St. Michaels 3-16, St. Ultans 1-10
St. Michaels made it four wins from four outings in the Junior C championship with this victory in the battle of the saints in Drumbaragh on Monday evening.
Daithí Regan was the name on everybody's lips as they prepared to make their way home after the match. The corner forward and second half substitution may have only donned his football boots a handful of times in the past three years and would be lacking match fitness, however there was certainly nothing lacking in the predatory instinct he showed to propel his side to a deserved victory with a personal tally of 1-3.
The opening 30 minutes produced a cracking contest with just a single point separating the sides at the interval. St. Michaels got off to a great start with an Alex Farrell point straight from the throw-in, this was quickly followed by a point from the hard working and top scorer on the night Kevin Cassidy. St. Ultans replied immediately adding 1-2 by the fifth minute but they were hit by a counter attack from St. Michaels when Ronan Farrell pointed and Rory O'Driscoll deftly chipped the keeper for his sides opening goal and a 1-3 to 1-2 lead. St. Ultans gained the upper-hand and posted 4 points without reply to go three in front but back came St. Michaels with points from Cassidy (0-3) and Johnny Reilly (0-1) to lead by one at the break, 1-7 to 1-6.
St. Ultans drew level five minutes into the second half but Daithí Regan opened his account two minutes later when a good ball in from Alex Farrell was won by Regan and his just turned and shot over the bar, Ben Farrell was the next provider when he delivered a pin point pass to Regan who blasted to the back of the net for a 2-8 to 1-7 lead. St. Ultans pulled two points back however as the the light began to fade St. Michaels were now showing grit and determination all over the field as their hard work began to bear fruit in front of the posts with Cassidy, Regan and Ben Farrell all registering scores and Kevin Cassidy bagging his sides third major on 57 minutes to seal the deal.
This was a good all round team performance with the scorers together with Lee Morris, Harry Dunne, Daithí O'Reilly and Anthony Briody among others impressing for the winners who now top the Group C table.
St. Michaels team & scorers: Gavan Sweeney; Adam O'Brien, Sean Gaffney, Harry Dunne; Caolan McConnell, Daithí O'Reilly, Anthony Briody; Alex Farrell (0-1), Lee Morris; Ben Reilly, Johnny Reilly (0-1), Rory O'Driscoll (1-0); Ronan Farrell (0-1), Ben Farrell (0-3), Kevin Cassidy (1-7).
Subs: John Stafford for Sweeney injured 10 minutes, Daithí Regan (1-3) for Ronan Farrell 30 minutes, Barry McBrearty for McConnell 39 minutes, Ronan Farrell for J. Reilly 55 minutes, Tommy Moriarty for O'Brien 58 minutes.
Referee: Gerry Skelly.
Report and photo Pascal Reilly.
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