Carrickmacross 1-15 Corduff 1-7 A stronger, fitter Carrickmacross in the end experienced little difficulty in booking their place in the final of the intermediate football championship at the expense of Corduff in Carrickmacross on Sunday 5th November. The game as a contest while never a classic was close enough in the first half but once Carrickmacross found the Corduff net four minutes into the second-half they took increasing control and six points without reply between the 10th and 26th minutes had the issue completely wrapped up at that stage. Credit to Corduff though as they did not give up the struggle and pulled back a late goal and a point through substitute Martin Mills but they were only consolation scores and served to make it look a little culture as a contest than it actually was especially in the second half. Carrickmacross were never headed in the entire contest after Sean Downey opened the scoring with a point from a free after just two minutes. The glaring difference between the sides was in their respective attacks with Corduff unable to match the penetration and scoring ability of players like Sean Downey, Andrew Callan, who finished top scorer with seven points, four from frees, and Stephen Gollogly and those three between them accounted for all of Carrickmacross' fifteen points. Andrew Callan got the first of his seven points from a free in the fourth minute and while George McKitterick reduced the deficit to the minimum on six minutes Carrickmacross responded immediately with Andrew Callan pointing another free at the other end. George McKitterick again reduced the deficit to the minimum but Carrickmacross now stepped up the pace and three points without reply between the 15th and 22nd minutes saw the home side four in front after twenty two minutes. Indeed that lead might well have been greater but for a couple of missed opportunities and the intervention of the woodwork on two occasions. Corduff to their credit responded with spirit and two points in quick succession, both by Brendan Kerley had the margin down to two with Sean Downey restoring Carrickmacross to a three points lead two minutes into stoppage time. Half time score, Carrickmacross 0-7, Corduff 0-4. An exchange of scores between Andrew Callan and Mark Gilsenan in the opening minutes of the second-half gave a hint that it might be a close contest but all that evaporated a minute later when Gary McEneaney drove forward from defence and in a movement involving Andrew Callan and Stephen Gollogly he crashed the ball to the roof of the Corduff net to send Carrickmacross on their way. Andrew Callan and David Marron exchanged points in the eighth minute but from there to the final minutes of the game Carrickmacross took increasing control and six points without reply had them twelve in front with four minutes of normal time remaining. Corduff substitute Martin Mills was rewarded for his persistence when he found the Carrickmacross net in the 28th minute and the same player converted a free just on the half-hour to leave eight points between the sides at the finish. Teams and Scorers: Carrickmacross: John Fitzgerald, Eoin Duffy, John Conlon, John McNally, Eoin Sherry, Gary McEneaney 1-0, Timmy Lonergan, James McGeown, Mark McNally, Declan Smith, Sean Downey 0-4, Paddy Lonergan, Andrew Callan 0-7, Stephen Gollogly 0-4, Mark Downey. Subs: James Conlon for M McNally, Paraic Rafferty for T Lonergan, Diarmuid Kelly for J McGeown, Declan Finnegan for D Smith, Paudie Swinburne for S Downey. Corduff: Maurice Murphy, Ciaran Brennan, Louis King, Gerry Mee, Colm Marron, Shane McNally, Gareth King, Declan Larkin, George McKitterick 0-2, Brendan Kerley 0-2, Raymond Byrne, Mel McKitterick, Paraic Gollogly, David Marron 0-1, Mark Gilsenan 0-1. Subs: Aidan Marron for P Gollogly, Martin Mills 1-1 for M Gilsenan, Fran Monaghan for M McKitterick, Ciaran Malone for C Marron. Referee: Kevin McCarey (Scotstown). Tweet

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