Posted online: Jul 27th, 2010

Busanna Feda O Donaill Intermediate Football Championship

Urris                  0-08

MacCumhaill’s   2-10

By Johnny Craig

Sports Editor

Urris’ passage to the second round of the Intermediate Championship

will be determined by a play-off after MacCumhaills atoned for the

Inishowen side’s win at Ballybofey with a comfortable victory in

Clonmany on Saturday evening.

John Friel’s side’s win at Donegal HQ earlier in the month raised a few

eyebrows, against a side who had aspirations of playing in this year’s

Donegal Senior Championship. But in the return leg they were outplayed

for long periods and will need a major improvement if they are to

advance in the play-off.

Urris began the game in determined fashion with Ciaran Friel clipping

the left post with a well struck shot and Peter Devlin forcing a full stretch save from Chris Patton in the Ballybofey goal.

MacCumhaill’s settled and hit the front with scores from play by

Darren O’Leary and Benny McLaughlin but Urris were more than a match

for them in the opening 15 minutes and deservedly equalised with

scores from Donal Kelly and Alan Friel.

That was to be as good as it got for the Inish side however as

MacCumhaill’s hit a purple patch shortly afterwards to put clear water

between the sides.

Following a well taken score from O’Leary on the left they hit the

first of their two goals on 17 minutes when a deep ball in by Bernard

McGeehan found the unmarked O’Leary who turned and drilled the ball

high to the roof of the net.

MacCumhaill’s ruthlessly attacked in the run up to the interval with

O’Leary again splitting the posts and Benny McLaughlin adding another

brace.

Significantly the Ballybofey side registered only one wide in the

first half while Urris had four and although they sent over two late

points from Donal and Eddie Kelly, MacCumhaill’s went in at halftime

in the driving seat with a five point advantage.

Urris started the second half well but failed to turn their possession

into scores and they were punished for that when the visitors

stretched their lead to seven points with scores from McGeehan and

another from Benny McLaughlin.

The hosts were beginning to build good phases of possession and,

although they pulled scores back through the in-form Peter Devlin and

an Eddie Kelly free, too often sloppy passing gave MacCumhaill’s the

initiative to attack on the break.

With ten minutes remaining McGeehan capitalised on indecision in the

in the Urris defense to claim a loose ball and drill it to the net to

put the result beyond doubt.

With seven minutes remaining Urris came a whisker away from closing

the gap when towering midfielder Liam Diver’s fisted effort from a

deep ball in by Mickey Grant stubbed the left post.

As the game drew to a close Shaun McGeoghan sent over a booming longrange score while Eddie Kelly and Mark McLaughlin hit consolation

scores for Urris to reduce their winning margin to eight points.

URRIS: Johnny Noone, Sean Doherty, Martin Kelly, Mickey Grant, Sean

McDaid, Phil Pat Doherty, Damien Harkin, Eddie Kelly, Liam Diver, Mark

McLaughlin, Peter Devlin, Alan Friel, Darragh Doherty, Donal Kelly,

Ciaran Friel. SUBS: Paddy Doherty for M Kelly, Adrian Doherty for C Friel

MACCUMHAILLS: Chris Patton, Mick Connolly, Shane McNulty, Garvan

Mulligan, Gary Dunnion, Joe Dunnion, Pat McNulty, Shaun McGeoghan,

Maurice Lafferty, Packie Gallon, Bernard McGeehan, Chris McDaid, Benny McLaughlin, Darren O’Leary, Paddy Kelly

REFEREE: Sean McLaughlin