Published: Wednesday, 18th November, 2009 2:38pm

Lavey's Ulster oddyssey continues

Lavey 1-14

Fanad Gaels 1-8

Lavey's impressive oddyssey tthough the Ulster Intermediate Football Championship continues unabated after they put highly-rated Donegal champions Fanad Gaels to the sword with a fantastic performance last Sunday in Enniskillen.

This was a win built on guts and belief, with Lavey overturning a five-point half-time deficit to totally outplay the Donegal side in the final 30 minutes.

With Darren Smith and Joey Jordan smothering a vaunted Fanad attack, fit-again Sean Maguire propelling them forward from midfield and Shane Tierney causing havoc in attack, Lavey were full value for their six-point lead by the time fussy referee Stephen McNamee sounded the long whistle.

Lavey had started comfortably enough and were 0-3 to 0-1 up after four minutes following points from Martin Cusack and precocious Tierney (two, one free).

Moving the ball at pace in what were excellent playing conditions for the time of year, Lavey looked impressive and they doubled their lead in the seventh minute with a free from Kevin Brady.

But Fanad - who brought a large support and came with a reputation as a tough outfit - were resilient and levelled the match with two fine scores, the first a cracker from 45 metres by centre-back Patrick McConigley, the former Donegal senior defender.

With their tails up, a physical Fanad poured forward and got their reward in the 13th minute when Ephraim McFadden won a break and set up onrushing full-forward Seamus Friel, who crashed the ball to Conor Martin's net from close range.

A sweet point from Aidan McAteer followed and another from Friel, another former Donegal panellist, opened a five point gap - 1-6 to 0-4 - on the 20-minute mark.

Scooping up the majority of breaks against a by-now strangely subdued Lavey, Fanad continued to threaten and added another through Davitt Walsh.

Darren Jordan, who was instrumental for Lavey in their county title win, stepped up to knock over a crucial point, Lavey's first in 22 minutes, to drag the New Inns men closer but Fanad's Friel cancelled this out with his third score seconds later to leave the Donegal champions 1-8 to 0-5 to the good at the break.

A quick start, you sensed, was absolutely vital if Lavey were to get anything from this match. In the raucous aftermath, manager Hyland stated that the dressing room at half-time was calm; to their credit, Lavey didn't panic on their re-appearance but succeeded in nervelessly upping their performance.

Pressuring the Fanad forward line into mistakes, Lavey looked to turn over possession through sheer persistence and move the ball at pace in the second half, and the ploy worked a treat.

A great score by Maguire from 30 metres roused the crowd in the 37th minute before Shane Tierney curled over a fine score from the next attack to cut the gap to three.

With Damien Smith fielding well, Lavey began to turn the screw at midfield and feed Tierney and Brady, who had looked dangerous throughout.

A brilliant point by Declan Murphy after a short 45 from Maguire made it a three-point game and suddenly, having played well within themselves for long periods, Lavey sensed that a place in the Ulster final was theirs for the taking.

Showing grit and a real fighting attitude, Lavey took it to Fanad, running at the Donegal defence at every chance. One such run by Maguire lead to a foul which Brady punished from the dead ball to level it in the 17th minute and another sweet Brady score, on the turn, made it 0-12 to 1-8 with 12 minutes on the clock.

A good score under pressure from Martin Cusack, after Joey Jordan turned over possession at the back, widened the gap to two as Fanad began to wobble.

A fine run and point by Murphy drew a massive cheer from the black and white support and within seconds the match was over, Kevin Brady finding Tierney with a weighted pass and the teenager scorching past the Fanad defence and slotting to the net from close range in injury time of a second half which barely afforded spectators time to draw breath.

Lavey will face Owen Mulligan's Cookstown, who pipped Monaghan Harps, in the final.

Lavey: Conor Martin, Fergal Smith, Darren Smith, Declan Conroy, Kevin Donohoe, Joey Jordan, Aaron Smith, Sean Maguire (0-1), Damien Smith, Kevin Brady (0-3), Declan Murphy (0-2), Stephen Jordan, Martin Cusack (0-2), Darren Jordan (0-2), Shane Tierney (1-4)

SUB: Karl Duke

Fanad Gaels: Mark McConigley, Patrick Heraghty, Cathal Martin, Francis Sweeney, William McAteer, Patrick McConigley (0-1), Fergal Friel, Eamonn Sweeney, Brendan Callaghan, Aidan McAteer (0-1), Ephraim McFadden, Michael Sweeney (0-1), Davitt Walsh (0-2), Seamus Friel (1-2), Ciaran McElwaine (0-1)

REF: Stephen McNamee (Tyrone)