Whitecross 0-10 Wolfe Tones 1-8
Whitecross hosted Wolfe Tones in Round 3 of the Intermediate Championship on Sunday afternoon in a sunny Pairc Naomh Cillian. The sides played out a tight and exciting affair with only one point separating them at the final whistle, leaving Wolfe Tones top of the Group and into the Quarter Finals with three wins from three.
The visitors opened the scoring after three minutes with James Lavery converting a free but Whitecross’ sharp shooter Ruairi Convery responded quickly with a point. Wolfe Tones went ahead 0-3 to 0-1 after 18 minutes but Whitecross soon found their rhythm with points from Neil McSherry, Ruairi Convery and Aidan Finnegan, the home side taking the lead with the halftime score 0-5 to 0-4.
Wolfe Tones equalised after thirty-three minutes with a point from play but Whitecross kept their noses in front as Mark Shields, who was proving difficult for the visitors to contain with his dominating runs, burst through the Wolfe Tones defence and split the posts to put his side in front again.
It was nip and tuck with both team exchanging points. Whitecross battled hard and from deep in defence and corner-back Fearghal Vallely won possession sprinting up the wing and played in Colm O’Hanlon who made no hesitation in slotting it over to go two points in front. Tearing open the Tones defence, another run from Mark Shields allowed Ryan McSherry to knock over a point from play with Whitecross ahead by three.
Wolfe Tones pressed up the field and two points from frees left the minimum between the sides. With normal time up Whitecross’ Ruairi Convery blasted over a long range free from 50 metres out to lead by two. The hosts battled to keep possession in their own half and with a Whitecross side line kick at the end of the game Wolfe Tones turned them over, running the length of the field hitting a high ball into the square.
Whitecross fisted the ball out but it rebounded and was smashed to net to leave the final score Whitecross 0-10 Wolfe Tones 1-8 with the victors stealing a one point win. Whitecross travel to Keady next weekend for their round 1 clash and must win to insure a place in the play offs. Keady won their round 3 game at the weekend leaving them in 2nd place with a 0-19 to 0-10 victory of bottom side Carrickcruppen.
In group one Clan na Gael continued their winning streak, gaining their third victory of the group stages with a 13 point win over Shane O’Neill’s while Grange confirmed their place in the play offs with a huge win over a struggling Eire Og side, the final score 6-23 to 0-11, Eire Og falling out of the Championship after three consecutive losses.
Ballyhegan also departed the Championship at the earliest junction as they failed to gain a single point. An Port Mor beat Ballyhegan on Sunday afternoon on a score line of 5-18 to 1-13, Gary Trainer and Cormac Kieran grabbing two goals each while John McLoughlin also raised a green flag for the winners.
St Paul’s and Tir na nOg place out a high scoring third round with St Paul’s victorious, 7-16 to 3-14. The last round results saw St Paul’s, An Port Mor and Tir na nOg all sit on two points with St Paul’s entering the quarter finals on a better scoring average while An Port Mor and Tir na nOg will battle it out in the play offs.
Mullaghbawn completed three wins from three on Sunday as they dispatched Middletown to book their place in the quarter finals, winning 2-19 to 0-10. Tullysaran confirmed their spot in the play offs with a 2-19 to 2-6 win over Crossmaglen IIs while Cross and Middletown will meet this weekend to see who takes the final play off place and who exists the championship.
