Michael Walsh Intermediate League
We enjoyed a very good win against our neighbours Moy Davitts in the semi final of the Michael Walsh Intermediate League in Parke on a wet and windy Saturday evening.
We played with the aid of the wind in the first half but it was Moy Davitts who got the first score with a free after a few minutes. This was to be the one and only time they led in the game as we were soon level with a point from James Devaney which was followed by a great point from James Lavin and a goal by Mark Forkan.
We soon had the chance of a second goal only for Joe Kelly to have his shot pushed out for a 45 which was easily put over by Liam Moran. Our defence then put in a great effort to keep our opponents restricted to a third free before two fine points by Mark Forkan had us leading by 1-5 to 0-3 at the interval.
Straight away in the second half we were on the attack and Darren Campbell had a goal bound shot blocked down. Both teams swapped wides before Moy Davitts had their second black card and the resulting free was put over by Kevin McDonagh. Then came the score of the game a great catch by Joe Kelly from Sean Kavanagh kick out was passed to the running James Lavin who from out on the left curled over a lovely point. Some more wides from Moy Davitts were punished by a point from Fergal Harte making the run up the field from full back. We now led by 1-8 to 0-3 but the Moy Davitts men came back and scored the next four points, three from the placed ball.
Pat O’Neill made a number of changes bringing on Johnny Burke, Danny McNicholas and James Sweeney and Danny soon steadied the ship with a fine point.
With the clock approaching full time what appeared to be a clear penalty after James Sweeney was dragged down in the small area was given as a free out to the defending team and down the field the Davitts came and scored a point. From another dead ball they brought the game to within a goal with the game well into injury time but some graet defence work by Sean Kavanagh and the entire team brought the game to a conclusion by 1-9 to 0-9 and into the final we go.
Swinford: Sean Kavanagh, Steven McNicholas, Fergal Harte, Alan McLoughlin, Jason Carney, Sean Brady, James Lavin, Mark Forkan, Barry Brennan, John Carney, Liam Moran, Darren Campbell, Kevin McDonagh, Joe Kelly, James Devaney. Subs: Eoghan Gallagher, Kevin Barry, Johnny Burke, Danny McNicholas, James Sweeney, Kevin Doyle.
Scorers: Mark Forkan 1-2, James Lavin 0-2, James Devaney, Liam Moran, Kevin McDonagh, Fergal Harte, Danny McNicholas 0-1