Final Score: St Finian’s 1-12 Innisfails GAA 0-11
With a Junior 1 Championship quarter final to come in 2 weeks, the Men’s adult footballers went to Balgriffin to take on Innisfails in the last group 3 game on Sunday morning.
The opening few minutes proved to be a scrappy affair with both teams trying to get themselves into the contest. The opening score going to Innisfails on 3 minutes with a well taken free.
The opening score for Finian’s came on 5 minutes when Scott Brennan found himself in some space to stick over a brilliant score.
With both teams turning over the ball between each other. The score of the first half came on 19 minutes when Conor Halpin picked up the ball 40 meters from goal and produced a fantastic run while being closely marked, and stuck over a great individual point.
Stand out performer on the day Fiachra Comber who had produced a brilliant first half performance and was rewarded with the first of his 2 scores after 22 minutes. A well worked team move finished to keep the gap between the teams.
Other scorers in the half Brandon Caffrey (0-01) Conor Halpin (0-04) The First half finishing with Finian’s leading by 0-7 to 0-4
The second half started with a much better tempo, a quick worked score from Conor Halpin from the throw in, kept Innisfails at bay.
With 9 minutes gone in the second half, came the crucial goal. A great ball played into Scott Brennan who managed to turn his marker striking the ball off the posts. The ball stopped dead just before the line which was then turned in by Brandon Caffrey.
In a rare once in a couple seasons sight, Conor Collier produced a great point on 42 minutes, running through the middle unmarked and popping over a fine score off the right foot.
With the team never in danger of getting a result they were able to freshen things up in the second half with the introduction of Paddy Hattie, Ciaran McGrath, Stephen Donnelly, Sean Halpin & Liam Keirnan. All players making a real contribution to the result.
Other second half scores Eoin O’Connor (0-01) Fiachra Comber (0-01) Scott Brennan (0-01)
Notable stand out performers on the day Fiachra Comber, David Butler, Patrick Dunne, Shane Ainsworth & Lee Kavanagh.
The team finished the group with 3 wins from 3.
Quarter Final v Crumlin on the 24/10/21 details to follow. All support would be greatly welcomed.
The team would also like to pay its respects to Daniel Murphy who recently passed away. He was a very close friend to a number of players on the team. Daniel would have played both hurling & Football at underage with both Finian’s and with Holy Family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Match report: Mark Murray, Photos: Tony McNamara
Our Mens 1st Football Team is proudly sponsored by Progressive Credit Union
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