Ferbane get away late on as Walsh Island go out with heads held high

FERBANE certainly didn't have it all their own way and were forced to work hard before getting away for an expected win over a brave Walsh Island side in the Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final.

Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final

Ferbane 3-16

Walsh Island 3-9

Improving fast, Ferbane scored 3-15 of their 3-16 from play, led almost the whole way and they will be very confident of their chances against a strong St Brigid's side in the semi-final in a couple of weeks time.

It took two late goals to seal the win but an ageing Walsh Island side were always going to find it hard to sustain the pace the whole way to the final whistle and they have no complaints at losing.

They gave a great account of themselves, though, and were not far away. They came up against a strong Ferbane side with plenty of senior experience in their ranks. Joe Maher, Shane Nally and David Kelly all played in last year's senior football final loss to Tullamore and a former county hurler Paddy Clancy would have been there only for a sabbatical in Australia.

Clancy has returned home this year and he is the one player Ferbane could lose from this team as he is likely to be in the senior plans. Senior manager Ger Rafferty is concerned about injuries to David Nally and Oisin Kelly and if he calls up Clancy, he will have to go – the senior quarter and intermediate semi-final fixtures could well determine whether he is available for the shootout with St Brigid's.

Ferbane scored very well and their tally included three crucial first half two pointers. These were pivotal to Ferbane leading by 1-9 to 2-4 at half time. A Sean Flynn goal had Ferbane 1-4 to 0-1 up after 12 minutes but Walsh Island played with customary bravery, getting back into it with goals from Dara Cuiddihy and Oisin Murphy, in the 29^th minute, to keep them very much alive – Cuddihy's super solo goal was one of the highlights of an enjoyable game.

Former county player Joe Maher got going in the second half, scoring four points, but they found it very hard to put Walsh Island away. A Recee Cuddihy goal levelled it up at 3-4 to 1-10 in the 33^rd minute but Ferbane regained their composure with the next three points, the third a fantastic left footed Maher point.

Walsh Island hung on gamely and almost got a game changing fourth goal when David Dunican brilliantly saved from Willie Mulhall – though James Gallagher got a great two pointer when Mulhall tapped the '45' to him.

There was only two points in it inside the last ten minutes but Ferbane broke for the gap and two quick goals from Bernard Corcoran and Gavin Egan finally ended Walsh Island's resistance.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Shane Nally (Ferbane): Shane Nally had a great game for Ferbane. Very good on the ball, he got three points, one of them a two pointer, and set up so much from the back.

THE SCORERS

Ferbane: Gavin Egan 1-2 and Sean Flynn (1 2pt) 1-2 each, Joe Maher (1f) 0-4, Bernard Corcoran 1-0, Paddy Clancy (1 2pt) and Shane Nally (1 2pt) 0-3 each, Colin Egan and Donal Flynn 0-1 each. Walsh Island: Oisín Murphy 1-2, Willie Mulhall (2fs, 1 ’45) 0-4, Dara Cuddihy and Reece Cuddihy 1-0 each, James Gallagher (1 2pt) 0-2, Dan O’Keeffe 0-1.

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THE TEAMS

FERBANE: David Dunican; Rory O’Neill, Paddy Moore, Saran Flynn; Colin Egan, Shane Nally, Michael Spillane; David Kelly, Paddy Clancy; Gavin Egan, Bernard Corcoran, Conor Kenny; Sean Flynn, Joe Maher, Daniel Kelly. Subs: Donal Flynn for Kenny (17 min, injured), Brian Grehan for Daniel Kelly (61 min).

WALSH ISLAND: Ian Duffy; Dan O’Keeffe, Evin Galvin, Ryan McKenna; Rory Galvin, James Gallagher, Thomas Brereton; Thomas O’Connor, Colm Gavin; Sean McCloskey, Reece Cuddihy, Dara Cuddihy; Oisín Murphy, Alan Mulhall, Willie Mulhall. Sub: Jack Haverty for McCloskey (36 min).

Referee – Ciaran Groome (Bracknagh).