Sean McDermotts 1-8
John Mitchels 1-7
IT was first blood to Sean McDermotts after they came away from Pairc na hÉireann on Sunday with a narrow Football League Division One victory over John Mitchels.
In a lively encounter Mitchels used the wind advantage in the first-half to open up a four point lead by the interval only to be pegged back and overtaken by a McDermotts side buoyed by a Joe Owens goal and four second-half points by substitute Antony Moriarty.
An expectant crowd turned out for this first clash between last year’s Warwickshire finalists, both sides fielding new players who had a sizeable impact on the game. It was the familiar touch of Paul Garvey, who had Mitchels on the early front foot, two points (one free) in the opening few minutes.
Mitchels were gelling nicely in attack, reacting well to kick-outs and creating chances for their full-forwards; two golden goal opportunities went astray midway through the half though as first Brendan Hickey forced a diving save out of Macauley Felgate before the corner-forward rattled the crossbar moments later, Enda Molloy diverting the follow up wide.
A long ball into the goalmouth resulted in a first point of the afternoon for Macs, James McDowell collecting the ball to hook over from 20 metres out.
Mitchels continued to pile the pressure on down at the other end, Garvey launching a superb sideline effort between the posts before Cormac Glynn shimmied his way into the danger zone to place a shot over the bar.
Growing in confidence they added further scores through Enda Molloy and Glynn once more, only for Mark Quinn to blast over the bar in response for McDermotts.
Trailing by four at the change of ends, McDermotts started the second-half with the wind at their backs and a renewed impetus. Owens latched onto a pass out wide on the right to skilfully dissect the posts, before bringing the sides level with the first goal.
It came from a move instigated by Ryan Bennett; the wing-back lobbing in a teasing ball enabling Owens to scoop up the ball and fire home. McDermotts introduced Moriarty at this point and two firmly struck frees by the substitute put his side into the lead for the first time.
Mitchels needed a response; which they duly found to re-establish their lead courtesy of a fortuitous goal. Galvanised by that goal, Mitchels swept forward to release Garvey for his fourth point, but it proved to be their final score of the afternoon.
Needing a couple of scores to draw level, McDermotts pushed forward and grabbed the first when an alert Owens pinched the ball inside the 45 to fire over the bar before Moriarty collected a Bennett pass to equalise.
With the game up for grabs, a winner came in the closing moments as McDowell launched a long ball that eventually found the hands of Moriarty, who made no mistake from 15 metres.
So another tight game between the big two in Warwickshire ends with a narrow victory for McDermotts, who now move four points clear of their rivals at the top of the league.
At the other end, Roger Casements came away from Nottingham with their own one-point victory over St Barnabas to ease their relegation fears. Barnabas remain at the foot of the table with two games to play.
Man of the match:
Joe Owens (Sean McDermotts)
Particularly prominent in the second-half, added to his goal with telling contributions as Macs hit the attack button.
Score of the match:
Judging the wind to perfection, Paul Garvey’s superbly struck side line ball was the pick of the scores.
Turning point:
The turning point was literally the turnaround at half-time, the wind advantage helped to dictate the direction of play.
Wides: Sean McDermotts (2) 9, John Mitchels (6) 7
Frees: Sean McDermotts (8) 12, John Mitchels (6) 18
Yellow Cards: Sean McDermotts 2 (Ted Duffy 21; Mark Quinn 44), John Mitchels 0
Scorers:
Sean McDermotts: J Owens 1-2, A Moriarty 0-4 (2fs), J McDowell 0-1, M Quinn 0-1
John Mitchels: P Garvey 0-4 (1f), B Hickey 1-0, C Glynn 0-2, E Molloy 0-1
Teams:
Sean McDermotts: M Felgate; C Folan, M McMahon, L Gilbride; P Quaid, N Gilbride, R Bennett; A Willis, N McCooey; J Dowling, T Duffy, J McDowell; C Dowling, M Quinn, J Owens. Subs: D Staunton for J Dowling (30 mins), A Moriarty for Duffy (40 mins)
John Mitchels: A Doyle; C Clifford, P Donnelly, C Brough; F Doyle, P McCloskey, E Sheridan; D Waldron, L Hayes; P Hickey, C Glynn, S Smith; B Hickey, P Garvey, E Molloy. Subs: S Hennessy for McCloskey (20 mins), R Curley for Donnelly (50 mins)
