By Conor Martin
Image courtesy Paul Barrett
Go-Ahead Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship winners Naomh Mearnóg are looking forward to a semi-final appearance this Saturday afternoon at Balgriffin when they take on Westmeath’s Garrycastle in the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship semi-final.
In the first round of the Leinster Intermediate Football Championship, Mearnóg beat Dundalk Gaels 0-8 to 0-7, with Seán Hawkshaw and Karl Lynch Bissett helping their side advance.
The Portmarnock club built on their county title and their first-round win in Leinster with a four-point win over Laois’ Crettyard in the quarter-final of the Leinster Championship.
They dominated the first-half of their quarter-final tie and had a healthy five-point lead, with Shane Kavanagh and Hawkshaw leading the way as the scoreboard showed a 0-6 to 0-1 lead at the break in favour of the Dubliners.
Cian Madden and Lynch Bissett continued their fine form they had shown in the Dublin Intermediate Football Championship, while late scores from Harry Collier and Eoin Kelly made sure they would advance.
Mearnóg have looked good at the best of times this year and were good value for the intermediate title this year. However, they’ll look for an improvement on their showing in the Leinster quarter-final and are more than capable of putting in just that given their options at the back and in attack as they look to keep their Leinster ambitions alive.
Garrycastle were crowned Westmeath Intermediate Football champions for the second time after winning the replay of the Westmeath decider.
Michael Monaghan was impressive in the first final, as was James Dolan, as Garrycastle did just enough to earn another shot at the title as it finished 0-9 to 1-6 before they won the replay 0-13 to 0-7.
They were made to work for a spot in the quarter-final and they dug deep and won 0-11 to 0-9 against Fenagh.
Michael Monaghan showed he can score from open play and the dead ball in that encounter while Conor Cosgrove and James Sheerin impressed.
Offaly’s Clonbullogue would await them in the quarter-final and Garrycastle would navigate that hurdle well and win by five points to set up this weekend’s clash.
Cosgrove was on form the last time out and troubled the scoreboard with six points, with half of those points coming from frees, as he and Michael Monaghan would settle the Westmeath intermediate champions into the tie. Andrew Monaghan had a selfless game and made things tick for Garrycastle with his ability to kick scores, win possession and set up attacks as they won without any late duress to progress.
After two gritty performances and a forward line high on momentum, the club from the Lake County will be keen to claim the scalp of the Dublin champions and seal a place in the Leinster final.
