Armagh Intermediate Championship Final

Keady Michael Dwyers v. St. Michael’s Newtown

Keady : 1.04 – Newtown : 1.10

Sunday evening at the Athletic Grounds provided the backdrop for this Intermediate Championship Final clash between Keady Michael Dwyers and neighbours St. Michael’s of Newtown. This was a game that was as intense as it was fast-paced and a game where the hunger and determination of Newtown proved a hurdle too far for a below par Dwyers side.  Both teams served up the expected game of end to end football and despite a spirited Keady performance in the second half they were made to rue eight unanswered points from St. Michael’s in the first half as the Atty Hearty Cup made its way back to Newtown.

The match started at pace and two quickfire points from Newtown’s Kevin Murray and Kevin Carragher gave them the early initiative and a lead that they would not relinquish throughout the game and although Keady did carve out opportunities a lack of composure resulted in a couple of early wides. Newtown’s superior aerial presence in midfield was evident from the start as they won the majority of the kick outs and it was midfield that provided the basis of many of Newtown’s attacking moves and one of these plays gave Paul O’Rourke the chance to extend their lead before corner forward Kevin Murray converted a ’50 as St. Michael’s opened up a four point lead. While Newtown were dominating the scoreboard they were not having it all their own way on the pitch as Keady battled to gain a foothold in the match but a number of Keady attacks were dealt with by the opposition defence. However, three more points for Newtown from Murray, Carragher and Brendan Davidson showed their clinical ability in front of goal and Keady were looking at entering the half-time break without a point on the board.  A Paul O’Rourke free compounded Keady’s misery with minutes remaining of the first half but Keady were offered a glimpse of hope just before the whistle as a swift Keady move found Chrissy Woods in space and although Woods’ goalbound drive was parried by the Newtown ‘keeper Raymy Mullen was quickest to react and bundled the ball over the line to leave five points between the sides and Newtown with one hand on the cup.

HT - Keady Michael Dwyers : 1.00 - St. Michael's Newtown : 0.08

Whilst the first half belonged to St. Michael’s the second half started much brighter for Keady and although wides came from Ryan Comiskey, Ryan McGale and Richie Brennan in the first two minutes the Dwyers were making runs and getting into spaces that weren’t there in the first half. Keady made changes to their structure as Kevin Rafferty came on for Conor Nugent in midfield and Barry Hughes and Dean Nugent replaced Mark Hughes and Ryan Comiskey in the forward line and after a Kevin Carragher point for Newtown it was substitute Barry Hughes who got Keady’s first point of the game, ably converting a long range free. Another point from Carragher temporarily extended the lead for the blue and whites. Keady came close to putting another dent in the deficit as Raymy Mullen’s placed shot drew a fine save from the ‘keeper and the rebound from Barry Hughes was blocked again but the ball was worked out to Barry Toal who calmly slotted it over the bar. Keady needed a goal at this stage with just over ten minutes left of the match and after another goalmouth scramble Barry Hughes received the ball outside the box before being abruptly stopped in his tracks but he was able to hit the resulting free over the bar. After the game was seemingly out of reach for Keady for so long Hughes’ score put the Dwyers back within four points of St. Michael’s and after a fine angled point from Ryan McGale left just a goal between the teams Keady felt that this game was theres for the taking but it wasn’t to be. Newtown thought they had secured the win as a long ball into the Keady box found its way into the net but the goal was correctly adjuged as a square ball but almost immediately, a long ball from the sideline provided a carbon copy of the Newtown goal only this time the green flag was waved. The goal was harsh on Keady and with so little time remaining it killed their spirits, leaving the referee to blow for full time and cue the Newtown celebrations as they secured a trophy that hadn’t been theirs since 1999.

This was a disappointing end to a thrilling championship campaign for the Dwyers but credit has to go to an organised and hungry Newtown side that edged the game overall. The club would like to thank all involved with this team for the effort and commitment shown throughout the year and an Intermediate Championship title would have been a just reward for everyone but the lads will now regroup and will no doubt come back stronger for the experience.  St. Michael’s now go on to meet Donegal side Fanad Gaels in the Ulster Intermediate Club Championship and we wish them the best of luck in the competition.

Keady : Adam Ashforth, Philip Kirk, Stephen Murray, Raymond Mullen, Paul McCormack, Paul Gollogly, Barry Toal, Richard Brennan, Conor Nugent (Kevin Rafferty), Ryan Comiskey (Dean Nugent), Paul Murray (Ronan Toal), Christopher Courtney, Ryan McGale, Christopher Woods, Mark Hughes (Barry Hughes).

Subs Not Used : Ryan Smyth, David Boylan, David O’Hea, Brendan Comiskey, Gerard Enright, Conor Hughes, Martin Toner, Barry Scully, Gerard Toal, John Corvan, Joseph Burke, Arthur Mone, Padraig Nugent, Paddy Smyth, Paul Keenan.