Intermediate Championship First Round (Sunday, 12th of August)

Lahardane...........0-13
The Neale...............2-04

Lahardane reached their second county intermediate semi-final after they saw off the challenge off The Neale in a tough physical match played at Glenhest at the weekend.

The visitors started stronger and opened a three point lead, all coming from the boot of captain Kevin Kennedy, two from frees and one from play. Lahardane responded with a fine point from Declan Leonard after working his way in from the end line,. This was followed up with a free from Cormac Rowland. The Neale corner forward Tony McTighe netted the first off his two first half goals after getting to the ball before goalkeeper Aidan McDonnell and then firing low into the corner off the net.

A major turning point came when the Neale midfielder David Hughes was sent off by the referee Peter Geraghty after he made a lunge at James Gillespie. Lahardane scored points from Gillespie and defender Anthony McDermott, however McTighe netted again after slipping in behind John McDonnell and palming into the net. Rowland again slotted another free to leave a five point gap between the teams at the interval, The Neale 2-04 to 0-05 for Lahardane.

The Neale decided to try and defend their five point interval lead by packing their defence and leaving only three players in attack. Lahardane manager Ray Dempsey made a double substitution by introducing Trevor Marley and Gerry Burke at half time, Marley slotted in at full back with J.J. Leonard moving to midfield, this had an immediate effect as the home side totally dominated possession, however scores were hard to come by and they had only one point pulled back by the fifteenth minute with a Declan Leonard point. Cormac Rowland who had a rather subdied first half slowly but surley began to show his undoubted class, pointed twice from play, Gillespie rowed in with a 45, no mean achievement on a wet evening.

At this stage The Neale had no shape and were being totally outplayed as they tried to cling desperately to whatever lead they could maintain. This tactic totally backfired and on the odd occaisions they did enter the opponents defence they were met with a stonewall defence, lead by Trevor Marley, Brian Rowland and the McDermott brothers.

With the sides level with very few minutes remaining Rowland pointed from play and again from a free and Declan Leonard also scored a point from play to see their side run out winners and advance to another county semi final where they face an experienced Kiltimagh team who defeated last years junior champions Killala on Sunday.

In the winners defence Brian Rowland played the extra man role perfectly, while Ray and Anthony McDermott and Trevor Marley were solid. J. J. Leonard had one of his best games ever for his club, James Gillespie was as consistent as usual at midfield and up front Cormac Rowland and Declan Leonard were in fine scoring form, while Shane Blake, Vinny Cawley and John Rowland worked tirelessly in the latter stages of the game.

Lahardane: A. McDonnell, R. McDermott, J.J. Leonard, J. McDonnell, B. Rowland, A. McDermott (0-01); M. Marley, J. Gillespie (0.02); D. Kelly, P. Rowland, S. Blake, J. Rowland, D. Leonard (0.03); C. Rowland (0.07); V. Cawley.
Subs.: T. Marley (for D. Kelly); G. Burke (for P. Rowland).