St Mary’s rediscover form to storm past Gaels in relegation replay

St Mary’s Kiltoghert breathed a sigh of relief in Manorhamilton on Saturday evening as they saw off Melvin Gaels 2-21 to 0-14 to avoid the drop to intermediate football next season.

As a rule, relegation finals are grim affairs. Men plugging away late in the season, nothing to win and everything to lose. A relegation final replay is an extra level of torture altogether. 

It is hard to imagine Kinlough didn’t come into it somewhat deflated that they did not get the job done two weeks ago in Ballinaglera, where they caught Mary's on the hop and almost won a famous upset.

Meanwhile, the late news that the Kinlough men would have to play without their rapid centre back Liam Ryan will hardly have helped their mood or their chances heading into the game.

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St Mary's, who were shocked to be anywhere near a relegation final two weeks ago, having come into the season with realistic hopes of challenging for the Fenagh cup, were double-shocked that they came so close to being relegated last time out against the north Leitrim men. 

To say they came correct this time around would be an understatement.

The difference in energy, attitude, and intensity from the start was unbelievably stark. Mary’s plunged forward with numbers and intent, finding big holes in the Gaels’ defence and enjoying huge success with kick passes to their inside forwards early on.

Melvin Gaels didn’t manage to get up to the pace until the second half, where they put in a tenacious fight back, winning the half, getting to grips in the midfield where they were totally absent in the first half, and hitting some impressive two pointers in the process but with a 2-14 to 0-3 lead for Mary’s by half time the game was effectively over.

The writing was on the wall early as St Mary's got off to a flying start, with corner forward Cian Singleton getting on the end of a kick inside from Conor Farrell on their first attack.

 Two minutes later, Mary’s came on the counterattack off a turnover, running hard through a wide open defence, and a slip pass from Adam Reynolds set Nicky McWeeney up for their first goal of the game.

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Their dominance up front continued as they pulled ahead without response through points from Paul Keaney, Conor Hackett, Daire Farrell, Singleton, and Brian Keaney for the next ten minutes.

Finally, Melvin Gaels hit back when Conor Sheeridan found a pocket in the crowded Mary defence and slotted over on his right boot.

Mary’s responded with a flurry of scores, with Paul Keaney hitting two points from frees and one from play, while cornerback Ashley Maziya surged forward to fist the ball over from close range, finishing off a massive break that could easily have ended in a goal.

Melvin Gaels cut frustrated and exhausted figures as St Mary’s turned over a Kinlough attack and broke hard with numbers and few Kinlough men in tow, giving them a five or six on three advantage over the defensive. There was only going to be one result as Jack Casey palmed the ball to the net.

Two more points for Brian Keaney, and one a piece for Adam Reynolds and Jack Casey finished the half for Mary’s, while Micheál Ferguson converted a pair of free kicks from around the small arch to close the gap somewhat heading into the break.  

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The break was much needed for the Gaels, who looked far more composed after the restart — attacking with more structure and physicality, and finally winning a share of possession around midfield.

Peter McGowan scored a left-footed point in front of goal in the first point after latching onto the break from a high Jamie Moore kick inside. 

In response, Paul Keaney hit over two points; one from a tight angle on the right and another from just inside the arch.

Kinlough’s two-point shooting was strong in the second half as Micheál Ferguson and Jack Ronayne both slotted over long-range frees.

Joe McGloin converted a single free while Nicky McWeeney pointed from the left side of the field.

Eoghan Gallagher had a shot on goal saved by a steady Killian Gaffey.

There were a couple of points for Cian Reynolds, and Conor Farrell hit a rangy shot from the edge of the arch just past the diving hands of Padraig Sheeridan.

Melvin Gael saw out the game with a couple of two-pointers from Jor McGloin and Jack Ronayne, while Cian Reynolds hit one more for the Carrick on Shannon men.

St Marys survive another year of at senior level while Melvin Gaels will have to regroup as they take the plung straight back down to intermediate football.

Team 

 Killian Gaffey; Adam Reynolds; Mark Diffley; Ashlei Maziya; Diarmaid Kelleher; Nicky McWeeney; Kyle McCrann; James McGreal; Conor Farrell; Conor Hackett; Paul Keaney; Daire Farrell; Jack Casey; Brian Keaney; Cian Singleton. Subs: Cian Reynolds for Cian SingletonSenan Bohan for Conor Hackett; Aaron Gardiner for Ashley Maziya.

Scorers

Conor Farrell 0-1; Cian Singleton 0-2; Nicky McWeeney 1-0; Paul Keaney 0-6, 3f; Conor Hackett 0-1; Daire Farrell 0-1; Brian Keaney 0-3; Ashley Maziya 0-1; Jack Casey 1-2; Adam Rynolds 0-1; Cain Reynolds 0-3,1f.

Team 

Kevin McGloin; Matthew San Pedro; Kieran Clancy; Connall McGowan; J.J. Lipsett; Shane McGloin; Joseph McGloin; Conor Sheridan; Cillian McGloin; Jamie Moore; Sean McSharrey; Jack Ronayne;Phillip McGowna; Peter McGowan; Michael Ferguson. Ben Higgins for Cillian McGloin; James O’Rielly for Mathew San Pedro(22); Padraig Sheridan for J.J. Lipset; Eoghan Gallgher. 

Scorers

Conor Sheridan 0-1; Micheál Ferguson 0-4,,3f,1tpf; Peter McGowan 0-1; Jack Ronayne 0-4, 2tp,1f; Joe McGloin 0-4,1tpf.