Shercock deservedly secure promotion to Division 1

ACFL Division 2 semi-final

Shercock 1-21

Kilygarry 1-13

Paul Fitzpatrick at Dolan Park

A tremendous second-half performance from Shercock saw them secure promotion to Division 1 of the All-County Football League after an impressive win over a disappointing Killygarry.

Killygarry, Senior Championship finalists three years ago, came into the match as favourites but, for the second year in succession, they built up a good lead in the league semi-final only to be overhauled on the run-in. This was a bitterly disappointing loss for the Crubany-based side; while they were without the injured Cian Reilly and Darragh Lovett, they still fielded a strong side but they had no answer to Shercock’s second-half onslaught.

And this was no smash-and-grab; Shercock, who had a poor day on frees, could have won by more. They had stand-out performers all over the pitch, with Killian Clarke calm and influential in the middle third, Sean Clarke overcoming some early misses to produce a flurry of brilliant points when the pressure was on and sub Eoin Morrissey excelling when introduced. Niall Clerkin was also coolness personified throughout.

A Conor Smith goal on 11 minutes put some daylight between the teams after close early exchanges and Kilygarry led by 1-10 to 0-7 with 25 minutes on the stopwatch. The gap was five at half-time but Shercock hung in there, drew level and powered away on the home stretch.

Killygarry opened a three-point lead early on with a two-pointer from Oisin Brady and a single from Daragh Noonan after a Conor Smith lay-off. The eventual losers played some lovely football in the first half, Martin Reilly gathering breaks at midfield and finding Smith and Brady with long, accurate kick-passes, but Shercock flooded that space in the second half and Killygarry had no response, landing just 0-3 in the final 35 minutes including injury time.

After Sean Clarke pointed a free, Shercock pinched two Killygarry kick-outs and Killian Clarke and Niall Clerkin punished them.

Cian Keaney (free) and Smith made it 0-5 to 0-3 before an excellent two-pointer from minor Roman Hrushchak.

Then came Killygarry’s goal, Reilly unselfishly squaring for Smith to palm home, and when Oisin Brady won a break and Brian Sheanon clipped over, Killygarry looked to be humming nicely.

Shercock responded through Killian Clarke and Hrushchack; Keaney hit back with a brace (one free) and a lovely move involving Reilly and Smith and finished by Brady made it 1-9 to 0-7.

Keaney extended the lead and, at this stage, six up with five first-half minutes remaining, Killygarry were in command. Shercock registered three wides in the closing stages of the first half, with Killian Clarke knocking over a free, as the sides went in with five between them.

Shercock had the wind in the second half but it was a gentle breeze at best and there was no sense they would win going away by eight, even after Kilian Clarke kicked a super point from play and Clerkin added a free.

Eoin Morrissey spurned a good goal chance and a two-point free was sent wide by Shercock but, on 44 minutes, a two-point free from Sean Clarke made it a one-point game and now it was up for grabs.

Conor Smith landed an important score for Killygarry but Shercock smelled blood. After a free-in for Shercock was over-turned and thrown up, Morrissey pointed with a terrific strike. With sub Shane McElroy making an impact around the middle, Shercock went for it and Morrissey landed a spectacular point from the right wing.

At the other end, Noonan drove over a point from a Brady lay-off but a massive two-pointer from Sean Clarke, who beat a couple of defenders round the outside, into the dressing-room end nudged Shercock in front for the first time with six minutes of normal time remaining.

On the run-in, Shercock couldn’t miss. Niall Clerkin teed Morrissey up and he clipped over off the right; although Kevin Lovett replied, Sean Clarke curled one in from the right wing – and then came the goal.

Hrushchak and Eoin Morrissey combined as a counter-attacking Shercock, with men over, cut through the centre and walked it in, Michael Morrissey finishing the move and making it 1-18 to 1-13.

Shercock poured forward and Niall Clerkin landed another excellent point, falling away – and Killian Clarke crowned an excellent performance with a two-point free from the hands as the O’Hagan Park men rounded off a memorable victory in the week that their minors came close to winning a Division 1 league title.

For Killygarry, this defeat will feel like a large setback; their demotion to Division 2 was a surprise when it happened but a third successive season out of the top flight is now assured.

Shercock: Aaron Smith, Conor Ruxton, Colin Clerkin, Noel McIntyre, Roman Hrushchak (0-3, 2pt), Michael Morrissey (1-0), Fintan McIntyre, Damien McIntyre, Lee Browne, Conor McIntyre, Killian Clarke (0-6, 1f, 2ptf), Philip Clerkin, Niall Clerkin (0-3, 1f), Sean Clarke (0-6, 1f, 2ptf, 2pt), Stephen Donnery

Subs: Eoin Morrissey (0-3), Shane McElroy

Killygarry: Darragh Gilsenan, Kevin Lovett (0-1) Anselm Lovett, David Talbot, Jamie McDonald, Brian Sheanon (0-1), Daragh Kennedy, Ryan Brady, Daniel Walsh, Martin Reilly, Ben Mooney, Daragh Noonan (0-2), Cian Keaney (0-4, 2f), Oisin Brady (0-3, 2pt), Conor Smith (1-2)

Subs used: Neil Reilly, Killian Reilly, Charlie Fallon

Ref: Ciaran Daly