Cuchulainns claim IFC crown in high-quality final

IFC final

Cuchulainns 0-24

Butlersbridge 0-18

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

After knocking on the door for a long number of years, Cuchulainns finally kicked it down with an impressive performance seeing off Butlersbridge in the Intermediate Championship final on Sunday.

The Cross-Mullagh men got off to a wonderful start, moving eight clear in nine minutes with a flawless exhibition but Butlersbridge, playing in their fourth final in this grade since 2020, came roaring back into the match, inspired chiefly by centre-forward Fionntán O'Reilly although others also impressed.

Keelan Melaniff’s men drew level and had momentum on their side but Cuchulainns, led by Evan Doughty and with Niall Magee and Ryan Tobin also vying for the Man of the Match award, weathered the storm and surged clear again in the final quarter for a warranted win after a high-quality match.

In the process, Niall Lynch’s charges became the first team to win all seven matches in the Intermediate Championship since this format was instigated in 2016.

In the first 10 minutes, Cuchulainns were awesome. Adam O’Reilly laid off to Evan Doughty, who soloed with the right and fisted over for the opening score after two minutes.

Doughty then turned provider, setting up O’Reilly for a point to make it 0-2 to 0-0. A free from Doughty made it three before captain Philip Smyth won the next kick-out, played a one-two with Doughty, and pointed.

The one-way traffic continued when Bryan Magee then ran at the ’Bridge defence and fed O’Reilly, who knocked over another.

It was champagne stuff at this early stage. When veteran Adrian Taite gathered possession outside the arc and, with nothing on, fired over a two-pointer, it was seven-nil after eight minutes. The next kick-out dropped into Taite’s hands again, and Cuchulainns worked it neatly for Adam O’Reilly to fire over; eight in it after nine minutes and the ’Bridge had barely registered a meaningful attack.

But the 2021 champions were not going to fade out that easily and they found a foothold when Diarmuid McCorry fed Fionntán O’Reilly who, under pressure, landed a fine two-pointer to get them moving.

Moments later, Niall Magee was swarmed in possession and the energetic Luke Allison worked the ball to Joe Dugdale for a neat score to make it 0-8 to 0-3 after 14 minutes.

Cuchulainns responded instantly, Evan Doughty doing well to create space before Tobin slotted over with the left. Caoimhin O’Reilly nailed a snapshot soon after but a burst of pace from Niall Magee saw him clip one over to restore Cuchulainns’ six-point cushion.

Caoimhin then combined cleverly with Cathal Leddy to create a goal chance for Shane Leddy, but Ryan Lennon saved brilliantly, turning it out for a 45. Butlersbridge worked it short and almost found the net again, Ciaran O’Reilly’s shot blocked down. They were now firmly in the contest, and after another one-two between Caoimhin and Shane Leddy, O’Reilly pointed with his right to make it 0-10 to 0-5 with 22 minutes on the clock.

Allison then robbed Taite at midfield and set up the towering Dugdale for a super score to cut the gap to four.

Cuchulainns almost grabbed a goal through Smyth moments later, but his low effort was saved by Michael Sheridan’s boot – and that miss looked costly when Fionntán O’Reilly produced a beautiful pass to open the defence and Allison clipped over to leave three in it.

Gilsenan, who had a fine game, steadied the ship with a strong run and point before Doughty (who had five direct assists) again laid off to the same man, who blasted over when a goal looked on.

Fionntán O’Reilly, profiting from Niall Carolan’s decision to step off, hit another superb two-pointer to cut the gap to three, but a slick move between Carolan and Doughty ended with the latter stroking over to restore a four-point lead.

Fionntán’s free with the last kick of the half left it 0-13 to 0-10 at the break, the ’Bridge having battled back bravely after Cuchulainns’ blistering start.

Niall Magee opened the second half with a sweet left-footed point to push it out to four but the Bridge hit back through a Caoimhin O’Reilly free after good work by Josh Mee.

The same player then had a wide before Fionntán turned over a short kick-out, and when Caoimhin’s goal effort was smothered, Fionntán followed up to clip one in off the upright. That left it 0-14 to 0-12 after 34 minutes, and suddenly the game was alive again.

Cuchulainns kicked their first wide of the day before Allison created a huge chance for Phillip Shannon, only for Lennon to again save superbly at the expense of a 45. Butlersbridge were on top, and a two-point free from Caoimhin O’Reilly tied the match at 0-14 apiece.

The quality and intensity were impressive at this stage as both sides went for it – but Cuchulainns responded like champions. Doughty fired over a settling score to edge them back in front, then Tobin, with a clever bounce dummy, clipped over another with his left.

Doughty followed up with a coolly-struck free from just inside the arc to make it 0-17 to 0-14 after 42 minutes. Both sides missed frees as nerves crept in before Dugdale bent over a lovely strike to close the gap once more.

But Cuchulainns always had an answer and when Niall Magee sprinted clear for a brilliant individual point, they looked composed. The ’Bridge pushed for a goal, Shane Leddy playing in Fionntán O’Reilly, but a desperate scramble ended with Lennon being fouled as the chance went begging.

With ten minutes left, Oisin Carolan carried the ball 30 metres before finding Bryan Magee, who fisted over. From the next kick-out, Cuchulainns moved it quickly again, Doughty storming forward and laying off for Adam O’Reilly to crown an outstanding individual campaign with another fisted point.

Tobin added another after a great team move, and although Fionntán O’Reilly replied with a tidy point, Cuchulainns were still four clear at 0-21 to 0-16.

A Carolan handpass was then intercepted but Tobin won it back brilliantly and drove it over on the turn to stretch the lead. The county star then joined the scoring act as the Cross-Mullagh men finished full of running, their athleticism and conditioning telling.

Fionntán O’Reilly, who was outstanding throughout, converted a two-point free late on to bring his tally to an impressive 0-9, but it only trimmed the deficit to five.

Lennon capped a superb display with another excellent save from Fionntán, before Caoimhin’s effort from the resulting 45 was deflected into the side netting. A couple of high deliveries were dealt with comfortably by Carolan and Smyth, and after a scrappy spell with injury delays, substitute Luke Doyle closed the scoring with a point in the 68th minute to complete a polished team display.

Cuchulainns: Ryan Lennon, Cian Doughty, Cian Donoghue, Ruairi O’Connell, Oisin Carolan, Niall Carolan (0-1), Ryan Tobin (0-4), Philip Smyth (0-1), Adrian Taite (0-2, 2pt), Turlough Farrelly, Evan Doughty (0-5, 2f), Mark Gilsenan (0-2), Niall Magee (0-3), Bryan Magee (0-1), Adam O’Reilly (0-4)

Subs: Oisin Donoghue for A Taite (51), Sean Kenny for M Gilsenan (52), Luke Doyle (0-1) for O Carolan (58), Glenn McCann for A O’Reilly (60), Conor O’Reilly for T Farrelly (63), Cillian McCabe for N Carolan (temp, 66)

Butlersbridge: Michael Sheridan, Conor Maguire, Diarmuid McCorry, Shane Leddy, Cillian Murphy, Kevin McPhillips, Phillip Shannon, Cathal Leddy, Ciaran O’Reilly, Davin Graham, Fionntán O’Reilly (0-9, 2 2pt, 2ptf, 1f), Joe Dugdale (0-3), Josh Mee, Caoimhin O’Reilly (0-5, 2ptf, 1f), Luke Allison (0-1)

Subs: Killian Leddy for J Mee (temp, 40, reversed 44), Eoin O’Reilly for C Murphy (52), Killian Leddy for L Allison (55), Fionn Murtagh for J Mee (59)

Ref: John Power

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