Grange 1-8 Sarsfields 2-17
Sarsfields put in a dominant display to see off Grange and book their place in the Intermediate Championship final. 15 years on from their last championship success, Sarsfields will hope to crown the anniversary with another title.
Goals from top scorer Paul McGeown and Colin Stevenson helped the High Moss men secure the victory. It’s also their first win in the newly formed BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, ending a long, drawn-out wait.
Sarsfields opened the scoring through Luka Donnelly but Grange hit back with the games first goal. Odhran Rafferty’s curling effort dropped harmlessly short, but the ball spilled out of Stephen McArdle’s grasp and finished in the net.
Ben Toal and Eamon McGeown traded scores before McGeown setup his younger brother Paul for a major. At the other end, Daire Mallon played through his sibling Ronan for a brilliant point.
Rafferty and Paul McGeown exchanged efforts before McGeown split a brace from Tommy McAlindan. An Ethan Rafferty two-point free narrowed the margin while Daire Mallon tapped over a close range free to level matter.
Paul McGaughey fired over a score from outside the arc moments before Daire Mallon picked up a black card just before the break. Callum McGibbon had to settle for a single when David O’Hagan touched his two-point effort, leaving the half time score 1-9 to 1-6.
Paul McGeown got proceedings up and running in the second half before Colin Stevenson netted, firing home a rebound after McAlinden’s initial effort was stopped by O’Hagan. McAlinden, McGeown (3) and Stevenson all added scores as well.
Daire Mallon ended his sides dry spell with a two-pointer while McGeown slotted two more. In the end, Sarsfield were much too strong for their opponents, and they will meet either Shane O’Neill’s or St Paul’s in the showpiece.