Sean Connolly's brush aside Fr. Manning Gaels
A second half fisted Shane Carrigy goal ensured Sean Connolly's status as a senior championship outfit as they easily brushed aside the limp challenge of Fr. Manning Gaels in this relegation round-robin encounter at the Killoe grounds on Friday night last.
After slipping to an agonising three point defeat against fellow relegation candidates Granard the previous week, Connolly's knew a win against a Fr Manning Gaels side already assured of senior championship football was absolutely essential.
The Connolly's cause was made all the more easier because their opponents had little or nothing to play for except competitive pride.
Even events a few miles down the road in Drumlish between two other perennial strugglers, Granard St. Mary's and Ardagh St. Patrick's, in the end had little bearing on what transpired in front of a sparse crowd at Emmet Park.
It was hardly surprising to see Connolly's dictate matters from the off. Shane Carrigy and Kieran Gill went toe to toe early doors with a point each, while Martin Brady and another Carrigy strike edged Connolly's two ahead after 16 minutes.
It was turgid stuff, not helped by both sides struggle to gain any real meaningful possession in midfield. Kieran Gill did manage to lift the gloom seven minutes before the break with a delightful turn and shot, but that proved to be only a fleeting talking point as Connolly's emerged with a three point lead at half-time, 0-6 to 0-3.
An unlikely second half comeback by Fr. Manning Gaels never looked like materialising and with ten minutes gone on the changeover, those hopes were dashed when a Martin Brady free was delightfully guided home into the bottom left hand corner of the net by Shane Carrigy.
Six points down, the Gaels were struggling badly. That said, the ever dangerous Padraig Gill did reduce those arrears to just four with a couple of virtuoso points soon after.
But the evening and the match belonged to Connolly's. Three minutes from time, Martin Brady and then Enda Dalton raised the white flags to seal their sides win and more importantly put an end to any lasting relegation fears for another season.
SEAN CONNOLLY'S: James McKenna; Andy McNamee, Paddy McDonnell, Brendan Treacy; Thomas Keogh, Michael McGlynn, Eamon McEvoy; Trevor Murtagh, Martin Brady (0-2); Shane Carrigy (1-2), Ciaran McEoin, Mark Diffley; Eugene Murtagh, Stephen Lynch (0-2, both frees), Enda Dalton (0-2).
Subs:- Frank Reynolds for E Murtagh (58 mins); Colm Fox for B Treacy.
FR. MANNING GAELS: Aidan Gray; John Paul Farrelly, Gary Brady, Cian Brady; Niall Kiernan, Fergal Reilly, Sean Diffley; Johnny Kane, David Collum; Emmet Collum, Padraig Gill (0-2), Mickey Kelly; David Cassidy, Kieran Gill (0-3, two frees), Kevin Whelan.
Subs:- Pete McWade for E Collumb (30 mins); Mark Duffy for D Collum (49 mins).
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Ballymahon).
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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