Melvin Gaels make a statement as brush aside Bornacoola in Smith Monumentals IFC Quarter Final

A tireless Melvin Gaels, growing in confidence the longer Sunday’s Smith Monumentals IFC Quarter Final progressed, stormed back to form as they powered past Bornacoola in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

​After a lacklustre group stage campaign, Melvin Gaels reiterated their title ambitions as they turned on the gas in the second half to comfortably hold off a Bornacoola team that never fully fired, more due to the Kinlough club’s tireless defensive pressure and energy in attack.

Even without Darragh Rooney, Kieran Clancy and Gero Gilmartin, Melvin Gaels demonstrated a strength in depth Bornacoola couldn’t match and the longer the game went on, the more it became apparent that the Kinlough men were just that bit too good for the Bors.

With both sides missing early chances, Michael Ferguson’s free, advanced after a tackle on a quick free, saw Melvin Gaels take the lead. Ronan Mulligan hit back for Bornacoola, Sean Carolan Morris landing a good point on the loop after 17 minutes with Bors keeper Daniel Farrell making a good save from Rhys Brennan.

However, Melvin Gaels laid down an early marker when Ruairi McGloin’s shot seemed to catch Farrell out in the Bornacoola, a deceptively gentle shot finding the net after Joe McGloin’s hard work to set up the chance.

Bornacoola dug deep with Allan Croghan immediately replying with a point while the Bors management threw on Jonathan Boyle after 11 minutes and it seemed to pay off as a steps offence for a Melvin players player saw the ball go long to Conor Reynolds who found Ronan Mulligan and he drove the ball to the net from a tight angle.

Bornacoola had chances to go in front but missed two shots and Cillian McGloin responded, charging through for a point that could have been a goal with a more composed finish. Ronan Mulligan and two Conor Reynolds frees edged Bornacoola in front by two but they were missing some great chances as well.

Daithi McGloin pointed after Sean Carolan Morris drove a shot off the crossbar for Melvin Gaels and they drew level when Matthew Cleary thumped over a 50. Rhys Brennan then landed too good points either side of a Jonathan Boyle point before the half ended with a Conor Reynolds free, leaving the scores level at 1-7 apiece.

With both sides missing good chances, an exchange of points between Joe McGloin and Conor Reynolds left the sides level before Melvin Gaels made their move, Joe McGloin gathering a sideline ball and simply outpacing the Bors defence before seeing his shot find the net off the hands of keeper Danioel Farrell.

Conor Reynolds pulled back a point as Melvin Gaels’ defence denied the Bors on a couple of occasions but the big misses were at the other end, Ruairi McGloin blazing a goal chance wide as well as missing a few good point chances.

Shane McGloin got the game’s first two pointer on 48 minutes before Rhys Brennan tapped over a minute later, leaving Melvin Gaels five clear. Shane Mallon reduced the gap, gathering a poor Farrell free to fire over but then sub Philip McGowan scored a somewhat unusual two pointer, his shot from the corner literally bouncing over the keeper and over the bar with just over three minutes left.

With six between the teams, Bornacoola needed something fast and they got it when Damian Moran fielded a high ball but was fouled as he sought the goal his team needed, Conor Reynolds dispatching the spot-kick with ease.

But whatever hope the Bors had, Melvin Gaels snuffed it quickly, Cillian McGloin scoring from a tight angle in the first seconds of added time, Philip McGowan finishing a quick break with a fine score before Cillian McGloin tapped over a late free with the last kick of the game to secure a comfortable six point win.

MELVIN GAELS

Scorers: Joe McGloin 1-1; Cillian McGloin (f), Philip McGowan (tp) & Rhys Brennan 0-3 each; Ruairi McGloin 1-0; Shane McGloin 0-2, tp; Michael Ferguson (f), Sean Carolan Morris, Matthew Cleary (50) & Daithi McGloin 0-1 each

Team: David Cleary; Cael Clancy, Peter Connolly, Paddy Hartnett; Eoghan Gallagher, Michael Ferguson, Shane McGloin, Mathew Cleary, Cillian McGloin; J. J. Lipsett, Joe McGloin, Daithi McGloin; Sean Carolan Morris, Ruairi McGloin, Rhys Brennan. Subs: Mathew San Pedro & Kevin McGloin for Cael Clancy & Cleary (HT); Philip McGowan for Carolan Morris (40); Philip McGowan for Lipsett (48); Jamie Curran for D McGloin (59)

BORNACOOLA

Scorers: Conor Reynolds 1-5, pen, 4f; Ronan Mulligan 1-2; Allan Croghan, Shane Mallon & Jonathan Boyle 0-1 each

Team: Danny Farrell, Brian Duffy, Jake Shiels, Sean O’Riordan, Allan Croghan, Kevin Mulligan, Keelan Lyons, Anthony Mulligan, Liam Jones, Kian McCormack, Ronan Mulligan, Cian Mallon, Shane Mallon, Damien Moran, Conor Reynolds. Subs: Jonathan Boyle for C Mallon (11); David Mulligan for Jones (HT); John McGarry for K Mulligan (42); Sean McKeon for O’Riordan (50); Robert O’Beirne for McCormack (54)

Referee: Michael McGirl