Inter-firms All-Ireland semi-final date confirmed: Longford Gardaí set to play Ulster champions

Roscommon Garda - a team composed of Gardaí from Roscommon, Longford, and Mayo - will face Armagh's MTM Engineering team in the GAA Inter-firms All-Ireland semi-final on Monday April 13. 

The clash will kick off at 6.45pm in Drumalee Pitch, Cavan Town and if their previous performance against Mayo team, Vantive, in the Connacht Intermediate football final was any indicator, the semi final looks set to be a high octane meet. 

The Connacht Intermediate football champions. Pic: Inter-firms GAA Connaught

From the opening whistle, the Connacht Intermediate football decider burst into life, with Tiernan Murphy swiftly netting a goal inside the opening minute. 

The goal, set up by Thomas Featherston, gave Roscommon Garda an early surge.

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Rivals, Vantive, hit back through Jason Hunt and Ethan Henry to briefly take the lead, however it was Gearóid Ennis’s frees, including two 2-pointers, that propelled Roscommon Garda ahead at half-time with the scoreboard showing the Guards’ 1-10 to Vantive’s 2-04. 

The second half was as fast paced as the first with early points from Cathal Slattery and Gary Murphy stretching Roscommon Garda’s lead, however Vantive came back fighting and narrowed the gap to a single score following frees by Conor Byrne and points by Jason Hunt.

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A second goal by Vantive’s Gary McHale gave the team a temporary edge in the 47th minute, until a free by Roscommon Garda’s Gearóid Ennis levelled the game again.

Inspector Ken Duggan (Roscommon), Garda Conor Foley (Longford), Garda Shane O’Connor (Roscommon), Inspector David Cryan (Roscommon), Garda Karl Foley (Roscommon). Missing from management photo: Detective Damien McGovern (Longford). Pic: Inter-firms GAA Connaught

This was followed by scores in quick succession from Roscommon Garda’s Paul Mannion and Tiernan Murphy, leaving Garda six points clear.

The closing minutes saw Vantive put forward a strong attempt to overcome their adversaries, however Roscommon Garda held firm to secure the win, the final score Roscommon Garda 3-15, Vantive 3-12.

Scorers from the Roscommon Garda side were Gearoid Ennis 0-10 (7f), Paul Mannion 1-2, Tiernan Murphy 2-0, Gary Murphy 0-2, Cathal Slattery 0-1

Team captain, Cathal Slattery, accepted the Intermediate Cup. 

Captain Cathal Slattery accepting the cup. Pic: Inter-firms GAA Connaught

Speaking to the Longford Leader following the win, team coach - Garda Conor Foley, who is stationed in Longford - said, "This was our first time entering the Inter-firms competition and the two men who pushed it were Shane O’Connor and David Buckley."

"Those lads have put in so much work - the logistics, liaising with people, and everything else that goes with it, so I was delighted for them, and the lads on the team, that the Intermediate final went so well."

"Shane himself is actually a former Longford Garda who is now based in Roscommon and it was his idea to go after this. Himself and David got everyone involved which was great because it's a very enjoyable outlet for us as Gardai working together." 

Conor added, "We're lucky in that we have a really strong team. We also have a couple ex-county players as well, lads like Tom Featherston, Cathal Slattery and our own David Buckley who hurled for Longford. We also have Colin Goldrick in goals who’s a very strong player." 

"The intermediate final was a cracking one; very high scoring and despite the terrible weather, a very entertaining game of football was served."  

The Roscommon Garda team coach, Garda Conor Foley 

The Roscommon Garda team who played in the Intermediate final: Colin Goldrick, Sean Peyton, Shane O’Malley, Tomas Connaughton, Darragh Hussey, Thomas Featherston, Ciaran Kerin, Cathal Slattery, Paddy Fallon, Niall Keenan, Paul Mannion, Keith Muldoon, Tiernan Murphy, Gearóid Ennis, Gary Murphy. 

Subs: Paddy McGirl, Keith O’Brien, Lorcan Cassidy, Gerard Clogher, Gerard Mullarkey, Peter Vesey, and John Hanley.

The team will now go on to play MTM Engineering from Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final on Monday April 13 at 6.45pm in Drumalee Pitch, Cavan Town.