IFC: Michaels finish on a winning note

St. Michaels Paddy Tobin

St. Michaels 0-21, Drumbaragh 1-15                                                                                             

Both St. Michaels and Drumbaragh entered this third round clash in Grangegodden Kells on Saturday evening last looking for their first win of the campaign and knowing another loss would result in a relegation play-off.

The opening half ebbed and flowed with little separating the sides, CJ Lynch opened the scoring with a fine effort from play, the Drumbaragh lads soon leveled and the sides were on a par four times in the opening half. St. Michaels had five different players getting on the scoreboard with Lynch (3) Declan Reilly (1), Brian O'Reilly (1), Matthew Halpin (3, 1 x 2pt) and Gearóid O'Malley (1 x 2pt). A high ball into the St. Michaels square in the 24th minute was finished off to the back of the net for the only goal of the match. It ended all square at the short whistle 0-10 to 1-07.                                                                                                                                         

Drumbaragh opened the second half scoring with a point from play, St. Michaels responded when top scorer on the evening the impressive Gearóid O'Malley converted a free, further points followed from Lynch, O'Malley, Shane McDonnell and Brian O'Reilly to go 0-18 to 1-9 with eight minutes remaining however the Drums continued to battle and sent over three two-pointers (frees) in the final five minutes but O'Malley was equal to it with a two-pointer from a free and another good effort from a placed ball secured a deserved victory.                                                                                                                                                                                                           St. Michael's Team and scorers: Graham Dooner; Ciaran O'Reilly, Dan Murphy, Cathal Walsh; Jack Griffin, Brian O'Reilly (0-2), Matt Moriarty; Cian Sheridan, Matthew Halpin (0-3 1 x 2pt); Declan Reilly (0-1), Shane McDonnell (0-1), Paddy Tobin; Gearóid O'Malley (0-8, 2 x 2pts), Shane McCormack, CJ Lynch (0-6).

Referee: Patrick Clarke.               

Pascal Reilly PRO