Shercock edge close tussle with the 'Bridge

Intermediate Football Championship round 1

Shercock 0-13

Butlersbridge 0-12

Shercock got their campaign off to a great start with this hard-earned win over Butlersbridge at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday evening.

The O’Hagan Park men, who last won this competition in 2017, came through with a point to spare having trailed by two points with 10 minutes to go.

This was a low-key affair with plenty of scrappy play and missed chances but a sprinkling of quality scores too. The sides matched each other most of the way; by half-time, it was 0-6 apiece and the teams had been level five times.

Caoimhin O’Reilly, home from the USA, opened the scoring with a free which was cancelled out by a well-taken left-footed Ryan Clerkin effort.

Niall Clerkin, also with a nice one off the left, and O’Reilly (free) traded scores before Ryan Clerkin opened up the defence with a good pass and Niall Clerkin scored, this time with the right.

An O’Reilly free and a super Kevin McPhilips effort made it 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Gabriel Keogan’s side, who extended their lead through O’Reilly after good work from Killian Leddy.

Shercock, for whom Killian Clarke was dominant in midfield, missed a couple of long-range frees but when Sean Clarke took over dead ball duties, he nailed two good ones.

O’Reilly registered from another free before probably the best score of the game, an eye-catching Conor McIntyre effort for Shercock left it all square at the break.

Niall Clerkin raised a white flag after Sean Clarke’s free hit the woodwork on the resumption and Clerkin quickly added another.

Killian Clarke, now in the full-forward line, had a goal chance at this point but it was well saved by Michael Sheridan. Three in a row for Caoimhin O’Reilly (the first two of them frees) saw the Bridge take the lead – and they could have been further ahead but for a spectacular Shay Rooney save from Andy McConnell.

Liam McEntee sent over a fine point to make it 0-10 to 0-8 approaching the home straight but Shercock finished stronger. Niall Clerkin and Sean Clarke raised white flags, the latter a super effort from 35 metres, and although Killian Leddy fisted one in reply, Shercock finished strongest.

Sean Clarke and Niall Clerkin, with a fisted effort after the Bridge dropped an easy chance short at the other end, helped Peter McKeown’s side into a two-point lead and although Liam McEntee replied, Shercock had done enough and held on for an important opening round win.

Shercock: Shay Rooney, Micheál O’Reilly, Colin Clerkin, Michael Morrissey, Conor Ruxton, Aistis Paskevicius, Daniel Clarke, Killian Clarke, Sean Clarke (0-5, 2f), Darren O’Reilly, Ryan Clerkin (0-1), Damien McIntyre, Niall Clerkin (0-5), Conor McIntyre (0-1), Shane Clarke

Subs: Andrew Culleton for A Paskevicius (23), Fintan McIntyre for C Ruxton (temp, 27, reversed 30), Fintan McIntyre for D O’Reilly (53)

Butlersbridge: Michael Sheridan, Fionn Murtagh, Patrick Flynn, Andrew McConnell, Cillian Murphy, Kevin McPhilips (0-1), Shane Leddy, Cathal Leddy, Ciaran O’Reilly, Killian Leddy (0-1), Patrick McPhilips, Jack Graham, Sean T Murphy, Caoimhin O’Reilly (0-8, 6f), Liam McEntee (0-2)

Subs: Dara Dempsey for J Graham (44), Caolan Smith for C Murphy (54), Diarmuid McCorry for F Murtagh (55), Peter Conaty for K McPhilips (58)

Ref: Padraig Sheridan