Naomh Fionnbarra 0-17(17)
Na Piarsaigh 2-10(16)

Played in sunny conditions Naomh Fionnbarra played Na Piarsaigh in the 2nd Round of the Intermediate Championhip at Pairc Bríd, Dowdallshill on Saturday evening. 

The Dundalk men made the brighter start and scored a goal by Mark Larkin after 3 minutes as the ball was fumbled into the Finbarrs net.  The Barrs got off the mark via a fisted point by Darren McConnon as the ball was played across the square a minute later.  Larkin replied for Na Piarsaigh, however the Finbarrs started to take control and popped over the next 3 points from play to tie the scores.  The first by Máirtín Murphy which almost resulted in a goal as it barely scraped over the bar and 2 from Bernard Osborne from play, the first a brilliant long range effort after a neat turn.  Larkin was causing the Barrs defence problems at the other end and he scored again for the Dundalk men to re take the lead.  This prompted a switch in the Finbarrs defence as Hugh McGrane took over marking duties on the dangerman.  

The Togher men clicked into top gear at this stage and started to dominate around the middle.  Andy McCann equalised the scores on 14 minutes with a well taken point from the right wing.  Some vital turnovers in the Finbarrs defence by Óisín McGee and Paddy McGrane led to scores as did some good combination play.  Bernard Osborne struck 3 in a row as he continued his good form.  2 from placed balls, 1 of which was tight to the left hand sideline and 1 from open play, leaving the Barrs 0-8 to 1-2 ahead.  Back came Na Piarsaigh and who else but that man Larkin got on the scoreboard with 3 points in a row to level the scores for the 3rd time.  In what was an up and down half the Barrs scored twice more with good points from Pádraig Butterly and Osborne again.  Half time score:  Naomh Fionnbarra 0-10(10) Na Piarsaigh 1-5(8).

The Barrs drew first blood at the start of the second half with a Conor Osborne point after 2 minutes to increase their lead to 4 and it looked ominous for the Dundalk men.  They had other ideas however, and between the 36the and 47th minute of the half they struck for 1-5 without reply as they took control.  They targeted the Barrs talismanic midfielder John Doyle and made it difficult for the Togher men to get out of their half.  In fairness, the Finbarrs contributed to their malaise as they lacked incision and played laterally and got bottled up in the centre of the field.  Point scorers for Na Piarsaigh were Joe Woods, Mark Larkin, Alan McCartney, Paul Mallon and Ciaran Murphy, while Larkin bagged the goal after a lucky break where the loose ball spun into his path.  This left the score at 2-10 to 0-11 with 13 minutes remaining and the Barrs looked to be in trouble.

Eventually the Finbarrs awoke from their slumber as substitute Jack Butterly scored a point on 49 minutes after 17 minutes without a score.  Brothers Hugh and Conor Osborne upped the anti with good points of their own to reduce the deficit to 2 points.  At this stage Andy McCann and Darren McConnon were brought out to the middle of the field where they won some good possession and helped the team gain momentum.  Time was running out however as there were only 5 minutes left in the game.  A point by Darren McConnon left 1 point between the teams.  It was Na Piarsaigh now who were under pressure and they could not get the ball to stick in their forward line as the Togher defence repelled their counter attacks.  Another sub Pádraic Murphy slotted over the equalising score from 30 metres with a couple of minutes to go.  A draw was enough to put the Barrs through however they went for the win and the ball was worked to Óisín McGee who calmly lofted the ball over the bar and regain the lead.  In the build up the Na Piarsaigh full back was sent off for an altercation with Bernard Osborne.  With their next attack Na Piarsaigh went for broke but were halted by Andy McCann who received a black card.  From the resulting free kick the ball was sent high into the Barrs square and was scrambled clear while Na Piarsaigh's claim for a penalty fell on deaf ears.  The referee blew the final whistle and Naomh Fionnbarra were through to the Quarter Finals by the narrowest of margins.  Final score:  Naomh Fionnbarra 0-17(17) Na Piarsaigh 2-10(16).

Naomh Fionnbarra scorers:  Bernard Osborne 0-6(2f), Darren McConnon 0-2, Conor Osborne 0-2, Óisín McGee 0-1, Máirtín Murphy 0-1, Andy McCann 0-1, Jack Butterly 0-1, Hugh Osborne 0-1, Pádraig Butterly 0-1 and Pádraic Murphy 0-1.

Naomh Fionnbarra Team:  Allan Matthews, Hugh McGrane, Patrick McGrane, Bryan Sharkey; Chris McGlynn, Colin McGrane, Pádraig Butterly; Hugh Osborne, John Doyle; Máirtín Murphy, Óisín McGee, Conor Osborne; Andy McCann, Darren McConnon, Bernard Osborne.  Subs:  Jack Butterly for Máirtín Murphy, Pádraig Murphy for Chris McGlynn, Nicholas Butterly for Bernard Osborne(inj), Shane Fanning for Andy McCann(BC).

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