Islandeady 2-12  Davitts 0-13

An impressive Islandeady team got the better of Davitts in round 3 of the Intermediate Championship on Sunday to qualify for the quarter final where they will face Ballinrobe. The game was played in Tourmakeady, a top class venue for a big game, in front of a large attendance.

Islandeady shot the first two points of the game in the first and fifth minutes. Niall Treacy pulled one back for Davitts in the eighth minute before Islandeady pointed in the 9^th, 12^th and 18^th minutes to lead by four. This could have been more but for an excellent save by Davitts keeper Ronan McNamara in the 17^th minute. Liam Kearns pointed for Davitts in the 23^rd minute a score that was cancelled out two minutes later by a similar score for Islandeady. Davitts finished the half very well though and points from Dylan Gallagher and Niall Treacy (2) reduced the deficit to the minimum before Islandeady pointed with the last kick of the half to lead by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

The young Davitts team needed a good start to the second half but it was Islandeady that got a crucial goal in the third minute to go five points clear. Colm Boyle and Fenton Kelly narrowed the gap with points in the 39^th and 40^th minutes. Islandeady replied with a 42^nd minute point but Fenton Kelly and Colm Boyle shot two more in the 44^th and 46^th minutes to narrow the gap to two at the three quarter stage of the game. Islandeady pointed in the 51^st and 56^th minutes with Fenton Kelly hitting one for Davitts in the 57^th minute. Islandeady punished some slack defending with their second goal in the 58^th minute. Davitts, not going down without a fight, fired over two points from Colm Boyle, Niall Treacy but they were unable to get through for a goal thanks to Islandeady’s packed and well organised defence. Islandeady pointed in the 62^nd minute and Dylan Gallagher shot the game’s final score in the closing seconds.

Best for Davitts in this game were Jordan Flanagan, Sean Keadin, Cathal Higgins, the outstanding Fenton Kelly, Jack Melvin, Dylan Gallagher, Colm Boyle and Niall Treacy. While the defeat will hurt, the young players will have learned a lot from three tough championship games and they can look forward to next season with confidence. 

Davitts: Ronan McNamara, Mark Ronayne, Jordan Flanagan, Sean Keadin, Fenton Kelly (0-3), Thomas Ronayne, Cathal Higgins, Mark Birmingham, Jack Melvin, Dylan Gallagher (0-2), Liam Kearns (0-1), Brian Og McTigue, Colm Boyle (0-3), Shane Treacy, Niall Treacy (0-4). Subs used: Darragh McGale, Ryan McLoughlin, Tom Corless, Kieran Fahy, Stephen Nyland.