Irvinestown 1-13

St Pat’s Donagh 1-12

Irvinestown produced a stunning second half comeback to claim a place in the Intermediate Championship final. St Pats were six points to the good midway through the second half but Irvinestown were to hit 1-08 in the last quarter as they made their numerical advantage pay.

Brian McDermott saw red for the Donagh men on the 28-minute mark. Initially he received a black card for a hand trip but after a bout of dissent to the referee he was flashed with a red and that was the end of his afternoon.

McDermott perhaps should have been given a free in the lead up to the black card but there is no doubt that his departure changed the way St Pat’s could press high up the pitch, a tactic they were using to great effect up to that point.

“Brian was a big loss in himself with the black card. But the red meant we obviously could not replace him and we would have liked to have been able to play with 15 against 15,” said Donagh boss Sean Maguire. “Irvinestown used the extra man very well and we found it more difficult at that point and obviously we are extremely disappointed to have lost the game.”

Irvinestown manager Sean Donnelly was delighted with the character shown by his side as they came from six points down eight minutes into the second half to edge out St. Pat’s and secure their place in the final.

“We showed great fight and battling qualities and that is what you would expect in a championship semi-final. I thought that we played some great football in the second half and we kicked some excellent points.

“Them losing the man helped us as we were able to push up on them and they couldn’t use a sweeper.”

St Pats were the better team in the first half and went in at the break leading by four points. Pat Cadden top scored with three, two coming from frees, while Pat Grue hit two fine efforts from play and Paul Cosgrove James Duffy and Gary Maguire were the point scorers at the other end. Paul Og O’Reilly and Grue in particular were influential around that middle third for the Donagh men.

Irvinestown started the second half brightly hitting three of the first four points, Gary Maguire again on target with Kevin McDonnelly and Seanie Mahon also splitting the posts. Eamon Maguire, who was to be excellent throughout had a point for St Pats before they struck for their goal.

A short kick out was turned over by Pat Cadden who fed Maguire and he slipped it to Cosgrove who finished well. Maguire added the next point with a smashing effort and suddenly St Pats were six to the good.

From that point however it was Irvinestown who took over proceedings. Wing half backs Joey Millar and Kevin McDonnelly started to break from the back with real pace and they knocked over a point each with Maguire also landing a fine effort. Cadden hit back for St Pats before Caolan Ward, who was coming more into the game, split the posts to make it a three point game.

Things got even better Donnnelly’s men when Stephen Sheridan was fouled in the large square and the referee pointed to the spot. Maguire scored after his initial penalty was well saved by Michael McGrade in the St Pats goal and we had a draw game.

That penalty came with ten minutes to go and the sides would go on to hit seven points between them in what was to be a pulsating finish to the game.

McDonnell and Ward pushed Irvinestown two ahead with Cadden firing back. Jarlath Maguire restored the two-point Advantage for his team before Eamon Maguire showed all his class and experience to shoot two scores for St Pat’s to tie things up again at 1-12 apiece.

It was end to end stuff and Cadden had a chance from a long range difficult free with three minutes of injury time but didn’t convert. At the other end Gary Maguire nailed a brilliant effort to put his side one up. Eamon Maguire had one more chance to restore parity with another free from distance but his effort dropped short and Irvinestown booked their place in the semi final.

Donnelly, Irvinestown manager, was in Kinawley on Sunday evening as Belnaleck overcame Enniskillen to progress to the final and Donnelly knows that it is going to be a tough game.

“I was impressed with them. They are a big team, size wise, and you have the likes of Kane Connor and the two Cullens who are quality players,” he said.