Borrisokane lose out in intermediate football semifinal replay

Clean Recycling Ireland County Intermediate Football Semi-Final Replay


Drom & Inch 2-8 

Borrisokane 0-9

 

By James Hayden in Templederry

Two second half goals for Drom & Inch proved the difference as the Mid side progressed to county Intermediate football final following a tough semi-final replay with a gallant Borrisokane on Sunday afternoon.
Extra-time failed to separate the sides the first day and once more there was little between these two committed teams.

Despite playing into the teeth of a strong breeze Borrisokane were quick to settle and opened the scoring after just five minutes with a sweet Philip Austin effort.
Drom missed early chances to open their account with Johnny Ryan hitting the upright before Philip Austin added a second in the eleventh minute following fantastic approach play from Shane Dooley and Seosamh Cleary.
David Butler flighted over a beautifully struck point in the 12th minute to get Drom off the mark before the introduction of James Woodlock, fresh from his wedding nuptials the day before, brought a more balanced look to the Drom & Inch side.
Woodlock slotted in at full-back to keep tabs on the influential Philip Austin and within minutes of the substitution the tide had turned with points from the effervescent Johnny Ryan and ace freetaker, David Collins edging Drom in front.
Drom continued to impose themselves on the game with the outstanding Tommy Nolan arcing over a 19th minute effort.  
Borrisokane fought back though with Philip Austin once again on target from a close-range free but it was Drom who finished the half on the up with late points from David Collins (free) and Johnny Ryan ensuring the took a 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead to the dressing room.
Drom & Inch introduced Liam Ryan at the break for Joe Lupton and despite being without the benefit of the elements their cause was boosted after just four minutes when David Collins netted from a penalty after Seamus Callanan was fouled on route to goal.
Ger Reddan fired over an almost instant riposte for the Lower Ormond men but Johnny Ryan quickly cancelled that effort out with his third point from play.
With matters getting a little big niggly Borrisokane battled to build some momentum but were thwarted time and time again by a determined Drom & Inch defence. Successive Colm Larkin points brought them to within four midway through the half but it was the closest they were to get to the Mid side.
Drom & Inch retaliated with a David Collins free before Seamus Callanan and Johnny Ryan linked up well to find Liam Ryan on the edge of the square and he finished high into the roof of the Borrisokane net to fire Drom eight points clear.
Credit to Borrisokane they almost netted a goal of their own minutes later when Gary Ryan’s shot seemed destined for the top corner but just shaved the wrong side of the post.
Borrisokane kept plugging away Colm Larkin floating over a 54th minute free before Drom were reduced to 14 after Emmet Moloney was dismissed after picking up a black card on top of an earlier yellow.
Philip Austin added two more points as the game wound down to its inevitable conclusion with Drom & Inch running out eventual and deserving five-point winners and will face Upperchurch/Drombane in the final on St Stephen's Day in Boherlahan at 1.00pm

MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch)
Scorers - Drom: David Collins 1-3 (0-3 frees); Johnny Ryan 0-3; Liam Ryan 1-0; David Butler 0-1; Tommy Nolan 0-1.
Borrisokane: Philip Austin 0-5 (2 frees); Colm Larkin 0-3 (2 frees); Ger Reddan 0-1.

Drom & Inch: Shane Hassett (7), Michael Purcell (7), Michéal Butler (7), Michael Costello (7); Emmet Moloney (7), Seamus Callanan (7), Michael Campion (6); Johnny Ryan (8), Joe Lupton (7); Kevin Ahearn (7), David Collins (8), Jamie Bergin (7); David Butler (8), Tommy Nolan (9), Keith Nolan (Capt, 8).
Subs: James Woodlock (8) for Campion (12); Liam Ryan (7) for Lupton (ht); Kevin Butler (7) for Bergin (47); Jerome Ryan (6) for Ahearn (48); John Lillis (NR) for M. Butler (55).

Borrisokane: Enda Brennan (7), Seamus  Moriarty (7), Conor Forde (7), Cathal Dooley (7); Shane Nevin (8), Peter McSherry (7), Brian Davis (7); Seosamh Cleary (7), Andrew Austin (7); Ger Reddan (7), Gordon Harding (Capt 7), Shane Dooley (7); Brian Donnelly (7), Philip Austin (8), Colm Larkin (8).
Subs: Gary Ryan (7) for Donnelly (39); Conor Darcy (6) for Reddan (46).

Referee: Sean Bradshaw (Knockavilla Kickhams).