Corcoran bullet fires Saints to second championship win
St Malachy's 1-15 Milltownpass 3-6
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David Lynch, St Malachy’s, is closed down by Shane Corcoran, Milltownpass, in Sunday’s IFC game at Springfield.Image 2 of 3
Johnny Bermingham, St Malachy’s, is faced by Noel O’Reilly, Milltownpass, in Saturday’s IFC game at Springfield.Image 3 of 3
Niall O’Brien, St Malachy’s, in possession, with Liam O’Reilly, Milltownpass, moving in to challenge, in Sunday’s IFC game.St Malachy’s repeated their 1-15 tally of the first round to secure a three-point victory over Milltownpass, who are still chasing their first win, in Section B of the Intermediate Football Championship, at Springfield on Sunday.
Milltownpass led by 2-5 to 1-6 at half-time, following a very entertaining first half in which the lead changed hands. The Castletown Geoghegan men were 0-4 to 0-1 clear and playing all the football before Liam Brennan found the net in style, while Liam Gorman raced through to fire home his side’s second major, despite Alan Mangan’s partial save.
Remarkably, Milltownpass led by 2-3 to 0-4 when Liam Gorman added a point, but after 27 minutes, Shane Corcoran’s powerful effort found the net to give St Malachy’s renewed hope at the interval.
The contest ebbed and flowed again with a third Milltownpass major - Liam Brennan again the finisher with a low strike from a penalty after Shane Corcoran was challenged - making it 3-5 to 1-7 in their favour after 38 minutes.
However, they endured almost 20 barren minutes as St Malachy’s scored six unanswered points, taking a strong grip on the game with Neal Kirby and David Lynch on target from frees and Cian Gavigan, Morgan Gavigan and Shane Corcoran all chipping in with points from play.
It was 1-13 to 3-5 in St Malachy’s favour after 56 minutes and a crucial moment came in the 48th minute when Milltownpass substitute Alan Farrell (after a terrific forward surge) went down under heavy pressure from ‘keeper Alan Mangan, but a free out was awarded.
Shane Corcoran’s point on 57 minutes was Milltownpass’ only score in a 24-minute period of the second half and therein lies their downfall.
Without players such as Brandon Kelly, Finbar Coyne and Sam Duncan, Milltownpass are struggling to hit the high notes and players of that calibre would be a major loss to any side. As for St Malachy’s, they march on and look to have the scoring power to top this weaker section.
Scorers - St Malachy’s: S Corcoran 1-3, N Kirby 0-3 (2f), N O’Brien 0-2, C Gavigan 0-2 (1f), J Bermingham, M Gavigan, P Murphy, D Lynch (free) and D Ruane 0-1 each. Milltownpass: L Brennan 2-0, L Gorman 1-1, E Gorman 0-4 (2f), S Corcoran 0-1.
St Malachy’s: Alan Mangan; David Maloney, Aaron Glennon, Eoin Kiernan; Peter Murphy, Johnny Bermingham, Odhran Gavigan; Cian Gavigan, David Lynch; Shane Corcoran, Morgan Gavigan, Shane Clavin; Neal Kirby, Niall O’Brien, Jack Gallagher. Subs: Darren Ruane for Maloney (45), Naoise McKenna for A Glennon (49), Aonghus Clarke for O Gavigan (49), Conor Murphy for O’Brien (49), N O’Brien for C Gavigan (55).
Milltownpass: Ruairí Coyne; Paul O’Reilly, Liam O’Reilly, Darragh O’Connor; David Manning, Noel O’Reilly, Michael McCormack; Gavin Glennon, Shane Flanagan; Liam Gorman, Shane Corcoran, Tony Loftus; Liam Brennan, Evan Gorman, Seamus Faulkner. Subs: Alan Farrell for G Glennon (inj., 40), Andy Devine for O’Connor (45), Eoin Gallagher for Faulkner (52), Sam Duncan for Manning (59).
Ref: Derek Heffernan (Killucan).