12: Thomas Kenny
Subs:
20: Aaron Lee McMahon for J. Ryan (48)
2: Gearoid Kenny for C. Moloney (49)
Referee: Pat Healy (Kilmaley)
