Strong Crusheen book place in intermediate final

Crusheen 0-20   Killanena 1-10

TWO years after they were promoted from Junior A to Intermediate, Crusheen are just a step away from another promotion following their merited semi-final win over Killanena at Sixmilebridge on Sunday.

 

Physically stronger, they led from the outset and deservingly won a place in the final.

Darragh O’Doherty was again his side’s top scorer contributing half of their final tally. He hit five points in each half and was unerring from placed balls. He opened the scoring in the third minute and Shaun Dillon quickly added a second before Mark Flaherty had Killanena’s opening score in the seventh minute.

Crusheen were four points clear by the end of the first quarter but Killanena could have been closer at this stage as they had created a couple of goal opportunities but failed to convert any. Credit must go to the strong Crusheen defence as they dominated throughout.

The second quarter was relatively even and when the half-time whistle sounded, three points separated the sides with Crusheen ahead on a score of 0-9 to 0-3.

Crusheen piled on the pressure on the resumption and they hit the opening three points of the new half to go six clear.

By the end of the third quarter, they were well on their way to the final as they had stretched their lead to eight points with the score at 0-16 to 0-8. Five minutes later, they were 10 clear, 0-19 to 0-9 and safely through to the decider. A Mark Flaherty goal from a free followed by a point by the same player failed to trouble the winners who finished with a Darragh O’Doherty effort to seal a comfortable success.

Brendan McMahon, until injured, Shaun and Brian Dillon, Niall Fitzgibbon and, especially Darragh O’Doherty, were prominent for the winners, while Joe Clancy, Alan McNamara, Mikey Noone and Mark Flaherty were best for Killanena who won this title just two years ago before losing a number of that panel to emigration and to injury.

Crusheen: David McMahon; Tony McMahon, Brendan McMahon, Donal Dillon; Eddie Fitzgibbon, Shaun Dillon, Brian Dillon; Alan Tuohy, Thomas Vaughan; Rory Halpin, Niall Fitzgibbon, Philip O’Donnell; Niall Kearney, Patrick O’Grady, Darragh O’Doherty.
Subs: Conor Hayes for B McMahon (inj); Youen Horner for O’Donnell.
Scorers: Darragh O’Doherty (0-10), Niall Fitzgibbon (0-4), Niall Kearney (0-3), Shaun and Brian Dillon, Alan Tuohy (0-1 each).
Killanena: David Noone; Barry Noone, Joe Clancy, Pat Noone; Martin Glynn, John O’Mara, Alan McNamara; Mikey Noone, Eoin McMahon; Declan Noonan, Fintan McNamara, Mark Flaherty; Todd Kelsey, David McNamara, Colin McNamara.
Subs: Stephen McMahon for D McNamara; Michael Noonan for C McNamara; John Noonan for E McMahon; Shane Moroney for D Noonan.
Scorers: Mark Flaherty (1-5), David McNamara (0-2), Mikey Noone, Declan Noone, Fintan McNamara (0-1 each).
Referee: Damian Fox.